Ministers Message by Reverend Kakuyei Tada

As I walked along the fence area located just east, adjacent to the site, I saw an abundance of memorial items hanging on the fences. There were pictures of victims of fire fighters, policemen, and many others. There were hand notes and messages by the victims families and friends, flowers, cups, shoes, flags of different countries, and many other items sent from virtually all over the world. One notable thing that caught my eye was a chain of one thousand cranes in origami sent by school students from Matsue, Japan. Some of the things belonged to the victims, some to families and friends. It was really sad and painful to go through the different items. We walked into the Trinty Church chapel, just adjacent to the site for rest. It is the church where many people ran to for safety, and after the attacks, it is the place that the firefighters used for sleep and rest during clean-up time.

My New York friend, a bank employee, shared with me some of his pain and sorrow from that day and also from the aftermath. On that day, he worked in the vicinity of the tower. He was a few blocks away from the site. Luckily, he survived, but later he learned of the death of six of his former co-workers and some friends. He reluctantly expressed his feelings of pain and suffering about the loss of his friends. Even today, he is still going through suffering from the nightmares of the tragedy. In this sense, he too is a victim of the tragedy. A few years ago, he lost his father. He could not completely get over his father's death. From these experiences, he spends more time to reflect and contemplate on Buddhism to maintain a normal life. To him, Buddhism does seem to help in the healing process from pain and suffering.

The day of national tragedy was also coincidentally the day of my mother's entry into the Pure Land. My mother was a devoted Nembutsu follower. Her religious daily life began with a morning service and ended with an evening service, expressing appreciation and gratitute to Amida's compassion. She enjoyed reading Shi Shu books and listened to sermons on tapes. I remember the last time I visited with her. On departure from the temple, we sat down on tatami, and she quietly looked up to me with Gassho and I heard that she was softly reciting the Nembutsu. At that point, I too joined with her in Gassho and we both recited the Nembutsu together. That was the last time we saw each other. That was the last farewell. What a meaningful, yet unforgettable way to bid farewell! She peacefully ended her life in Nembutsu. She truly demonstrated to me how meaningful and valuable Nembutsu life was.

September 11th is the saddest day in our history. We all experienced sadness and pain, what Buddha calls Duhkha, or suffering. Buddha also teaches that there is always the light of hope in our lives. The light of Amida's Compassion constantly guides our way to hope - a positive and dynamic way of real and true life through the Nembutsu. The light of Amida's Compassion is never interpreted and obstructed by any power, but it is eternally shining up on all of us throughout the world.

This trip was the most unforgettable and memorable one that I have ever made to New York City. When flying back, I heard music coming from somewhere within my inner mind. It was from the September 11th memorial performance by the New York Philharmonic Orchestra, playing Brahms' "German Requiem." It is sad music; but this music, somewhere in mournful melody brights up as I saw the light of hope illuminating to those who are going through pain and suffering. In the Eastern sky, the light of hope is rising up and shining upon all the sentient beings in the world.

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What a busy month of October we had and now we're facing "turkey time" already and before we know it, it will be the end of the year. It seems like we never have a rest time, but then again, it's better to be busy than to have nothing to do. How boring that would be!

Thanks to everyone who helped clean the Temple on Saturday, November 2nd. Still can't figure out how we can keep it clean and tidy longer - guess it's everyone's duty to do their part so it won't be left for someone else to do. The alter had an extra shine from the ladies who hand rub each piece of brass to give a luster.

Meals on Wheels was done November 4-7th, with Hideo and Ruth Harada, Connie and Glo Shmojima, Midge Teramura and Mary Nakamura. Thanks everyone for your time - I know it was appreciated very much.

Final 52nd Bazaar meeting was held on Tuesday, November 12th with Larry Matsumura and Les Ito co-chairpersons. We are happy with the results of our Bazaar. With everyone's effort and time we're all glad it's over with. Thanks to everyone who turned in their reports - by the next Bazaar we have forgotten what we had done - it's good to have reports and comments to rely on.

Thanks to everyone who helped with the Fujinkai Memorial Services. Your attendance at the service and your generous donations tell us how you feel about our Issei and Nisei Fujinkai who have passed on. We were happy to have Reverend Kodo Umezu from the BCA as our guest minister. A welcome dinner for Reverend Umezu was held at the Far East - with Sanami Nakano and Joan Suyematsu as chairpersons.

We're happy to announce that our Fujinkai Co-presidents, Joan Suyematsu and Mae Nakano and Treasurer, Ann Nagaki, have agreed to take another term of office. Martha Mizuta will be the new Secretary and Kitchen Chairpersons will be Ruth Harada, Kikue Hondo and Yasuko Kino. Other offices will remain the same. From time to time we will be asking a favor to all members for your support and help throughout the year.

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The Dharma School teachers put on a great-fun Halloween party on October 25th with all the trimmings, even a real witch with a green face and cat eyes (aka Karen Makabe)!! We had a short service, followed by a delicious dinner of pizza, salad, twice baked potatoes, cup cakes in cones, dessert, and drinks. There were about 30 children and adults playing games, making slime, bobbing for donuts, etc. Thank you to Jeanne for the twice baked potatoes and cup cakes, to Mark, Pam, Ashley and Matthew for the dessert cups and candy, Nichole for the cheese pop corn, and to Karen Makabe for the fruit roll-ups, and last but not least, thank you teachers for all your dedicated work!

Thanks to Eric, Kayla and Karen Makabe, Randy and Brady Kameshige and the teachers for their help with temple clean-up on November 2nd! Everything looks great. Also the teachers did a real clean-up job on all the classrooms on November 16th. We have wanted to get that cleaned up for a long time.

There will be a special Bodhi Day service on December 8th at 10:15 am SHARP! We hope that all of you will try to attend. The year-end party will be held on December 22nd with a visit from Santa Claus. Dharma School service will be the same (10:30 am) followed by the decoration of the Christmas tree, lunch and Santa. No church on December 29th. Everyone have a safe and happy holiday with their families and we'll see you in 2003!!!

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Your ballot for the 2003-2005 Temple Board and Board of Trustee positions have been distributed with the December bulletin. Your completed ballot must be received by December 16, 2002. Return your ballot to PO Box 397, Ontario, Oregon 97914, or to the temple ballot box in the temple basement.

Temple Board Member Nominees, 2003-2005 term, VOTE FOR NINE (9)

Temple Board of Trustees Nominees, 2003-2005 term, VOTE FOR TWO (2)

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