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September 2007 Bulletin

Minister's Message by Rev. Fujimoto

Hello! Anybody out there? Can you believe it...summer is over and the kids are back in school already. It sure was nice to have a long summer break with nothing to do but lay around the pool. Along with September comes the start of Dharma School, and the whole pace of Temple life picks up speed.

Dharma School begins September 9th, with Dharma School Service at 10:30 as usual. The Temple is most appreciative of the consistent effor put in by both the Dharma School staff and the Dharma School parents. When the staff and the parents are on the same page to recognize the value and importance of the Dharma in our lives, hten the regularity in attendance becomes a positive factor. Our efforts reflect our own clarity of purpose and respect for the teachings, and this is what is passed on to the children. We look forward to another year together.

September 23rd is our Ohigan Family Service. The Ohigan observance is held twice a year during the fall and spring equinox. This is usually a time of year when the weather is not too hot nor too cold. The harmony of the universe becomes pervasive, and we are each drawn into recognizing this harmony that surrounds us. Rev. Seigen Yamaoka of the Oakland Buddhist Church will be our guest speaker. He is a past Socho of the BCA. He has been influential in my own studies and efforts as a Jodo Shinshu Priest. The Oakland Buddhist Church has been my family temple for a number of years. I think they still list me on their work schedule during their bazaar. Plese make effort to welcome him and to listen to his words.

San Jose Taiko will be making a six-week road tour that will come through our neck of the woods September 25. They will perform at the Jewett Auditorium on the campus of Albertson College in Caldwell. They are one of the three original Taiko groups in America, and consistently put on a dazzling performance. Many of us are planning to be there. Contact Sangha Taiko members for details. Don't get left out! We will all be sitting together, and it should be a great time. IOBT will also be hosting them at our temple, as they put on a Taiko Workshop the following evening. Great stuff...what a way to start off the school year!

.......GASSHO...........RAIHAI

Rev. Dennis

Temple News by Ann Nagaki

I can't believe how fast the past two months went by - I felt it would never let up. Finally it has slowed a little for a breather. Hot weather didn't help either but it is sure nice to feel the cooler weather now.

Thanks to everyone who helped during the Obon Japan Nite Festivities. It was nice to see some of the members grandchildren come to give us a hand. It was appreciated very much. Also, with all your generous monetary donations for the chicken, help, food, vegetables, kitchen items, and raffles made this event a success. Thanks to our chairpersons Howard Matsumura, Brian Kameshige and co. chairperson Michelle Sadamori for overseeing the event which was one perfect night chosen to have this event.

Obon services were held July 15th, with Rev. Joren McDonald, from Visalia, CA, as our guest speaker. I can't believe there were 11 names listed for Hatsubon. Thanks to Ontario Country doing their toban duties. A welcome dinner for Rev. McDonald was held at the Four Rivers Cultural Center which was a very nice and cool place. It was originally going to be at Matsy's, but their air conditioner went out, so we had to have it at the Cultural Center. About 35 people attended.

Another big event for the Dharma School and the Fujinkai was our annual Happy Bowls at the Malheur County Fair. Looks like we had another successful year. Thanks to those who came to help day after day for a week and to those who brought all those cucumbers, zucchini's, green peppers and carrots - we put them all to good use for our stir fry and Aloha Zuke.

Meals on Wheels was done on August 20-24th. Thanks to Ruth and Hideo Harada, Midge Teramura, Mary Nakamura, Mae Nakano and Kikue Hondo for helping out on this community project. Thanks to Midge who was in charge.

Wednesday Activity Days are still going strong. We have been eating out of the Temple freezer lately because we've had lots of leftover rice and some meats and eggs. We come up with some delicious meats some of us have been bringing the surplus from the garden so this gives us a variety. It has been nice to see some family friends drop by to have lunch with us - its very enjoyable.

We had an unusual 777 event happen at IOBT, where two of our former Dharma School students, David Fukuda and Tamiko Harada Shiery, were married on 7/7/07 at 7:07 a.m. with Rev. Dennis Fujimoto presiding. Rev. couldn't do the wedding in the evening because he had a guest speaking engagement, but was willing to do it at 7:07 a.m. The wedding reception was held at 7:07 p.m. at the Aarestad residence. Congratulations and best wishes to you both!

Temple News

We were very happy to have Rev. Marvin Harada from the Orange County Buddhist Temple act as guest speaker for the JACL Nisei Appreciation Night. He spoke about the "Treasures Out There", which he explained very eloquently to the 400 guests. I also was impressed by some of the Sansei, Yonsei & Nisei speakers for the night - they did a fabulous job of giving thanks to the Nisei's. Brady Kameshige, who spoke for the Yonsei's had a touch of Buddhism in his speech. He is a wonderful speaker. Howard Matsumura was the MC for the night and Gerry Suyematsu spoke as one of the Sansei speakers. A wonderful evening it was! Thanks to the Snake River JACL for honoring the Nisei's.

Our Sangha members got another chance to listen to Rev. Marvin while he was here. he left his companion "Freddie the Frog" at home on this trip, but he gave a wonderful talk on "Life is Unfair" with many examples. After hearing his talk, I was beginning to think differently about my daily life; now when things dont seem right, I find myself saying "Life is Unfair", but that's okay. I just keep going the best I know how. Thanks Rev. Marvin for your meaningful talk - it was enjoyed by all.

Dharma School News by Mary Ann Shimojima

This year the Dharma School outing was to Newport and Florence on the Oregon Coast from July 20 - 23, 2007. There were 25 of us and what a great time we all had! It was a long bus ride over, but of course the kids found the swimming pool and spent a lot of fun time in it. The next morning we went to the Oregon Coast Aquarium, then to the bayside wharp for lunch and shopping. We had planned a wiener roast for Saturday evening, but it was raining then, so we would try for the next night. It just happened that everyone ended up on the beach that evening, flying kites, talking, running in and out of the ocean, playing in the sand and just enjoying the scenery. It had stopped raining, but was very windy. No one had eaten and someone mentioned pizza, so we ordered delivery pizza and had a great group pizza party on the balcony of our motel. The next morning we headed for Florence. It was raining when we left, but the closer we got to Florence, the better the weather turned out and it was a nice, sunny day for our ride on the giant dune buggy. We had a great driver that took us up and down some steep hills, it was thrilling. Then the kids rode bumper boats, go carts, miniature golf, etc. The weather held up the whole day and Rev. Dennis found a great spot to have our wiener roast (finally). It was a perfect spot and it was so much fun for the kids who played in the ocean, roasted wieners and made smores. The trip was one that we were all together for a couple of evening and we just enjoyed each others company. Marilyn and Kurtie Achterman from Portland joined us too. This time Keegan enjoyed himself because the last time we went to the Oregon Coast, he was only 2 months old. It was a fun, fun, trip.

The Happy Bowl booth was a big success despite some disastrous events (our large refrigerator bit the dust, one morning we had no water, we had to learn to use a cash register, and we were running out of supplies). But, thanks to everyone for their help, we made it through another successful year. We even got our booth's picture on the front page of the Argus as the most popular booth! Again, thank you, each and everyone of you...and kids, you were great! We won 3rd place for the best decorated booth.

Dharma School will resume on Sunday, September 9th. Service at 10:30 a.m. and the teachers will serve lunch to the entire congregation. This would be a good time to get your photos from our trip to the coast and share with each other. I need the group photo taken in front of the bus because the bus driver didn't get a photo with my camera. Will anyone share one of theirs? See you then...

In the Eyes of a Beholder

Note from Rev. Harada: I received the following essay from Kei Shimizu, one of our long-time members. Kei's wife, Mary, has Alzheimer's, but attends the Wednesday craft day for ladies here at the Orange County Buddhist Church. Kei's essay is based on how he say others helping his wife at the craft day. I felt that it was a beautiful essay and received his permission to publish it in the Korin.

Dr. Nobuo Haneda sates in one of his articles that the Pure Land is the symbol of "the Sangha". I would like to comment on the Pure Land and hte Sangha as I have seen with my eyes through my recent experience.

The Pure Land is where Buddhas live. The Buddhas praise other Buddhas by calling the name, "Namuamidabutsu" in humility. Buddhas do not make themselves Buddhas. Buddhas are Buddhas in the eyes of beholders, just as legends dont make themselves legends, but history makes them legends or they are legends in the eyes of beholders. The same can be said about Myokonin. He or she doesn't make him or herself a Myokonin. He or she is a Myokonin in the eyes of beholders.

Having gone through the difficulty in our life with our health problems in the recent years and still struggling with the problems, we especially appreciate the kindness and thoughtfulness extended by our Sangha and I want to put my hands together and say "Namuamidabutsu" to them. When I took Mary to the craft workshop at Church on one Wednesday morning, I later saw a young lady, whom I didn't recognize and whose name I didn't even know, taking care of Mary. I wanted to put my hands togetehr and say "Namuamidabutsu" to her. Their compassion makes them all Buddhas in my humble and appreciative eyes.

We learn that not only men and women possess Buddha nature, but also animals and even plants and rocks. It is said that since animals, plants and rocks are unable to listen to the Dharma, they cannot nurture their Buddha nature to attain Buddhahood. Whether animals, plants and rock become Buddhas is in the eyes of the beholders. If I receive a life lesson from them, their Buddha nature grows to become Buddhahood in my mind. The beauty and frailty of flowers, and the toughness and yet erodibility of rocks all give life lessons to me. I must open my eyes wide.

The Three Treasures read "If we do not deliver ourselves in the present life, no hope is there that we shall be freed from suffering and sorrow in the ocean of birth and death." It suggests that we must find the Pure Land in this life. Although I cannot attain enlightenment and reach the Pure Land in this life, I must learn to open my eyes widely to see the Buddhahood in others and be able to put my hands together and humbly say "Namuamidabutsu" to them in appreciation of their compassion and generosity. I do not find bitterness in our recent adversities. Instead I see the Pure Land through our Sangha.

Memorial Services

Designated Memorial Service Years for 2007. To schedule a family memorial service, please contact Reverend Fujimoto. 1 Year = 2006, 3 year = 2005, 7 year = 2001, 13 year = 1995, 17 year = 1991, 25 year = 1983, 33 year = 1975 and 50 year = 1958.

October Monthly Memorial Service on September 30 at 11:00 A.M.

10/30 Doi, Kakuji
10/24 Fujii, Yokichi
10/5 Fujimoto, Shizuko
10/29 Fujita, Seijiro
10/30 Furuyama, Ginshiro
10/29/2005 Harada, Haruye
10/4 Hasegawa, Minoru
10/31 Hayashi, Shigeko
10/17/07 Hironaka, Yoshi
10/4 Hondo, Arao
10/24 Hori, Kiyohide
10/27/1999 Hori, Kiyomaro
10/10 Horiuchi, Mite
10/11/1995 Inouye, Tom K.
10/13 Ishimoto, Funa
10/3 Kagayama, Matsuyo
10/20 Kawamoto, Ichiro
10/24 Kitamura, Lillian
10/5/1996 Koda, Bill
10/15 Koda, Fusaichi
10/18 Miyamoto, Kanichi
10/18 Morinaga, Mark J.
10/2 Morrow, Mary Jo
10/5 Nakamura, Mitsu
10/25/1994 Nakano, Tom T.
10/18/2000 Nishihara, Michiye
10/29 Nishimura, Kumajiro
10/17 Nomi, Koichi
10/3/1995 Okai, Tom
10/26/1994 Okuda, Shizuka
10/10/1995 Osaki, Harry
10/9 Saito, Yukichi
10/25 Shintani, Satoko
10/23 Shoda, Kazuo
10/26 Shoda, Tokuichi
10/8 Sugahiro, Tome
10/7 Takahashi, Roy
10/12 Takashima, Matsu
10/12 Terada, Tom T.
10/28 Toji, Kiyoko
10/30 Tsukamaki, Jitsumatsu
10/18/06 Uyeki, George
10/11 Watanabe, Yasuji
10/13 Yamada, Masato
10/1 Yamaguchi, Yoshizo
10/2 Yamamoto, Sado
10/29/1996 Yamashita, Tok

September 9 at 11:00 a.m. Monthly Memorial Service (Shotsuki Hoyo)

9/26 Aono, Minor
9/28 Atagi, Kiyozo
9/2 Fujiwara, Junkichi
9/22 Hasegawa, Kizo
9/3 Hirai, George
9/19 Hironaka, Tadaichi
9/14/1999 Inahara, Chub
9/19 Iseri, Alice
9/19 Iseri, Masato
9/8 Ishida, Tono
9/5 Ishida, Tsurukichi
9/4 Kamikido, Yoshitao
9/14 Kawakami, Toki
9/4 Kawamoto, Rika
9/22 Kimura, Gail
9/25 Kondo, Kagi
9/11/1997 Kondo, Oscar
9/1/2002 Masuda, Mary
9/30/2001 Matsumura, Fudge
9/21 Matsumura, Juro
9/7 Matsushita, Shizuko
9/25 Murayama, Yone
9/?/1943 Nagaki, Shina
9/4 Nakada, Hirokichi
9/9 Nakada, Kazuo
9/6 Nakagawa, Genhachi
9/9 Nakamura, Donald
9/6 Nishimoto, Suye
9/11/1976 Nishimura, Wesley
9/15 Odate, Riki
9/8 Oyama, Hatsumo
9/12 Sakano, Ichiro
9/17 Saruwatari, Renko
9/8 Sugahiro, Tetsuo
9/24/1995 Sugai, Noriko
9/18 Takagi, Kayo
9/30 Takagishi, Yasuo
9/17 Takahashi, Seichi
9/12 Takemura, Hisaye
9/2 Tanouye, Shotaro
9/11/1999 Terashima, Frank
9/3 Terashima, Masajiro
9/10 Umemoto, Fumiyo
9/24 Yasuda, Ichi
9/8 Yasuda, Nobuo
9/2 Yoshihara, Mitsuko

Temple Cleaners

George Morishige, Bill Arima, Bob Arima, Jim Morinaga, Tracy Nakamura, Steve Nakamura, Dyke Nakamura, Seiji and Shiz Hata, Nan Nagasaka, Tokie Arima, Aiko Imada, Sue Uyeki, Sachi Sakoi, Karen Hata.

Bulletin Helpers July/August 2007

Mary Kameshige, Mae Nakano, Sanami Nakano, Shiz Inouye, Kikue Hondo, Mary Nakamura, Lorinda Hasegawa, Hideo and Ruth Harada.