Theme & Slogan 2012: Path of Entrusting: Recite the Nembutsu!

KONA HONGWANJI

BUDDHIST TEMPLE

E - JIHO

September 2012

Theme & Slogan 2012: Path of Entrusting: Recite the Nembutsu!

AUTUMN OHIGAN SERVICE

Sunday, September 16, 2012 at 9:00 a.m.

Speaker: Reverend Jiko Nakade, Kona Daifukuji Soto Mission

It has been a long Buddhist tradition for the faithful to gather in their temples twice annually, during the spring and autumn equinox. During these services they recall the Six Perfections—Charity, Right Behavior, Endurance, Endeavor, Meditation and Wisdom, and once again devote themselves to the fulfillment of these practices as a Bodhisattva, (a faithful disciple of Buddhism).

Buddhist Etiquette, Symbols and Service

PEACE DAY PARADE IN HONOKAA

Saturday, September 22, 2012 at 9:00 a.m.

PEACE DAY SERVICE

Sunday, September 23, 2012 at 9:00 a.m.

Blessing of new rental house will follow service

Members invited for blessing and tour of new rental house

Refreshments will be provided

Peace Day in Hawaii

In 2007, Hawaii became the first state in the nation to officially recognize and annually celebrate the International Day of Peace. The International Day of Peace was established by the United Nation as the Day of worldwide ceasefire and non-violence. The Hawaii Federation of Jr. YBA lobbied the legislature to set aside a Peace Day in Hawaii. State Representative Jon Riki Karamatsu introduced a bill in behalf of the Hawaii Federation of Jr. YBA. Governor Linda Lingle signed the bill into law on April 17, 2007. Peace Day in Hawaii coincides with the annual International Day of Peace on September 21.

NEED THE ASSISTANCE OF THE MINISTER OR TO SCHEDULE SERVICES/ACTIVITIES

Please call the church office at 323-2993 Monday thru Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Office will be closed on weekends and holidays. If unable to contact the office clerk, leave a message on the answering machine. In case of emergencies and unable to contact office clerk, call Rev. Shoji Matsumoto at

323-2993 or cell 987-9900, or Norma Matsumoto at 323-2552 or cell 989-3015.

SEPTEMBER

2 Sunday ….9:00 AM …English Family Service

6 Thursday ...9:30 AM ...Minister's Meeting in Puna

8 Saturday ....7:00 AM ...Cub Scouts Pancake Breakfast

8 Saturday thru 9 Sunday ………………..Lay Convention in Kauai

9 Sunday ….9:00 AM …English Family Service

14 Friday ….8:30 AM …Senior Activity Program

15 Saturday …8:00 AM …Hosha #2; Food Prep #1; Omigaki #3

9:00 AM ...BWA Meeting

16 Sunday ….9:00 AM …Autumn O-Higan Service

Guest Speaker: Rev. Jiko Nakade

2:00 PM …Big Island Council Meeting @ Hilo

22 Saturday ...9:00 AM ...Peace Day Parade @ Honokaa

23 Sunday ….9:00 AM …Peace Day Service

New Cottage Blessing

30 Sunday ….9:00 AM …English Family Service

OCTOBER

7 Sunday .....9:00 AM ...English Family Service

10 Wednesday..7:00 PM ...Board of Director's Meeting

12 Friday ....8:30 AM ...Senior Activity Program

14 Sunday ...NO SUNDAY SERVICE

20 Saturday ..8:00 AM ...Omigaki - #1

21 Sunday ....9:00 AM ...English Family Service

23 Tuesday ...10:00 AM...HAIB Meeting

27 Saturday ...8:00 AM ...Manju Baking for Education Fund Raiser

28 Sunday ...... NO SUNDAY SERVICE

9:00 AM ...Manju, Steak Fry & Teri Chicken Plate Lunch

Sale for Education Fund

CUB SCOUTS & BOY SCOUTS

EVERY MONDAY CUB SCOUT PACK 12 MEETING AT 5:00 PM

EVERY WEDNESDAY & THURSDAY CUB SCOUT PACK 12 MEETING AT 5:00 PM EXCEPT 1ST WEDNESDAY

EVERY TUESDAY BOY SCOUT TROOP 59 MEETING AT 7:00 PM

TAIKO PRACTICE

EVERY THURSDAY TAIKO PRACTICE AT 5:30 PM

TAIKO MEETING EVERY 2nd THURSDAY IN THE SOCIAL HALL AT 6:30 PM

JUDO PRACTICE

JUDO CLUB MEETING EVERY 1ST WEDNESDAY IN SCOUT ROOM

EVERY MONDAY AT 7:00 PM NIGHT CLASS

EVERY WEDNESDAY AT 6:00 PM NOVICE; 7:00 PM NIGHT CLASS

EVERY TUESDAY AT 6:30 PM ADULT BEGINNERS

EVERY THURSDAY AT 7:00 PM CHOKE ARM BAR CLASS

IKEBANA

EVERY 2ND SATURDAY AT 9:00 AM IN THE SCOUT ROOM

TAI CHI CLASSES

EVERY MONDAY & WEDNESDAY AT 10:30 AM

DHARMA TALK CLASSES

EVERY TUESDAY AT 9:00 AM and 7:00 PM IN THE CONFERENCE ROOM

KYUDO CLASSES

EVERY SATURDAY AT 1:00 PM IN THE JUDO HALL

MEMORIAL SERVICES FOR SEPTEMBER and OCTOBER 2012

One Year (2011)September7ERNEST KATSUKUNA URADA

October8HAROLD "T-BONE" KAKU

27JAMES I. KUKITA

Three Years (2010)September13KUMIKO OMORI

October25TOKIO TAKAMOTO

Seven Years (2006)September15KATSUJI KIRIHARA

20EMIKO EZUKA

23MASAO TESHIMA

26YOSHIO FUKUMITSU

October4TAEKO UCHIMURA

25EISHO MATSUMOTO

28YOSHIO HARANO

Thirteen Years (2000)September11NOBUKO NAGATOSHI

October6BUNJI MATSUOKA

Seventeen Years (1996)September12CHESTER TAKASHI YAMASAWA

26ARNOLD TATSUO AMANO

October5JEAN TAMIKO KATOKU

Twenty-Five Years (1988)September1SHIMO YOSHIMATSU

6SHIGEJI YAMAGATA

15KUNIO KOBAYAKAWA

21SHOICHI IZU

22JAMES SHIGEJI MORIMOTO

22MITSUKO YAMADA

24ITO OKA

27YUKIE FUJII

October12AKINORI SATO

29 (MAJOR) MASAKAZU MANAGO

Thirty-Three Years (1980)October26HIDE FUKUMITSU

28KATSUNORI TOMITA

Fifty Years (1963)October14KIMI MURASAKI

One Hundred Years (1913)September4SANJU SUMIBE

9HATSUKO NAGASHIYA

19SHIZUE INOUYE

27UMENO SAKAGAKI

October6EIKO OKIMOTO

7WAKIKO YASUDA

7ISAKU FURUSHO

13HIDEKO YOKOHATA

August President’s Message by Norma Matsumoto

With the end of the O-Bon season, we are turning our attention to other church matters at hand. We would like to invite all members to help us bless the new house that you have ALL helped to build. We have a House Blessing planned for September 23rd after our Peace Day service that Sunday. I would like to have the chance to speak with all members who have questions and concerns about this endeavor, finally completed. The big question that I actually do not hear, but I know is in many minds, is “If we can build this house, how come we cannot pay our assessment with the funds?!?”

The answer is not a simple one, and is in the nature of our budgeted funds. We pay assessments with your annual dues money and any extra funds we have in the budget at the end of the year. We pay a set $1000.00 per month to Hawaii Honpa right now. We had a special fundraiser bazaar last year to supplement payments. An affiliate organization dedicated funds toward payment of the assessment, specifically, as well. So, we make payments with current funds collected or created. We could have a fundraiser every month or so, but the “worker bees” in our church would have nervous breakdowns or make themselves scarce….then where would we be then?!? The assessment payment amount is a balance between the funds they are due and the funds your temple needs to function. I guess you can see in which direction the “see-saw” is tilted. Please have ideas for some resolution to the “balance” problem when you come to the annual meeting in February 2013! We can use every good idea out there.

We paid for the new building with funds from two different accounts; we did not use commercial banking, so mortgage/interest is not an issue. Both fund accounts are RESTRICTED or RESERVED. These funds can only be used for specific purposes under which the accounts were set up. When we receive rental payments, we will need to replenish these accounts and then eventually, Honpa can benefit from this additional funding.

I would like to receive calls on this issue. I don’t bite, and I am only grumpy on Mondays. I am also not an expert on budget and finance, so if I don’t know the answer, I have expertise on the board to get you some answers. My phone at home is 323-2552, my cell number is 989-3015.

In Gassho,

If We Can Build a Rental, Why Can’t We Pay Our Dues? by Daren Katayama

Recently, this question has been raised by several people, including from Hawaii Kyodan. It is a reasonable question, and as Finance Director, I would like to address this topic. The short answer is, monies used to construct the new rental unit came from our Building and Capital funds; funds that are reserved for new construction and/or major renovation and repairs. These funds are designated for a specific purpose which excludes annual operating expenditures, such as utilities, insurance, salaries, and Hawaii Kyodan dues (“Kyoku Assessment”).

As a non-profit entity, Kona Hongwanji is required to maintain separate accounts, or “funds”, to hold donated monies received. These funds fall into one of two general types: unrestricted funds and restricted funds. As the name implies, “unrestricted” funds can be used for any type of expenditure authorized by the Board of Directors; this would include operating expenditures, such as Hawaii Kyodan dues. Whereas, “restricted” funds have designated restrictions, or limitations, placed on how these monies may be used. For example, our “Living Memorial Endowment Fund” was established with a restriction that its principal (i.e. original donations received) cannot be drawn upon.

Another misconception is, “Kona Hongwanji has ‘lots of money’, so why not pay our dues?” Although our latest Treasurer’s Report reflects what appears to be “lots of money”; looks can be very deceiving. Over 86% of our total cash is in “restricted/reserved” funds. After taking out the restricted/reserved funds (“Living Memorial Endowment Fund”; “Building and Capital Funds”; “Cemetery and Columbarium Funds”; and “Preschool Fund”), our unrestricted funds are less than 14%.

As you can see, the unrestricted monies available to pay our Kyoku Assessment are very limited. Kona Hongwanji’s Building/Capital funds are reserved for construction of new facilities and major repairs. We used these monies to construct a new rental unit that will provide a new stream of rental income, which will be available to help with our annual operating costs. The return on investment is expected to be significantly higher than what we currently earn in Time Certificates of Deposit.

This new stream of income will also help offset the projected loss of donations because of our dwindling membership numbers. Sadly, a greater financial burden will be placed on each and every member. You do not have to be a CPA to see the reality that rising costs combined with plummeting membership is an unsustainable trend. The financial strain on members is made even worse by the harsh economic times. This is why, as a general strategy, we are looking for new “outside sources” of revenues; revenues that do not rely on membership numbers.

Hopefully, this helps to clarify why Kona Hongwanji can appear to have “cash” yet cannot use the reserve/restricted funds to pay down our Kyoku Assessment, and also the rationale for the construction of the new rental unit. If you have specific questions or comments, please feel free to call the temple office and leave your contact information so that I can get back to you.

FOR YOUR INFORMATION by Mary Katayama

Manju, Steak Fry and Teri Chicken Plate Lunch Sale for Education Fund: Please mark your calendar for the annual Kyodan manju sale to benefit the Education Fund. This fund is used to provide financial assistance to our Dharma School and Jr. YBA students. Please help us on Saturday, October 27, 2012 for manju making. Order forms enclosed. Extra order forms available in office. Sale will be on Sunday, October 28, 2012.

Remembrance Lanterns: Due to suggestions from members to remember loved ones who are no longer with us. We started a Remembrance Lantern. For $3.00 a small lantern with a tag attached is purchased to write a short remembrance note and hung in the social hall during the annual Bon Dance. It is later taken home or given to a friend/family of the deceased. It was a popular activity and will be continued next year.

San Jose Dharma School Junior Choir: Thank you to Dharma School, and Jr. YBA students and parents for hosting the16 students and adults from the Junior Choir of San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuin Dharma School. They performed at our Hatsu Bon Service and enjoyed fellowship and lunch after the service. They learned a new song sang at our Gatha fest, participated in a group hula and learned to dance the Cupid Shuffle. They also enjoyed participation in Taiko drumming. The Choir performed at the Bon Dance. We have received word that they had a wonderful visit with our Sangha and enjoyed the fellowship. To chefs Chad Yamamoto and Colin Byars thank you for the delicious lunch enjoyed by all.

Honpa Hongwanji 2013 Calendars: Orders are now being accepted for Honpa Hongwanji2013 Calendars. Please call the office at 323-2993 to reserve your copy.

The Reverend Henry Tanaka -- Rev. Shoji

In July we lost the Reverend Henry A. Tanaka. I had the privilege of working with him for several years at the Hawaii Betsuin in Honolulu. As humans, we all die. What matters is life, and how it was lived. How Rev. Henry lived his life is stated in his book, Shin Buddhism 24/7 : Experiences on the Jodo Shinshu Path.

In his book Rev. Henry says: "Why do I need religion? And why choose the Shin Buddhist Path? My main goal in writing this book is to answer these questions by drawing on my own life experiences. A basic tenet of Mahayana Buddhism is to 'benefit the self, and at the same time benefit others.' I have been blessed to live for seventy-eight years and have benefited greatly from the Buddha Dharma.

"In our hearts we all yearn for something we can rely on. Despite the advances of the modern world, many people today are unhappy, unfulfilled, and disappointed. The teachings of the Buddha offer a path that will help those who suffer existential pain, regardless of race, gender, or sex orientation. The Dharma helps people to feel secure and to enjoy equanimity in an ever-changing world.

"A very good Dharma-friend of mine, Dr. Kazuo Miyamoto, once said to me, 'I feel like I am already in gokuraku. Gokuraku is a Japanese word meaning a state or place of heavenly peace and serenity. Dr. Miyamoto was the person who originally planted in my mind the idea of writing this book. In his book, One Man's Journey, he wrote about the two phases that Shin Buddhist followers pass through: liberation from samsara, and the subsequent return -- after becoming a Buddha -- to help others. Dr. Miyamoto noted his sincere wish to share with others what he had learned from his own spiritual experiences. It is also my sincere wish to impart my spiritual experiences and insights in hopes that other seekers on the Shin Buddhist path may benefit from my sharing. A basic and distinctive tenet of Mahayana Buddhism is to benefit self and then benefit others. This is referred to as the bodhisattva ideal. In the true sense, a bodhisattva's path is a long and arduous journey that I cannot achieve; however, I believe I have the heart of the noble ideal in terms of trying to help others find perfect freedom."

Rev. Henry dedicated his book to his wife, Nancy, to his mentor, Dr. Kazuo Miyamoto, and to his Dharma friend, Ruth Tabrah. He loved Ruth Tabrah's A Grateful Past, A Promising Future, in which Tabrah says: "In the naturalness of how things are, it is predictable that in the next hundred years as in the past century there will be bursts of growth and vitality, spurts of renewal, periods of uncertainty and despair, times when strength and faith will be tested. But one thing is certain about the promising future we hope lies ahead. This is that the limitless light and life of the dharma, the boundless wisdom and compassion of Amida Buddha constantly working in our lives through the power of Hongan -- Amida's Great Vow that assures us all of Buddhahood, of becoming one with the nembutsu -- will never abandon us, will always be our absolutely dependable refuge. It is the universal vow that enfolds each one, everywhere, throughout time. It links our lives to the suchness of reality in the nembutsu awareness of each precious present moment in which we are grateful for the past, and savour the promise of the future."

Rev. Henry's primary concern was how to keep our Hongwanji relevant and vital. I recall him saying to me one day: "Rev. Shoji, I'm first, last, and always a believer. I shall continue to be so until the day I die. Let's inspire a new generation of Ministers and members. With them, our future is certain: it will change, and adapt, and thrive."

TAIKO GROUP NEWS

Bon season is over and the members are now working on taiko drum fundamentals. We will be having open enrollment on Thursday, September 27, 2012. If anyone would like to join, please come at 5:30 p.m. We will give a short talk about our mission statement. The present members will give you a short demonstration and then you will get a chance to show us your talent. Light refreshments will be served.

Thank you everyone for buying glow sticks and other items at our fund raising booths at various bon dances that we were at. We really appreciate all your thoughtfulness. Monies raised goes to buy new bachi sticks and other items needed. If you saw JORDAN CIRIAKO at the Kona Hongwanji bon dance, he broke not one, but TWO sticks.

Our new officers and directors for 2012 – 2013 are:

PRESIDENT:TRENT TERADA

VICE PRESIDENT:NICK HIROMASA

SECRETARY:MICHAEL GUSMAN

TREASURER:LYNN AOKI-TOKUYAMA

DIRECTORS:KRISTYN KATAYAMA

DILLYN TOKUYAMA

KELSEY KATAYAMA, Immediate Past President

JR. YBA NEWS

Thank you everyone who came to our concession at the Kona Hongwanji’s bon dance. We are very grateful that we were able to serve you with good food and drinks. Many pardons for running out of bottled water and canned juices. Thank you to the Ciriako family for helping in the preparation and serving of the bentos (creative ones too), chili and other items that we had for sale. We hope that they will continue to help us when needed now that Jordan has “roostered” out of Jr. YBA.