The monthly newsletter of the Jodo Mission of Hawaii for April 2013.

1. HBC BUDDHA DAY CELEBRATION
April 8th is the birthday of Shakyamuni Buddha. This birthday
celebration is known as "Buddha Day” and is also known as
“Hanamatsuri”. The Hawaii Buddhist Council cordially invites
everyone to the Buddha Day Service.
WHEN: Sunday, April 7, 2013
WHERE: Honpa Hongwanji Mission
(1727 Pali Highway)
TIME: 9:00 am Buddha Day Service at Main Temple
10:30 am Entertainment at Social Hall
11:00 am-1:00 pm Games, Activities, Food Both, Bounce House
Admission: Free
Parking is limited: Please car pool if possible. Parking is also available at Hongwanji Mis-
sion School (enter from Iliahi St) and Soto Mission of Hawaii (1708 Nuuanu Ave).
Please join the Hawaii Buddhist Council on April 7th to celebrate Shakyamuni Buddha’s
birthday.
Address Service Requested
Honolulu HI 96814
1429 Makiki St.
Jodo Mission of Hawaii
(#1197-0413)
Bulletin - APRIL 2013
Jodo Mission of Hawaii

2. Hanamido for Buddha Day Celebration
The Hawaii Buddhist Council Buddha Day celebration will be held on Sunday, April 7
beginning at 9:00 a.m. at Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii.
Pictured on the right is a Hanamido fully decorated with flowers,
with Baby Buddha in the center. This represents the Lumbini Garden
where Baby Buddha was born. Sweet tea or amacha is poured over the
statute of Buddha. The tea symbolizes the gentle rains that fell on the
day Buddha was born.
At the Buddha Day celebration, please be sure to bow in front of
Baby Buddha and pour some amacha over the Baby Buddha statute.
The Hawaii Buddhist Council is comprised of the following Buddhist temples: Higashi
Hongwanji Mission, Honpa Hongwanji Mission, Jodo Mission of Hawaii, Koyasan Shingon Mission,
Nichiren Mission of Hawaii, Soto Mission of Hawaii and Tendai Mission of Hawaii. It is always
nice to get together with fellow Buddhists! Please come and celebrate Buddha’s Birthday!
ANNO UNCE M E NT S
Sunday School ♫ ♪ Jodo Mission of Hawaii ♫
YB A
We welcome children to join our Sun-
Children’s Choir “Malama”
day School. Let’s enjoy studying No Meeting Our Children’s Choir meeting in
Onembutsu by doing various activities. in April April to be announced).
Any child ages 5 to 8 years old can join.
4/28 @ 10:45 a.m. Children will sing mainly Japanese songs
and Buddhist gathas. Practice will be in Jap-
anese.
F UJ I NK A I
(women’s association) ♫ ♪ Ukulele by Stuart Nago ♫
Sewing Circle
No meeting in April Please come and enjoy uku-
******** lele music by Stuart Nago April 13 and 27, 2013
Oahu Rengo Fujinkai on Sunday, April 28 at 8:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
April 21 at Haleiwa 10:00 a.m. after Sunday Ser-
vice. He may also play his Any interested person is
guitar. welcome to participate.
Jodo Mission Hanamatsuri
Will be held on Sunday, April 28, at the temple. We
look forward to seeing all of you at the service.
WHEN: Sunday, April 28, 2013
WHERE: Jodo Mission of Hawaii
TIME: 10:00 a.m.
Page 2

3. Bits of Knowledge of Buddhism
Vol. 26 Think Different (Apr. 2013)
By Rev. Yasushiro Watanabe
A Buddhist walks the road that leads to Enlightenment. We be-
lieve in the nature of Buddha in our mind and follow the teaching of Buddha. We
have to think and behave as Buddha and his disciples have done. Now, I’d like to
talk about a promise as an example of Buddha’s thinking. Through this story I hope
we will learn the process of Buddha’s thinking and practice it in our lives.
It is important to keep our promises. Parents or teachers often say to us,
“Keep your word” or “Don’t make promises you can’t keep.” That is our hope. Politi-
cians make campaign pledges. Business people make contracts. The world is full of
promises. It is essential for us to keep them for our prosperity.
However, I think there is no promise to keep. In fact, there is no promise to
keep exactly as it is expected. That is Buddha’s way of thinking. We can say “Think
Different” in the words of Steve Jobs. For example, let us imagine an appointment
to meet someone. To reach the meeting place on time is easy to say but hard to do.
Many factors can be obstacles to our plans: health, weather, and traffic. Even if we
met the schedule as promised, we might need to fine-tune the time and place. In
that sense, the promise is not kept perfectly. It is very lucky to see each other at
the right place on time. That’s why we appreciate people’s effort and luck to fulfill
promises.
A Buddhist doesn’t accept the worldly rule in its original form. People think
Buddhism as nihilistic because Buddhists often deny the idea. However, to reject the
idea is not the end but the start. We have to think about it deeply and differently to
make sure of the truth. And then we restructure the facts and reevaluate the world-
ly rule. To have Buddha’s eye, we should practice the way of thinking and try to re-
veal the realities of life.
For another example, we tend to think that death is the end of life. But, ac-
cording to the Jodo Shu teaching, death is the start of eternal life in the Pure Land.
It is true that we miss the deceased, but we can live together with our loved one in
a different way. A bad situation is a stepping stone to become better. We can find a
way to success. To do that, we should observe the situation carefully beyond the
visible fact, because the fact that we look at now is a kind of virtual reality. I think
that our recognition is always wrong. We have to challenge the genuine truth be-
hind truths. That is the Buddha’s way of thinking.
Let us go back to the story of promises. After all, there is no appointment to
be kept perfectly in this world. However, Amida Buddha’s promise is for sure be-
cause he attains Enlightenment. We believe in the original vow which He has met.
When we call his holy name in the last moment, Amida Buddha comes to us and
takes us to the Pure Land. Also, we hope that death is a fresh start for liberation.
Our belief and hope are serious and true. Sayonara, good-bye, or Aloha are not
words of separation but words of wishing to meet again. Please remember that the
Buddha’s thinking makes us embrace our suffering and reveal the way to peace.
Page 3

4. Honolulu Jodo Shu Fujinkai
Installation of Officers: The officers
for 2013-2015 were installed on Sunday,
February 24, 2013:
President: Sally Hayashi
Vice President: Akiko Nishiyama
Recording Secretary: Doris Soma
Assistant Recording
& Corresponding
Secretary: EdnaAjimura
Treasurer: Yukari Narashiba Auditors: Yoshiko Kitagawa
Assistant Treasurer: Tomoko Hisamoto Harue Maki
Peggy Miyamoto
Shuji Rev. Yubun Narashiba
Fujinkai honored their keiro members
(members over 80 years old) with Sekihan. This
photo of keiro also includes their male keiro
supporters.
Sunday School Excursion:
Sunday School students went to
visit Teddy Bear World in Wai-
kiki. Looks like the children en-
joyed themselves. It’s not often
they get to go on an excursion!
Ministers from Japan: Four
ministers from Japan were in Hono-
lulu before returning to Japan.
Front row left is Rev. Chika
Shimizu of Kyoto. Back row left is
Rev. Maras Minoru Tanaka of Hy-
ogo Rev. Yuki Sawada of Kyoto
and Rev. Masayuki Takeda of Wa-
kayama. Missing in photo was Rev.
Yuken Kikuchi their guide who took
this photo.
Pagee 4 They studied in Los Angeles for a week, then traveled to Maui
for two days and two days on Oahu.

5. The Introduction of Buddhism into Japan (7)
From Kamakura through Tokugawa Periods (1192 - 1868)
PURE LAND BUDDHISM
The first budding of the Pure Land concept was already seen at the time of Prince Regent Shotoku (574-622),
having been influenced by the Chinese Pure Land thoughts. This faith passes through the
Nara (710-794) and Heian (794-1192) periods and gradually went wide and deep, taking
root in the minds of the Japanese people. It was however, during the end of the Heian and
the beginning of the Kamakura periods when this faith was formed into independent de-
nominations in Japan.
Even before Honen the founder of the Jodo denomination, there were such priests as
Kuya (903-972) and Ryomin, the founder of the Yuzu-nembutsu denomination, who
taught the teaching of Pure Land Buddhism. It was, however, Honen in whom we can see
a landmark of any historical importance.
Honen The worship of Amitabha (Amida) Buddha, the Lord of the Pure Land, gathering
strength in the Heian period was systematized in Kamakura period by Honen, and worthy
of particular attention as it is the first establishment of an indigenous Japanese Buddhist denomination, though we
could see its forerunning thoughts both in China and Japan.
At the end of the Heian and beginning of the Kamakura periods, it was indeed necessary for the commoners to
have a religion which would give them peace of mind amidst the continuing civil wars, caused by conflicts
among Samurai warriors, as well as various natural disasters. Tendai and Shingon, the two esoteric type of Bud-
dhist denominations founded in the Heian period, had great popularity among the aristocrats. It was, however,
very difficult for the commoners to follow these teachings to acquire the tranquil mind, since their doctrines were
too complicated and profound. Even the Pure Land (Jodo) adherents at that time strictly observed many precepts
of the religious life by practicing good deeds and chanting the sacred phrase of Na-mu-a-mi-da-butsu
(Nembutsu). That is to say, Nembutsu recitation in the from of Na-mu- a-mi-da-butsu was a kind of a religious
practicing and, therefore, they had believed that it was though their own efforts to be able to recite the name of
Amitabha Buddha. On the contrary, what Honen was seeking was a simple teaching and practice which was ap-
plicable to all people. According to him, the recitation of Nembutsu is the best method of attaining birth in the
Pure Land of Amitabha Buddha because it is supported by the power of Amitabha’s Original Vow. Honen cast
aside all other practices and disciplines and selected only the Nembutsu, which he regarded as the best and easiest
way for attaining birth in the Pure Land
This teaching of Honen was inherited by one of his disciples, Shinran, the founder of
the Jodo-shin denomination, and became further simplified. Jodo-shin or simply Shin de-
nomination, which is followed today by the majority of the Buddhist population of Japan,
is traced back to its founder, Shinran. Strangely enough, however, according to his own
words, he had no intention of founding a denomination. He first met this Pure Land
teaching through Honen, and became his disciple for life. He kept up a perpetual recita-
tion of the Nembutsu until his death-bed. Shinran himself simply tried to follow what his
master Honen taught. Nevertheless, we can find a great difference between them, judging
from lives they spent and word they spoke, which will be mentioned in the next chapter.
After the death of Shinran in 1262, at the age of ninety, Jodo-Shin denomination be- Shinran
came independent of Jodo denominations of Honen. In its twelfth generation, the
Hongwan-ji Temple, whose abbot had been the descendants of Shinran was divided into two branches: Higashi
(East) Hongwan-ji and Nishi (West) Hongwan-ji school, because of difference in the problem of succession. To-
day their teaching and faith are the same, with the only difference begin in historical tradition. It may be note-
worthy that these two Jodo-shin school, the Higashi and Nishi Hongwan-ji, are the only Buddhist denominations
which have descendants of the founder as their abbots, since Shinran was the only person among founded of all
Japanese Buddhist denominations and school who had his own off-sprigs.
From Understanding Japanese Buddhism
Published by The Japan Buddhist Federation Page 5

6. What is “Perpetual Memorial Obituaries
Service?” (Eitaikyo)
This record of a perpetual memorial service and
The Jodo Mission of Hawaii extends
is called Eitaikyo in Japanese. When the date of its sincere condolences to the family
death occurs for a person listed on this record, the members and loved ones of the following
ministers pray for that individual during the morn- members who have recently left this
ing service. The prayers will continue each year for world for the Pure Land.
as long as Jodo Mission exists.
Anyone can be included in it. You may put your Takeo Yoneda 91
own name on the list, too. This also helps when it Momoyo Yoshida 95
is difficult to have memorial services. We also wel- Margaret Tamaye Tomita 93
come you to attend the morning service at 8:30am.
How to apply
Stop by the office, and fill out the application NOKOTSUDO (Columbarium)
form. Each name costs $200. After the application
is accepted, the name will be listed on the record.
VASES
Before the O-Bon season arrives,
Apology for March Eitaikyo List: We we plan to clean the Nokotsudo (or Col-
apologize for incorrectly spelling the deceased umbarium) which has many, many vases.
person’s name in March Bulletin: Saturday, June 15th is our target date.
3/7: Suematsu Namba If you have personal vases, artificial
plants and flowers, would you please
take them home. We realize that you
Jodo Mission Office Hours: may bring a special vase for your use and
Monday to Saturday then when you come the next time, you
8am—5pm cannot find it and so you bring another
one.
Sunday & Holidays
We do not want to break your spe-
8am—3pm cial vase and that may happen when the
Phone: 949-3995 Nokotudo people are cleaning the vases
or if there are too many vases on the
Website: www.jodo.us shelf.
Rev. Yubun Narashiba Rev. Kanjun Nakano Rev. Dwight
Head Minister Rev. Yasuhiro Nakamura
Resident Minister
Watanabe Retired Minister
Page 6 Resident Minister

7. EITAIKYO (Perpetual Memorial Service) for April
1 Anzaemon Kajioka The Kohatsu Family Kazu Saiki
The Kajioka & Morita Family Yoshiko Hara Kyoichi Koyama
Yae Ogata Francis Sadamu Furutani, Jr.
12 Naka Nakamura
Mistuko Arakawa
Toshiko Umemoto 23 Bishop Sensho Fukuda
Shimoyo Karamatsu
Eiko Gushikuma
Seiichi Kimura
13 Yasuko Daitoku Shigeichi Aoki
George Kaname Sakuda
The Daitoku & Fujimoto Family Moushi Uyehara
2 Ryosaku Maeda Kayo Doi Shigeo Tom Muranaka
The Maeda Family Tsuyo Uchiumi
Shuzaburo Kunihiro Zentoku Uyehara 24 Setsuyo Misawa (2)
The Misawa Family
The Kunihiro Family Yasu Iguchi
The Watanabe Family
Masao Kamihara Masashi Yamane
Yoshio Kunimoto
James Isamu Tomita
14 Heiji Yasumoto
25 Michizo Imaguchi (2)
3 Kinjuro Ajimura The Yasumoto Family
The Imaguchi Family
The Ajimura Family Yoshi Okamura (2)
Yasuko Ueda
Katsuichi Takeda Kiyoto Kawaoka
Tsunegoro Iwamoto
The Takeda Family
Takeo Kuniyuki 15 Toso Kamisato Soichi Sakai
Katsusaburo Yamamoto The Kamisato Family
26 Kikujiro Yokoyama
Kikue Kubota The Aoki Family
The Yokoyama & Morita Family
Mikayo Higashimura
4 Masayo Kusunoki Toshiro Kawabe Makoto Takahashi
Masato Ishida
The Kusunoki Family The Kawabe Family
Tokue Uehara
Shinichi Amakawa Masakane Himuro
The Amakawa Family Kenji Hayashi 27 Misae Umemoto
Hitomi Miyaura Toshiko Sumida Nishimoto The Umemoto Family
William Hatsuichi Kishimoto The Ida Family
5 Tsune Isobe
The Matsushima Family
The Isobe Family 16 Bunsuke Isobe
Shizue Nose
Mamoru Najita The Isobe Family
Robert Murakami
Isematsu Takenaka Ryu Tsurusaki
Haruko Teruya
Kazumitsu Kaya The Tsurusaki & Inada Family
Masatoshi Umemoto 28 Rokusuke Yanagihara
7 Yasu Hirohama Patsy Hisako Himuro The Yanagihara Family
The Hirohama & Kawasugi Family
Mitsuyoshi Gushikuma Iwakichi Matsuda
Kikujiro Uchiumi
The Toichi Funamoto Family
Naomi Fuse Johnson 17 Kenichi Namba
Fay Johnson Misao Yamane
The Namba Family
Masa Miyao Okamoto
Yumi Yokoyama Tsuneharu Imaguchi
Ume Kawamura
Isaburo Terada
Toru Yamane 18 Toyokichi Iguchi
29 Mitsuyo Kamioka
The Iguchi & Sasaki Family The Kamioka &
8 Tadaichi Aoki Eki Mineishi
Hanaoka Family
The Aoki Family The Mineishi Family
Kojiro Okamoto Tatsuyo Ohara (2)
Yojiro Watanabe The Ohara Family
The Okamoto & Nakamoto Family
19 Jun Kunihiro Tsuchi Kajioka
Shigekichi Yoshizaki
The Yoshizaki Family The Kunihiro Family Heijiro Asai
Naotaka Hayashi Motoo Ueda Tsune Uesugi
The Ueda Family Koji Kamioka
Misue Imamoto
Yoshio Takara Maka Tamanaha Manzuchi Higashi
The Tamanaha Family Kazuto Hamada
Masamitsu Nakano
Matsutaro Shimizu Hatsumi Nakamura
9 Shizuko Hironaka Isamu Yoshioka Yoshiyo Yanagihara
The Hironaka & Ishimoto Family Thomas Lai Mitsuyo Kanai Yoshida
Fumie Iwasaki
20 Hiroshi Ohta 30 Tsuru Matsuno
Tokio Nishikawa
Mantsu Takara Esa Yamane
10 Tomi Arakawa Shozaemon Matsumoto Kume Nakamoto
Matsuji Yamamoto Mildred Yukiko Ito The Nakamoto &
Sakagawa Family
11 Tsunekichi Matsuno 21 Naomi Takara The Matsuno Family
The Matsuno Family Genichi Tamura The Yamane Family &
Sadako Yokoyama
22 Kyoichi Koyama Harada Family
The Yokoyama & Morita Family Shigetaka Imada
Teru Sakuda The Koyama Family
Chieko Miyakawa Miyoko Shindo
The Sakuda Family
Sada Harada Hiroshi Nakai
The Nakai Family Page 7

8. 8:30am Morning Service Jodo Mission of Hawaii
Everyday
April 2013 Phone: 949-3995
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
1 2 3 4 5 6
7 8 9 10 11 12 13
9 am HBC Buddha Day
Service at Honpa Hongwanji 8:30 am Sewing Class
14 15 16 17 18 19 20
10:00 Family Service
11:45 Board Meeting
21 NO SUNDAY SERVICE
22 23 24 25 26 27
8:30 am Sewing Class
10:00 Oahu Rengo Fujinkai
Convention
28 29 30
10:-00 Hanamatsuri Service
10:45 Sunday School
COMING EVENTS: COMING EVENTS:
Lei Making Project on Friday, May 24 for Punchbowl graves. O-Toba Set up Day: June 30, 2013 We NEED YOUR HELP!
Fujinkai may have a Mini Bazaar in May –to be announced O-Bon Services: July 12, 13, 14, 2013
State YBA Convention on Maui June 7, 8, 9, 2013 Bon Dance: August 16, 17, 2013