February 2008 Newsletter

Calendar

February 3 (Sun)

9:00 a.m. Fujinakai Meeting

10:00 a.m. Setsubun Kito Service

Sunday School Activity

February 5 (Fri)

10:00 a.m. Avalon Care Center Visitation

February 6 (Wed)

7:00 p.m. Dharma Circle

February 10 (Sun)

10:00 a.m. Buddha’s Nirvana & Nichiren Shonin’s

Birthday Service

11:00 a.m. General Meeting & Directors’ Meeting

February 12 (Tue)

10:00 a.m. Island Nursing Home Visitation

February 17 (Sun)

10:00 a.m. Sunday Service

February 20 (Wed)

10:00 a.m. Liliha Health Care Visitation

February 24 (Sun)

9:00 a.m. Sunday School Meeting

10:00 a.m. Shodaigyo

February 26 (Tue)

9:00 a.m. Newsletter mailing

*Morning Services will be held every Sunday

from 6:30 a.m..

Rev. Nagayoshi appointed as the resident minister of Wahiawa Nichiren Mission

Rev. Junsei Nagayoshi, who served as an assistant minister at Nichiren Mission of Hawaii for past one and half years, has been appointed the resident minister of Wahiawa Nichiren Mission by Nichiren-shu’s Chief Administrator, Rev. Joshin Komatsu as of Februry 1, 2008. The Wahiawa Nichiren Mission has not had a resident minister for eight years since the former resident minister, Rev. Eiyu Yoshiki left Hawaii. The Wahiawa Mission will have its 60th anniversary this year, and to make it successful, they need a minister. The installation ceremony will be held on February 10 at 2:00 p.m. at the Wahiawa Mission. We wish him much luck! Rev. Nagayoshi’s message:

As you know, I will be transferring to Wahiawa Nichiren Mission in February. When I look back upon my time here in Honolulu, there was no time to relax. During my training period, I was often so tired that I would fall asleep at my desk or have dreams of studying English. And when I overslept on the bus, I would find myself somewhere that I had never been before. Those were embarrassing days. I'm afraid that I put everyone through a lot of trouble because I am not able to express myself fully in English. Although I feel that I have much to learn as a person and a minister, I was able to go on because of your encouragement and support. I was saved many times by your smile. Since I became a minister, I felt that my destiny should be left to the Buddha. Therefore, I think that my transfer this time is the will of the Buddha. And, I was able to meet you thanks to your faith in the Lotus Sutra. I'm so glad and really appreciative of that. Thank you very much for your warm smiles and your unfailing kindness. The time that I have spent here has become an unforgettable asset in my life. I will leave here, but it is not a parting as I will just move to the temple next door. If there is something that I can do to help, I would most certainly come to help immediately. Finally, I will do my best to spread Buddha's teachings not only at the Wahiawa Mission but throughout Hawaii. Please support me in realizing these goals. Thank you very much.

(Rev. Nagayoshi)

NOTICE BOARD

Sixth Dharma Circle

The Sixth Dharma Circle will be held on Wednesday, February 6, 2008 from 7:00 p.m. We are planning to hold a short Shodaigyo practice, English chanting of the Lotus Sutra and discussion with refreshments. This time, I would like to share with you the Three Dharma Seals which are impermanence, non-self and nirvana. Please feel free to attend the Dharma Circle. You are always welcome.

Setsubun Kito on Feb. 3

"SETSUBUN" is a Japanese traditional ceremony of exorcism begun in 8th century. It literally means "to separate the season."People in those days held this ceremony to avoid any bad luck before beginning a new season of spring.

We will perform a special kito prayer for "Toshi-Otoko and Toshi-Onna" (men and women of the year). At the service, those who were born in the year of rat will throw beans at supposedly present devils, crying "Oni wa soto! Fuku wa uchi! (Evil out! Fortune in!)" The men and women for this year are those who were born in 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996 and 2008. The men and women of the year, please mention at the service. Let us observe a traditional ceremony together and have a lucky year of 2008.

General Meeting on Feb. 10

The Annual General Meeting of Nichiren Mission of Hawaii will be held on the second Sunday of this month. Those who are members are asked to remain after the Sunday Service to attend. Your participation will be greatly appreciated.

Please KOKUA for Sunday School activity

Sunday School is planning to have children make placemats from old Greetings, Birthday or any kind of card. If you have any cards, please bring to the Mission so that children could cut them and make the place mats. Your support would be appreciated.

Membership Dues for 2008

Membership dues represent your commitment and support of our Mission. The detail is enclosed with this newsletter. Thank you for your support in advance.

Hilo Nichiren Mission

Hilo Nichiren Mission is planning to hold a monthly service on Saturday, February 23, 2008, from 10:00 a.m. Rev. Junsei Nagayoshi of Wahiawa Mission will be officiating the service since Rev. Tetsudo Takasaki is now in the 100 days ARAGYODO in Japan.

Let’s share the support for the homeless

The Mission has been asking you to bring any toiletaries such as toothpaste, toothbrush, shampoo, conditioner, etc. We are planning to bring them to the downtown River of Life Mission to share in the support of the homeless and indigent people as a bodhisattva’s practice. If you have any questions on this matter, please feel free to contact Rev. Imai at 595-3517 or e-mail him.

Editor’s Note

The Nichrien Mission has a nice social hall downstairs. Recently, it has been used by some people for their activities, and many people have been visiting our temple. Therefore, I have been often asked how to get here or where the activity is going on. Most of the first time visitors I met here said to me that "It was hard to find this place..." I thought in my mind that the Mission needs to have more sign boards... That may be a kind of disappointed feeling. However, the following sentence that those people told me the next always encourages me and makes me happy, which is "But, it’s very beautiful here!". They enjoy staying here and having their own lunch around our beautiful pond. I wonder if they visit here on May or June and see the pond filled with lotus flowers. Some of them even stop by our office to ask how they can rent the downstairs’ social hall for their gathering or how they can attend our Mission’s services and activities. I always give away our newsletters that includes our address, phone numbers and e-mail address. Let us be proud of our temple. We have such a beautiful temple admitted by those people. I hope that more people will know our temple’s existence as well as the teachings of the Buddha Shakyamuni we worship. (Editor)