Good morning everyone. I have not had a chance to speak to our Dharma school for 2 weeks now. Last week, we had Ho-onko service but I only spoke at the Japanese service. I had 2 weeks of Dharma School messages in me, so at the Ho-onko service, I gave a Japanese Dharma talk for 50 minutes.

I forgot to wear my wrist watch, so I didn’t know how long I spoke until I finished.

Fortunately, nobody said “my talk was too long” Rev. Bob said my talk was long but very good...so, if someone wants to hear my 50 minute talk, I’ll translate it into English…

Last Tuesday, I went to Arco Arena to see the Sacramento Kings game.

It was my first chance to see the kings this season.

What is wrong with the Kings this season?

Maybe it’s because Vlade Divac who was my favorite player went to the Lakers.

Last year, he was one who always assisted other players to shoot and play harder. But this year, although we beat the Lakers 2 nights ago, there is less teamwork. I feel the King’s are not cooperating as a team yet. As you can see, I am becoming a Basketball expert. And fortunately the Kings also won last Tuesday against the Huston Rockets because “I” was at Arco Arena.

How was your Thanks giving? Did everyone eat enough turkey?

Would you like more turkey? For me? Oh, see you, turkeys next year…

All of you know a Turkey has 2 kinds of meat. There is dark meat and there is white meat. Which meat do you like? I like dark. I think dark meat is more tasty. Don’t you think so?

This year I visited two places and ate Turkey twice on Thanks giving day. First, I visited one of our member’s home in Rocklin. I did not really know “the history of Thanks giving” I think most of you know. Because, here in America, I heard everyone learns about Thanks giving in school. Do you remember the story? Maybe I am a first minister to talk about Thanks giving at a Buddhist Sunday service. I heard that when the English people first came to America. They encountered Native Americans. They wanted to have a good relationship with Native Americans. So they invited them to have dinner together. That was the origin of Thanks giving… Is it right?

If it is not right, maybe the person who told me the story didn’t get it quite right. Rev. Bob said “it’s close…but needs a little work. After I ate a Turkey dinner in Rocklin.

I visited Rev. Bob’s house with one of my friends about 7pm. Rev. Bob said “this year, we will have our first thanks giving in Sacramento”. 2 week ago, Patti’s family decided to come to Sacramento for Thanks giving for the first time. That’s why I wanted to visit their home. I had already enough to eat. So, I just ate a little bit. My friend who is Japanese, wanted to see and take pictures of our American style “Thanks giving.” My friend also wanted to try everything.

Rev. Bob said to my friend “it is good to try something new”

I have sometimes said “it is important to try something new” and also “please don’t hesitate to ask questions if you have don’t understand”.

Before, I didn’t know about the origin of Thanks giving. But now I know. Because I asked questions. If my understanding is not complete, please do not hesitate to teach me.

If we want to know something, we should always ask questions.

In the time of the Shakyamuni Buddha, his followers really wanted to know and understand Buddhism.

Especially Ananda, who was one of his followers, always asked the Buddha questions about Buddhism. Ananda learned lots of things about Buddhism…only because he asked.

Like Ananda, we should ask questions and always be open to trying something new and leaning something new. Gassho