Good morning everyone!

Thank you for coming to our Sunday Dharma school service this morning.

Last week, many of our Dharma school students enjoyed performing in the Hanamatsuri play. I was so impressed, and their performance was so well organized. Most especially, because of the hard work of Cliff, Ann, Sydney, Tadao and Emily, we were able to enjoy this wonderful stage show. They did a great job. I would like to give them a hand.

One thing, that really surprised me was Kazuo Koyama. He performed the voice actor for the Pirate Captain Jack Sparrow who was one of the main characters. It was a perfect Captain Jack! He may also become an fine actor…

I know some of you missed last Sunday’s service and the Hanamatsuri play. But, please don’t worry. Our video camera man, Gary Matsumoto captured the wonderful Hanamatsuri play on video and we can burn the play on to a DVD. So, you can see it at home and share it with friends. It’s amazing. If you want to see the Hanamatsuri play on DVD, please order it at the office.

2 weeks ago, some of you may remember that I talked with Sakura about being responsible and caring. Today, I think Kana-mochi will be showing up and he may share an interesting story with us. So, please listen it.

“Kana-mochi. Kana-mochi. Now it is your turn. Where are you?”

“Oh, hi. Rev. Kaz. Buddha morning.”

“What? Did you say Buddha morning?”

“Yeah, I am now trying to practice speaking with a British accent. I saw the Hanamatsuri play and listened Kazuo’s voice. He has such a cool voice. So, I wanted to learn British English. That’s why… I said… Buddha morning.”

“Well… do British people really say Buddha morning?”

“No, the spelling is good morning the same as here in the United States. But I listened and they sound …like… they are saying Buddha morning. Hahaha.”

“Oh, I guess you were just kidding me. Why are you so smiley and happy this morning?”

“Ho-ho-ho. This morning, I have a very important announcement.”

“Oh, ya? What kind of announcement do you have?”

“Please look at this. I got 100% on my math test.”

“Oh, really? Can I see it?”

“Sure, sure, why not?”

“Oh, this test was on fractions… When I was a teacher at a private school in Japan, I taught mathematics and science to students. I remember that many students had difficulty understanding fractions.”

“Do you know why I got 100% on the test. Because, I studied very hard. We have drills in the math study book to help us understand fractions. So, I practiced the drills over and over. Sometimes, I studied until 10 PM.”

“Did you really study that much?”

“Of course. I am smart and I am able to do anything by myself if I try really hard.”

“Oh, ya? Don’t you think that others helped you do well on your test?”

“No, I don’t. I got 100% on the test because I gave 100% of my own effort. I did not have any help from either mom or dad. I did it by myself.”

“Oh, do you think really so?”

“Sure, sure, why not?”

“Kana-mochi, I think that it is easy to forget just how much others have always helped and supported us.”

“Help from others? I did not have any help or support from others… I did it myself!”

“Ok, I will explain it to you, Kana-mochi. When you study for your test, what do you need to study for it?”

“So you are asking me… what I need to do my homework?”

“Yes”

“Well… I need a pencil to write with, an eraser to correct my mistake, a drill book to practice, a light stand, a desk and a chair… hmm, I think… that’s it.”

“Oh, ya? Don’t you appreciate your parents’ help and support?”

“Well… oh, I remember that my mom sometimes made snacks for me at night when I am studying late...”

“See… your mom tried to make you comfortable, so you could study more. Don’t you think so?”

“Well…”

“If you missed even one thing, could you continue studying?”

“What do you mean?”

“If you did not have your pencil or eraser, you could not study. If you did not have a light, you could not study at night.”

“That’s true……..

My dad got me a nice study desk and comfortable chair too…”

“See… You were able to continue studying hard, because you received others’ help and support.”

“I understand now what are you trying to say…”

“When I was a student, night snacks really helped me to continue my study and to sleep good… Anyway, please remember that we always receive others’ help and support no matter what we do. This is one of very essential teachings in our Jodo Shinshu teachings. We call this OTHER POWER.”

“Other power? I have never heard that phrase before. Is that power like… magic or a miracle power?

“No, it is not a magical or a miracle power. Also, it does not mean a physical power, either…

And you don’t have to know the phrase, OTHER POWER. Because I think, Other power is not a good translation and it does not describe the original meaning.”

“Oh, come on, Rev. Kaz… it is too complicated to understand what you are saying to me. So… how can we understand it?

“Oh, I am sorry, Kana-mochi. Well… We can just simply say… we receive others’ help and support, instead of we receive OTHER POWER.”

“Ok, that is much easier for me to understand.”

“Sure. So, I was trying to say that… we can only sustain our lives because we have others’ help and support.”

“That’s make sense. Now I realize that I got 100% on my test because of others’ help and effort. Is that Right, Rev. Kaz?”

“Yes, and also your effort was needed to achieve your goal. Needless to say, you cannot succeed without your own effort.”

“Oh, I see.”

“Now is a time to stop today’s conversation, Kana-mochi. I hope everyone enjoyed and understood our conversation. If anyone has any questions, please come to see me.”

In closing,

Kana-mochi got 100% on his test, because he received the help and support of others … and also his effort…

We are able to sustain our lives because we always receive others’ help and support. This is one of very essential teachings in our Jodo Shinshu Buddhism. Nobody exists alone. All of us are always together with each other.