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Sangha
President’s
Message Allan Hoshida In August, I was invited to attend the Welcome Social and the Sayonara Party for the Sacramento Matsuyama Sister City Boy Scout Exchange Program. For over 20 years, this program has allowed Boy Scouts and Scout leaders from Matsuyama, Japan and Sacramento Troop 50 and 250 to come together and host every other year at their respective venues. This year brought several Matsuyama adult Scout leaders and a dozen Boy and Girl Scouts to Sacramento for a wonderful lifetime experience here in the United States. Some of the Scouts were treated so well by their home-stay families and had such a wonderful time here that they didn’t want to go back home! Congratulations to all of the Scouts, Scout leaders and families for another successful exchange program. Next summer there will be a contingent of our Scouts and adult leaders, headed by Scout Leaders Don Honda and Jeff Tsuruoka, going to Matsuyama to continue this wonderful tradition and great opportunity for our Scouts. Let’s do what we can to help support the Scouting program throughout the year. As many of you have heard, our minister assistants Tim and Carol Castle and Patti Oshita have passed the test and will be going to Kyoto, Japan in December (a total of 11 are going from throughout the United States) to receive their kyoshi certification. Reverend Bob has been asked by Socho Ogui to accompany this first group to Japan since he has been such an integral part of the BCA Minister Assistant Program. Congratulations to Tim, Carol, Patti and RB. There may be some fundraisers (it will cost approximately $4,500 per person) to help fund their trip, so please come out and support them. Also, if sponsored or affiliated organizations want to help, please let me or any of the board members know. Any help will be much appreciated. The Legacy Endowment Fund marketing brochure and information packet will be sent out in October, so please be looking for it. The Fund Committee, composed of Ted Yoshimura (chair), Val Fong, Ken Furukawa, Kelvin Mark, Ruth Seo, Marsha Matsuda, Mark Umeda, Hank Nishikawa, RB and myself, has been busy working to get this package out. It has been several years in the making and we all know that it will take a while for the Fund to grow and mature. This Fund will be independently run, professionally managed to preserve and increase capital holdings, while providing funding for selected programs through dividends/interests. The Fund is just one way in which we all can support our Betsuin/sangha looking to the future. Through our contributions to the Fund, we can continue to Honor the Past, Continue the Legacy, Shape the Future. Please join us in this most important endeavor. Some thanks/recognition: - Buddhist Women’s Association for their generous $2,500 donation to the Legacy Endowment Fund. - Girl Scouts for their generous $1,000 donation from the proceeds of Obon food sales. - Sports Committee for help with the resurfacing of the kaikan flooring. - Richard Kai, Dharma School superintendent, indicated that there are 67 Dharma School teachers and teacher assistants helping out this coming Dharma School year. Many are returning teachers and some have been doing this for many years. Thank you all for your help/guidance/leadership. Congratulations to Machiko Kimura for her 40 years of leading our Betsuin Choir. It is always great to hear our choir perform. Thank you Machiko! Rinban Bob Oshita Hello…And welcome to the month of October. Each year my two brothers-in-law, Rick and Dennis, bring Patti’s Dad up to the Bay Area and we all go to a Giants-Dodgers game together. It’s our boys’ day out. I remember when we started this about four years ago, I had a brief sticker shock experience. We arrived hungry at what was then Pac Bell Park. I purchased 4 hot dogs, 2 fries and 4 “adult beverages.” I handed the cashier a $50 bill and she looked at me a while before I realized that $50 was insufficient. Another $20 seemed to cover it…and I even got some change. It was obvious it had been a while since I had last gone to a ball game. Last month, we again took Dad to what turned out to be the best baseball game I’ve ever been to. The scoring was so close. Dodgers up by one, the Giants tie. The Dodgers up by two, the Giants tie. The Giants were up by one (4-3) going into the ninth inning. Top of the ninth inning, the Dodgers knew well that this was their last chance to stay alive in this game. In three outs, the game could be over. BAM! The Dodger’s first baseman, James Loney, homers to tie the game! You could hear the agony of the fans. The roller coaster ride of cheers and groans grew louder and louder with each lead change. Now it was the bottom of the ninth…the Giants had last licks. The Dodgers get the first batter out. Up to the plate steps the Giants’ rookie first baseman, Daniel Ortmeier. It was the first time I’ve ever witnessed live a walk-off home run to win the game. The entire Giants team rushed out of the dugout to welcome the game winner home. It was an exhilarating win for the last-place Giants. And it was another great Dharma life lesson. Especially as the game was coming down to the ninth inning, each batter especially knew that if they were going to do something, they’d better do it NOW! Not tomorrow, not next week…but right now. And both teams responded to the best of their ability. That’s what made this game so great. In life, we rarely know when the ninth inning may be. We often take for granted that we will have many more innings…many more days and years to do the things we hope to accomplish. But this game had a true Dharma lesson. It reminds us that if there is something we need to do, we had better try to do it NOW. As I’ve often said, if someone has shown us kindness, let us thank them now. If there is someone we care for, let us hold them close now. Not tomorrow, not next week…but right now. In living this way, we begin to live each day with Nembutsu gratitude. We begin to live each day with our Dharma eyes open. Gassho, RB Grace Hatano October is our wedding anniversary month. Bill and I have been together 52 years. It certainly is a wonder how we have tolerated each other for all these years, bearing each other’s shortcomings, sharing special times with each other and our families, caring for each other, being there for our children and our grandchildren. And how fortunate we are to have our health! I have been able to enjoy so many activities — with the church and the community, golfing, bowling and exercising. Here at the church, we meet Monday and Wednesday as I try to keep up my wellness by doing walking exercises and line dancing for an hour. The focus is to have fun, sweat off the ounces and strengthen our cardio fitness. At least twice a week, I make it to the YMCA and work out a few hours on the treadmill, cross-trainer and attend classes, and I get to make friends. At the YMCA are many determined members making it part of their day to work out, to keep moving and stay active. I see some people being bused in; some take taxi cabs, some travel by car or walk to the facility, use a walker or even a white cane. Yes, a white cane. One person who is legally blind makes the effort to travel to the “Y” and exercise. Such dedication and determination! As a staff member guided him around the various equipment to a treadmill, he requested that she set it for 3 miles and at a speed of 6 miles per hour. I had a chance to work out next to him a couple of times. As I paced at 4 mph, I lost track of time because I was so interested in how he would get off the treadmill and out of the equipment room without assistance. He moved as if he had his sight. When the treadmill read “3 miles,” it slowly came to a stop. He got off without a mishap, picked up his white cane and very steadily walked out of the room. To feel how it is walking on the treadmill without sight, I closed my eyes as I walked on the treadmill. I really needed to hang onto the bar to steady myself so as not to lose my balance. It was an uncomfortable and awkward feeling. I really appreciated — and felt very fortunate — that I was able to see what I was doing. I wanted to find out more about this very dedicated member of the YMCA. How he copes daily with his blindness became a life lesson for me. I got to observe him again another time. I was on the cross-trainer, pumping my feet and arms, trying to get through 25-30 minutes. I was again so engrossed and amazed how this man was jogging without a problem, that 25 minutes passed rapidly. Here was this man in his late 50s and blind, trying to stay in condition without having his disability hinder him. We take for granted how fortunate we are to have our health, especially our eyesight, and to participate in various activities without having to depend on others. Yet here was this gentleman, accepting his condition and working out with the rest of us. I marveled at his determination, drive and will power to get it done. This experience really opened my eyes — literally — to appreciate what I have, to be able to enjoy life and see the beauty around me. He made me more aware of how we are all interconnected by the karmic circumstances of our lives. I feel very grateful today for my health, and having my family members nearby with their support and love as we enjoy many activities. And now, after having walked alongside this man, I really appreciate having my eyesight. One of the essential teachings of Buddhism is impermanence — in life, things are constantly changing. Once in a while comes a lesson in life like mine. This blind man working out, making the best of the situation, enjoying his life without allowing his condition to hinder him. This man crossed my path and opened my Dharma eyes. He was a teacher in disguise that today helps me to appreciate all that I am thankful for every day. Each day, knowing that nothing remains the same, we must accept the changes in our life and be thankful as we live our lives with Nembutsu gratitude. In gassho. Greeters’ ProgramFall 2007 During the Dharma School session, the following Betsuin Board members will warmly welcome visitors to Dharma Service on Sundays: September 9 Frank Hirota Shigeko Tanaka Marc Ely September 16 Mark Amioka Richard Kai Kelvin Mark September 23 Pauline Sing Ken Koyama Denis Ishisaka September 30 Valerie Fong Allan Hoshida Keith Kato October 7 Don Honda John Fujimoto Ken Furukawa October 14 Roy Imura Diane Muranaka Shirley Sekeres October 21 Eddie Imai Roger Ito Diane Shimosaka October 28 Steve Kawano Brian Okamoto Sheryl Kajioka November 4 Don Masuda Bob Tanaka Mark Umeda November 11 Mary Ann Miyao Ted Yoshimura Robbie Midzuno November 18 Frank Hirota Shigeko Tanaka Marc Ely November 25 Mark Amioka Richard Kai Kelvin Mark December 2 Pauline Sing Ken Koyama Denis Ishisaka December 9 Valerie Fong Allan Hoshida Keith Kato December 16 Don Honda John Fujimoto Ken Furukawa December 23 No Service December 30 No Service From The OfficeOnce again, thanks to Billy Hatano and Ted Ito for helping stuff envelopes for the coming election. Thanks, guys! Meri and I would like to personally thank our two volunteer ladies for helping us out each Monday and Wednesday. We must apologize for not mentioning these ladies before. They are Mieko Kono, who helps us out on Mondays, and Pat Otani, who helps us out on Wednesdays. Ladies, this was an oversight. You are truly appreciated by us and the church. Domo arigato gozaimasu. Church MaintenanceEd Imai Over the past month, the following members performed maintenance on the Betsuin’s facilities. The Betsuin is sincerely appreciative to the following members for volunteering their time and hard efforts:
BazaarMessage from the Sacramento Buddhist Church Legacy Endowment Fund Board Ruth Seo The Legacy Endowment Fund came about as a dream of Reverend Kosho Yukawa to provide a long-term funding plan for the Sacramento Betsuin and the propagation of Jodo Shinshu Buddhism in America. While the fund has been in existence since the initial donation from Reverend Yukawa in 2001, it has not been publicized very much. The current Legacy Endowment Fund Board is completing a brochure that will soon be distributed to all members and planning workshops and other events to help members understand the benefits of this program. Brunch/Workshop On Saturday, November 17, from 11 a.m.-1 p.m., the Legacy Endowment Fund Board will host a free brunch and workshop to explain the benefits of planned giving. Reverend and Michiko Yukawa and other special guests will be in attendance. Space is limited so if you wish to attend, please call the church office, 446-0121. Donate From Your IRA and Avoid Taxes on the Distribution Under the Pension Protection Act of 2006, individuals who are 70½ or older may transfer up to $100,000 during 2007 from their IRA or Rollover IRA to qualified charitable organizations, like the Sacramento Buddhist Church, and avoid paying income tax on that money. The transfer counts toward the donor’s required minimum distribution, but does not generate the personal taxable income that a distribution or withdrawal would. It also does not provide a tax deduction, so a donor does not need to itemize their tax returns in order to take advantage of this benefit. The law expires at the end of 2007, so act now if you would like to take advantage of this new opportunity to make a charitable gift to the Sacramento Buddhist Church Endowment Fund. For more information, contact your personal financial or tax advisor or call the Sacramento Buddhist Church office, 446-0121. Roy & Marlene Ono In Memory of May & George Ono Mitsuye Mori Eleanor Nobuye Al & Hiroko Shimizu Mineko Nishimoto In Memory of Kazuo Nishimoto Paul Higuchi Ruby Waki In Memory of Paul N. Waki George & Alice Shimizu Terry Uyeminami In Memory of Toshio Uyeminami Susie Imai Hisako Kawada Etsuki Dote Noriko Bachus In Memory of Kenneth D. Bachus Harue Okino Minnie Iseri Alan Wu Since the air is cool and crisp now, it must be October. Ten months have passed since Reverend Kaz made his New Year’s Resolution of fitting into size “L” T-shirts. Well, word has it that he is almost at his goal, he is at size XL, still exercising and still trimming down. Great job on that New Year’s resolution! Also congratulations to Mr. and Mrs. Reverend Kaz for passing their interview at the U.S. Consulate office in Japan; now they won’t be deported! Meanwhile, basketball registration is complete, and now the next step is to form our teams. Even though regular registration is over, we still have late registration, so if you have a child who is interested in playing, seek out a registration form in the church office and get it submitted as soon as possible. Work is now being done on the 37th Annual Basketball Tournament being held on March 1-2, 2008. Our veteran tournament director, Austin Nodohara, is looking for an apprentice to show the ropes and eventually take over the reins. Since it is the 37th annual tournament, everything is laid out in checklists, and what to do and when is clearly spelled out, and the entire Sports Committee is there to help too, so the task is not as daunting as it sounds. Have a chat with Austin and you will hear what a rewarding experience he has had as our tournament director. If you are interested in helping Austin, please contact anyone on the Sports Committee or put a note in our mailbox in the church office. League basketball games will begin in December and end in February, so now is the time to get Dharma School attendance credits and build up that attendance percentage now, so you don’t have to worry about it during the season. And of course, everyone took full advantage of the two extra credit days in September…..yes?!?!?!?! You didn’t…well you have two more opportunities — New Year’s Eve service, and New Year’s Day service. These are the very last extra credit days; don’t miss out! Important Dates to Remember December 31 Third extra credit day for sports attendance record January 1, 2008 Fourth and final extra credit day for sports attendance record C U B S C O U T P A C K 5 0 “All You Can Eat”
P A N C A K E B R E A K F A S T
Date: October 14, 2007 Time: 8:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Location: Sacramento Buddhist Church 2401 Riverside Boulevard Price: $6.00 per ticket Children 3 and under are free
Tickets pre-sold by Pack 50 or available at the door Menu includes pancakes, scrambled eggs, hash browns, ham, sausage, fruit, beverages, and more
For more information, please contact the Buddhist Church at 446-0121 Masako Thomas Fall Semester started on September 10, with more than 50 students. The Beginner Level 1 class is full, but other classes have some spaces left. If you know some Japanese, you do not have to wait for the next semester. We have conversation classes from Beginner Level 2 to Refresher for those who have solid knowledge of Japanese language. Separate kana and kanji class are also open. The fall semester is from September 10, 2007 to January 22, 2008. Tuition is $150 per semester class. Registration fee for a new student is $10. Please check the Sakura Gakuen adult classes website, or contact Masako Thomas at 482-8770, or sakurahanami@hotmail.com. Richard Kai The new Dharma School year is upon us once again; it’s a delight for us and our children to gather every Sunday to meet up with friends and relatives under a roof of harmony and opportunity. As the Dharma School Cabinet, teachers and assistants, along with the Betsuin’s sponsored and affiliated committees, begin to form their agendas for the upcoming year, let’s hope we build into our creed expectations of proper behaviors, ethics, sportsmanship and integrity. We can learn a few lessons and what to avoid from headlines of recent news articles. These are life’s lessons that can help us shape and build credibility into our programs as we represent the Betsuin by our actions. A straw poll survey conducted by The Sacramento Bee asked its readers to vote which of three events was the recent worst example of cheating in sports? The results were: Patriots video spying on the Jets’ signals 43% 73 votes McLaren possessing data from another Formula One team 20% 33 votes Baseball players receiving human growth hormone 37% 63 votes The Patriots are one of the most successful football teams in the National Football League, winning three of the last six Super Bowl championships. Why would a three-time Super Bowl champion resort to cheating to stay ahead? Penalty for getting caught: $750,000 and a draft choice. The McLaren team, which leads the current drivers’ and constructors’ standings, was punished by the World Motor Sports Council for allegedly using leaked secret technical documents belonging to F1 rival Ferrari. Why would the leading team resort to cheating? Penalty: $100 million and stripped of all of its points in the constructor’s standings. Much could be said about the use of human growth hormones by leading star baseball players; however, the outcome of their alleged cheating to get ahead is not known. Penalty: Loss of reputation, asset value and place in history. These three recent cheaters were all fined sums of monetary values, but is that the right penalty? Money can be replaced; it holds no value in the game of life. These three events pale in comparison to one of the captain of the win at all cost leaders: Richard Milhous Nixon, the 37th President of the United States. Mr. Nixon resigned shortly after being re-elected to his second term due to his knowledge of Watergate, a general term used to describe a complex web of political scandals including: burglary, bribery, extortion, phone tapping, conspiracy, obstruction of justice, destruction of evidence, tax fraud, illegal use of government agencies such as the CIA and FBI, illegal campaign contributions and use of public money for private purposes. Penalty: Expulsion from office by way of resignation in lieu of impeachment, public humiliation, loss of reputation and expelled from his successful political career to lead a life of shame. The moral of the story is though winning may bring glory, fame and prestige, reliance on methods of cheating will catch up and shame may be the best penalty in the long run. Prepare your team and players to be competitive, set up the charter of your organizations to exemplify high standards based on integrity, honesty and ethical behaviors, and appoint leaders who are selfless and without egos. Reward: Redeemable characteristics of your organization and its members, sowing future leaders, gamesmanship based on pride and honor. Best of all, knowing you’ve done your best to be a positive role model, being able to sleep at night and being remembered as an all-around good person if you don’t wake up in the morning. The sacrifices of our parents, grandparents and generations before them were exemplary to make the Betsuin what it is today. It is our job to build on those characteristics and founding principles. And when your term of office or coaching is over, can you answer the question Private Ryan asked of his wife: “Am I a good person?” Did I do a good job? Can I be proud of how I handled my position? These are the questions to ask since no money is exchanged for the work we do. We couldn’t afford to get fined. Important Dates to Remember: October 21: Eitaikyo Service November 4: Pet Memorial Service November 11: New Student Recognition Donations Dharma School “courtyard” gratefully acknowledges donations from the following: Sam & Misao Abe Meri Fong Wayne Horita & Family Minnie Iseri Alice Kataoka Maynard & Cindy Kurahara Martha & Bruce Kushida Barbara Takai Eleanor Nobuye Mitzie Muramoto Shigeko Tanaka Terry & David Yasuda Boy ScoutsGirl Scouts Troop 569Sacramento Buddhist Women’s Association Leilani Ito Bazaar Committee Chairpersons Frances Kondo, Fumie Ishihara and Lynn Kurahara would like to extend a grateful thank you to all the SBWA members who worked to make the Bazaar such a big success. From the preparation on Friday, working from the early hours of the morning, day and evenings of Saturday and Sunday, and cleanup on Monday, thanks for your participation. Craft Committee - Chairperson Shirley Kato The craft booth was very successful this year due to the following who made crafts, donated craft materials or items for the craft booth, worked in the booth Bazaar weekend, or all three! (Special thank you to Lillian Ishii for serving as advisor and organizing the monthly craft sessions at the church the past few months.) Mary Amemiya Midori Ito Misa Oshiro Joanne Champ Miyo Iwata Jean Ota Joan Curry JoAnn Jung Linda Otani Amy Dote Amiko Kashiwagi Helen Sekikawa Jim Fujii Kaye Kato Kay Shirai Sherry Fujii Toshie Kobata Yaeko Tademaru Naomi Hamamoto Lynn Kurahara Fusako Takahashi Sally Hamatake May Kurimoto Irene Takeda Seiko Hara Kelli Omoto Lee Kiyoko Tanaka Nancy Hashimoto Rae London Harriet Taniguchi Hiroko Hayashi Peggy Mori Virginia Uchida Meriko Hoshida Bridget Morisaki Laureen Uyematsu Irene Hoshiko Carolyn Murai Colleen Warner Georgette Imura Toshi Muramoto Cheryl Imura Watanabe Judy Inaba Lori Namba Donna Wong Misao Inaba Joanne Nishimura Satsuki Yamamoto Gladys Irokawa Eleanor Nobuye Sandy Nishimura Yee Lillian Ishii Mae Ogata Elaine Yoshikawa Yvonne Ishimoto Norrine Okamoto Leilani Ito Teruko Ono Social Services - Marcia Matsuda/Mitzie Muramoto Sumiye Komura passed away on August 14. Funeral services were held on August 18. A sympathy card and okoden were sent to the family. Donations Memorial Family of Mutsuko Tokunaga In Memory of Mutsuko Tokunaga Terry Kagiyama 1st Year Memorial for Atsushi “Angel” Kagiyama Heidi Sakazaki In Memory of John Nakao Special Ikuko Sakazaki Recovery The next board meeting will be October 3. Mike Nagai The seniors group completed a number of projects during the past summer. Upon the approval of the board, Robert Ito and I purchased 10 new tables for the kaikan to replace some of the heavy and badly damaged brown tables. The damaged tables were culled out from the stacks and repaired by Yosh Nakamoto, Ed Mizutani , John Itagaki and Mike Nagai. Also helping to cull out the tables were Wayne Kurahara and Akio Seo. These tables will be used outside during the Bazaar and reduce the number of tables that are rented during the Bazaar, resulting in a savings to the temple. Our skilled woodworking crew of Max Hamamoto, Tomio Masaki and Eiichi Okamoto installed additional partitions and exterior hardwood trim for a number of niches in the nokotsudo. Max and Tomio also reinstalled the diaper-changing table in the main women’s restroom. The three ginko trees in the courtyard were getting overgrown and needed to be cut back . The crew of Max Hamamoto, Akio Seo, Ed Mizutani, Eiichi Okamoto, Robert Ito, John Itagaki, Gene Itogawa and Mike Nagai spent two days cutting back the trees. This pruning will probably have to be done each year to keep these trees down to a size that will not overwhelm the courtyard. Finally, in preparation for the Bazaar, Robert Ito and Mike Nagai painted the tempura cooking room. During the Bazaar, the sewer line from the rice washing room in the kaikan started to back up and the rice washing had to be done outside. A plumber was called out and he ran a snake out to Quinn Alley and encountered a massive blockage that the snake could not penetrate. On the Wednesday after the Bazaar, Roy Imura took charge and called out a plumber to dig down to the blockage. They found that four fiber optic cable ducts had been drilled right through the sewer line. Roy contacted the utility company and after coming out to look at it, they admited that it was theirs and agreed to reimburse the church for all expenses involved in repairing the line and previous expenses incurred by the blockage. The line is now functional and all bills have been sent to the company. Roy’s professional experience in working with underground utilities before he retired was very instrumental in getting this problem resolved expeditiously and favorably to the temple. Thank you, Roy, for stepping up and taking care of this problem. On behalf of the sangha, I’d like to thank Roy and all the other seniors who respond so graciously when they are called to help out on various maintenance projects. In addition, I’d like to acknowledge the efforts of Eddie Imai and his Building and Maintenance Committee, consisting of Frank Hirota, John Fujimoto, Gary Traganza , Roger Ito and others to keep our facility in good working order. Funeral Harue Okino, Robert & Janet Okino Family, Diane & Jeff Tsuruoka Family, Kenneth & Stacey Okino Family, Ronald Okino Family In Memory of Tatsuo Okino Sumiye Komura Family In Memory of Sumiye Komura Kimiko Nagao Family In Memory of Kimiko Nagao Takashi Tanaka Family In Memory of Takashi Tanaka Don, Kathy Tanaka Henry In Memory of Takashi Tanaka Teiko Matsuo In Memory of Mary Sakamoto Kimio Kasamatsu In Memory of Sumiye Komura N. J. Dillon In Memory of Mutsuko Tokunaga Max & Sumiye Hamamoto In Memory of Mary Sakamoto Walter & Mary Otani In Memory of Mary Hatsuko Sakamoto Keith & Allison Sekikawa In Memory of Mary Hatsuko Sakamoto Ken & Eiko Furuta In Memory of Sumiye Komura Sheryl Kajioka In Memory of Tatsuo Okino Amiko Kashiwagi In Memory of Shigeru Tateyama Gerald & Diane Muranaka In Memory of Mary Hatsuko Sakamoto Sally Muranaka In Memory of Mary Hatsuko Sakamoto Herbert Umeda In Memory of Mary Hatsuko Sakamoto M/M June Sunahara In Memory of Shigeru Tateyama |
