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June 2013 Mangan Newsletter has been Published

Published by bigwave on May 19, 2013 in News. 0 Comments

Please CLICK HERE to view the June 2013 Newsletter page

Aloha Members and Friends,

It has been very hot lately and no rain for a while. It seems like summer has come early this year. I hope that everything has been all right for you.

We are doing great at Mantokuji and we recently returned from the 48th UHSSWA Conference hosted by the Hilo Taishoji Fujinkai. The theme for this year was “Honoring the Past, Planning for the Future.”

I think we have heard this theme before, but using different words. I can see why we would use this idea as a theme for an event or conference. First of all, it is essential to discuss our future, and at the same time be mindful of the road that we have walked. We appreciate the efforts and love of our parents, grandparents and ancestors, and must seriously think of what we can do now for our children and grandchildren and those who are to be born in the future. We must ask ourselves, “What shall we preserve and pass on?” and “What can we build now to make it better for the future?”

I am sure this theme has been used many times already and our parents and grandparents had talked about what they can do for us some 30 — 40 years ago. We may not know what they talked about back then, but I believe that the feeling that they had is probably the same as what we feel right now. And it is only our actions taken today that can prove if they were successful in their “planning for the future.”

I think the most important thing that has been passed down to all of you and should be passed on to the future generation is good values, the precepts and teachings, being compassionate and wise, and having the strength, determination, and will to overcome the challenges that we must face in this world. If our children have these principles down pat, I believe they should be okay and everything else will take care of itself.

In Gassho,
Rev. Kenji Oyama, Resident Minister

Paia Hanamatsuri Service

Published by bigwave on April 4, 2013 in News. Closed

Please Click Here to View the 2013 Hanamatsuri Photo Gallery

You are cordially invited to attend the Paia Hanamatsuri (Buddha Birthday Celebration) to be held at the Paia Rinzai Zen Mission on:

Sunday April 7 , 20 1 3 at 10:00 AM Together with Paia Rinzai Zen Mission and Maui Dharma Center.

Since 2005, we have been celebrating Hanamatsuri together with our neighbors, the Paia Rinzai Zen Mission and Maui Dharma Center. In alternating years, we host the Hanamatsuri and this year we will be going over to the Paia Rinzai Zen Mission. We always enjoy the fellowship, the delicious meal, entertainment and playing games.

The Hanamatsuri service is a ceremony observed in celebration of the birth of Siddharta Gautama, the Shakyamuni Buddh a, who was born on April 8 nearly 2600 years ago.

We will offer flowers, incense and pour amacha (sweet tea) on the baby Buddha statue that will be enshrined in the Hanamido – a special house for the baby Buddha that is decorated with flowers.

We are honored to have guest ministers participate in the ceremony from Japan: The Most Reverend Soeki Matsui (Secretary General of Myoshinji School, Rinzai Zen Mission), Rev. Shogaku Hoshi, Rev. Jobun Kajiro, and Rev. Seiya Chisaka.

Rev. Matsui will be our guest speaker for this service.

Please bring your family and friends to celebrate together!

Dharma Lei – Soto Zen Buddhism Hawaii – Bishop’s Office April 2013 Newsletter has been published

Published by bigwave on March 21, 2013 in News. Closed


The official newsletter publication of the Hawaii Soto Mission Bishop’s Office, Dharma Lei, can be downloaded by CLICKING HERE.

Bishop’s Message
by Bishop Shugen Komagata

April 8 is “Buddha Day” in Hawaii. It is a very special celebration for us Buddhists. On this day over 2500 years ago in the Lumbini Park, India, near the southern border of present-day Nepal, Shakyamuni Buddha (Siddhartha Gautama) was born.

Upon his birth Buddha took seven steps towards the four corners of the world, east, west, south and north. He pointed above and down towards earth and proclaimed: “In heaven and earth, I alone am the most honored one.” It was the declaration of dignity and respect for all life. Every life is irreplaceable. Not only human life but also animal life, plant life, mineral life and all other lives have their own right to exist.

The meaning of the birth of Shakyamuni Buddha is that we have been given the highest and most noble teaching to follow. With compassionate heart let us make a firm commitment to live the teaching in our daily life as we celebrate the Buddha Day. Happy Buddha Day!

Paia Mantokuji Soto Zen Mission’s 36th Annual Bazaar

Published by bigwave on February 13, 2013 in News. Closed

Date . . . . . . . . . . . . Sunday, March 24, 2013
Time . . . . . . . . . . . . 7:00 AM ~ 11:00 AM
Place . . . . . . . . . . . Paia Mantokuji Mission
253 Hana Highway, Paia (across Paia Community Center)

All kinds of Ono Food – Including traditional Japanese food such as Nishime, Tsukemono, Ohagi.

Also, for sale is Chow Fun, Spam Musubi, Baked goods – Manju, Cookies, Pies, Donuts and other yummy goodies.

We will also be selling all kinds of rummage – clothes, furniture, shoes, kitchen ware, new items, crafts, and more.

Potted plants, cut flowers, and home grown vegetables on sale Mantokuji Taiko will be performing in front of temple at 8:30 and 9:30 am.

Tickets will be sold for maki sushi (nori and egg maki) and nishime for pick up on Saturday April 6 at two locations:

Mantokuji from 8 am to 10 am and Ah Fooks Supermarket from 10 am to 12 pm.

All the items from the Mantokuji Gifts Webpage will be sold also!

We humbly ask for your support!!! Mahalo!!!

Snapshots from the Mantokuji Maui 2012 Bazaar:

Dharma Lei – Soto Zen Buddhism Hawaii – Bishop’s Office Newsletter has been published

Published by bigwave on February 13, 2013 in News. Closed


The official newsletter publication of the Hawaii Soto Mission Bishop’s Office, Dharma Lei, can be downloaded by CLICKING HERE.

The Organizational Structure of Hawaii’s Soto Zen Sect
By Rev. Kenji Oyama
(Information contributed by Bishop Jiho Machida & Bishop Shugen Komagata)

In Hawaii, there are currently nine Soto Zen temples. Each temple functions as an independent non-profit organization and each one was founded by a Soto Zen Buddhist minister who was sent from the headquarters in Japan to serve the needs of the Japanese immigrants who lived in the islands.

The ministers who reside at the temples are part of a minister’s council called the Fukyoshi-kai which is directed by the Bishop (Sokan) of the Hawaii Soto Mission. The Bishop is appointed by the archbishop (Kancho) of Soto Shu in Japan. The Bishop’s Office (Sokanbu) is located at the head temple called the Betsuin (Ryo-DaiHonzan Betsuin), which is the branch office of the two Head Monasteries of the Soto Zen sect.

The following is a bit of history regarding the Betsuin and the Bishop. In 1913, a 35 -year -old minister named Rev. Hosen Isobe arrived from Yamaguchi-ken as a representative of the head temples in Japan and began his preaching at the Yakushi-do on Hall Street in Honolulu. Yakushi-do (Yakushi Hall) became the temporary Betsuin for the Soto Sect in Hawaii. In 1918, Rev. Isobe was appointed as the Superintendent of Propagation in Hawaii by the Archbishops Sodo Ishikawa of Sojiji and Mokusen Hioki of Eiheiji. In 1919, the temporary Betsuin was moved to a new site at the corner of Nuuanu Avenue and School Street with the backing of the Shumuin (called the Shumucho now) and officially became the Soto Mission Betsuin in 1921. (The temple name Shoboji was given in 1975.)
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