January 2019
Bishop Shokai Kanai
HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL MEMBERS AND SUPPORTERS OF NICHIREN MISSION OF HAWAII!
I was installed as the 15th head minister of this temple on Sunday, December 9, 2018. The following is a part of the message given to the congregation.
Aloha! At the beginning of the ceremony, past Bishop Chishin Hirai handed me this HOS-SU, the symbol of the head priest of this temple. This horse tail-like Hos-su was originally used to chase away flies, mosquitos and other insects at the time of Sakyamuni Buddha, but it is now used for purification of the sanctuary. This Hos-su is inherited from the former Bishop Joyo Ogawa. You know him very well better than me. But I will tell you how we are related. Of course, he was my senior overseas minister and several years older than me. I often followed after him. He was trained as an overseas minister at the Los Angeles Nichiren Buddhist Temple in early 1960s under Bishop Ryobo Fujiwara, the head priest of the temple.
I was also trained under him at the same temple for six years from 1964 to 1970. Rev. Ogawa had been already transferred to the Salt Lake Nichiren Buddhist Temple in Utah. My first temple as a head priest was the same temple in Salt Lake City after Rev. Ogawa who had transferred to the Sacramento Nichiren Buddhist Temple in California. As you already know he was assigned as Bishop of Nichiren Mission of Hawaii District in 1989. Now I am HERE following after Bishop Joyo Ogawa.
Therefore, this Hos-su is very meaningful to me and to YOU!
By the way, if my memory is correct, Bishop Ogawa at the banquet of the 110th Anniversary of Nichiren Mission of Hawaii mentioned, “this temple will send the teachings of Sakyamuni Buddha and Nichiren Shonin around the world!” I was very excited to see what he was going to do. Since then many years have passed, and he became sick and passed away. I respect him very much.
Although I do not know what he intended to do, I somehow figured out what he meant. So, I will try to accomplish his and my wish.
My goal at this temple is to educate and raise Dharma teachers, lay-leaders, substitutes of Nichiren-shu priest, part-time ministers and full-time ministers. These Dharma teachers should be American-born especially people born and raised in HAWAII. What I mean of the part-time ministers will be someone who has a steady job and steady income. So, he or she does not have to depend on pay from a temple or mission. These good candidates are senior citizens who are in or near retirement. When I talk about a full-time minister, it may take five to six years at least and cost a lot of money for his or her education and travelling expenses to Japan several times before completing Shin-gyo Dojo. In order to materialize Bishop Ogawa’s and my WISH, I must educate and train all of you little by little. If you are interested in or have some idea on this program, please let me know.
The future of Nichiren temples in Hawaii relies on THEM! Great Bodhisattva Nichiren Dai’Shonin said in Shoho Jisso Sho, “Strive to carry out the two ways of practice and learning. Without practice and learning Buddhism will cease to exist. Endeavor yourself and cause others to practice these two ways of practice and learning which stem from faith. If possible, please spread even a word or a phrase of the Lotus Sutra to others.”
This message if from our founder, the Great Bodhisattva Nichiren Dai’Shonin.
Thank you very much for listening. MAHALO!
Namu Myoho Renge Kyo