January 2022
Sacred Words
May the New Year, 2022
Bless you with Health, Wealth, and Happiness
In the Chinese calendar, this is the Year of the Tiger denoting: the Fifth Star and Element of the Central Soil. The universal energy is just before sunrise, so be patient in this year. Try to realize your own character and talent by birth. Harmony with others is the best for your good fortune in this year.
新年あけましておめでとうございます。
今年は壬寅で五黄土星中宮の年です。この暦が暗示している事は、今年はやがて来る春の為に草木の根や種が土の中でタイミングを待っている状態です。ですから、大きな繁栄はあまり望めませんが、自分の本当の性格と才能に気づき、自分を鍛え上げる力を養うよう努力する年回りと私は思います。そうすれば来年は必ず春が来て朝日が出て運気が好転します。
皆様のご多幸と健康を祈り、新年の挨拶とさせていただきます
JANUARY 23, 2022
Rev Shokai Kanai
Finally, the day is coming soon.
I found an article about the 800th Anniversary by Bishop Chishin Hirai on our temple newsletter dated March 2016. He listed the following seven events decided at the January 2016 board meeting:
1. Fix Hondo and mansion,
2. Graveyard for pet’s ashes scattered,
3. Grand Ceremony of the anniversary,
4. Commemorative Tour to Japan,
5. Publication a revised Gatha book,
6. Fundraising campaign for $800,000,
7. Other related activities.
I would like to explain how much we have accomplished for each of the plans listed above:
1. Hirai Shonin wrote, “there are some bubbles on the roof.” It was fixed in July this year. He also wrote, “Outside walls of the hondo and roof are dirty and have many marks.” We hired painters who are working on that now. Please see the pictures on page one of this newsletter. “There are trees just outside of the building. They are so tall, and the fallen leaves are stuck in the rain gutter and weeds are growing.” Yes, they were. A neighbor told me that weeds are growing in the gutters of the resident minister’s house. We took care by installing new gutters; two big trees were cut at their trunks. Regarding the mansion, the Board started to repair the leaking sewer pipes from the 2nd floor bathtub and toilet, but the cost was too much. So, we decided to suspend further repairs on the mansion. However, if Historic Hawaii Foundation grants some support, we may restart and renovate the mansion. A decision to move ahead will be made by the end of this year.
2. The Pet Monument was placed near the pond last May. Two families already scatted ashes of their pets.
3. Publication of a revised Gatha Book. The current Gatha book, HASU NO OSHIE, is still good as a song book, Gatha. Instead, the board decided to publish a DAILY SERVICE BOOK for all members and Dharma friends to practice chanting at their homes in English or Japanese. It will be distributed to all subscribers to our newsletter in time for the Nichiren Mission of Hawaii commemorating the 800 Anniversary of Nichiren Shonin’s birth.
4. Pilgrimage to Nichiren Shonin’s memorial sites will be held later.
5. We replaced the fence around the stream and Pulelehua Way.
6. The Fundraising amount has reached to $155,981 as of November 21, 2021.
7. Grand Ceremony will be held as scheduled on January 23rd, 2022.
Brief Service Order is as followed:
7:30 AM All participants assemble
9:00 AM SHODAI-GYO (Please sit by 8:55 AM)
9:30 AM First Bell
9:50 AM Second Bell (Two new shamis purify the stage followed by Entering 10 ODAIMOKU banners of each mission carried in by their representatives. (Odaimoku chanting ).
ShodoTaiko followed by Minister’s entry to the stage.)
10:00 AM MC OPENING ADDRESS: (DOJO-GE, INVOCATION, HOBEN-PON-offering flower by children, SYMBOLS, JIGAGE-Incense Offering by each mission), ITAI-DOSHIN-JI, ODAIMOKU chanting, PRAYER, SHISEI, OKYO-CHODAI, DHARMA MESSAGE, BUSO, WORDS OF APPRECIATION.
11:00 AM MC CLOSING ADDRESS (Ministers retired)
ARCHBISHOP’S VIDEO MESSAGE
11:15 AM OKAJI BLESSING by 4 Shuhhoshis
11:50 AM GROUP PICTURE taking
12:30 PM LUNCH (Please let us know how many people in your family attending in person by January 20. )
1:30 PM SHODAI ANGYA procession on foot from Betsuin to Honolulu Myohoji
2:30 PM PANEL DISCUSSION by ministers from mainland.
The YouTube broadcasting will be from 10 AM to the end of the archbishop’s message.
We will let you know the name of the YouTube URL later.
NOTE:
We will have rehearsal at 1 PM on Saturday, January 22nd.
We request the following people to attend the rehearsal: Two volunteers to carry the Odaimoku banner, one representative for offering incense from each mission, and several youths to offer flowers (Bishop Kanai is looking for any boys and girls who could volunteer to offer flowers during HOBEN-PON chanting. Please let him know by the end of this year).