A New Beginning
Shimmon Kojun Ohtani,
the next Head Minister of the Hongwanji-ha
In preparation for the
750th Memorial for Shinran Shonin observance at
Hongwanji (Kyoto, Japan) this year, the overseas
districts including mainland U.S. (Buddhist Churches
of America, BCA), Hawaii, South America, and Canada
have each conducted the memorial in their respective
district. The overseas memorial observances wrapped
up last year in Canada, where special services were
held at each of the four local districts.
In September, the British Columbia district observed
its memorial observance with the attendance by
Shimmon Kojun Ohtani, the next Head Minister of the
Hongwanji. With the older members who had overcome
great hardships, as well as newcomers just beginning
to learn more about Shinshu and Buddhism, coming
together for the Memorial, it is hoped that this will
be the start of a new beginning.
As the first Japanese immigrants landed on Canadian
soil in 1877, it was said that many of the hardships
were overcome through the spiritual support of the
Nembutsu. Coming from areas in Japan where Jodo
Shinshu had been flourishing, many of the men who
eventually became fishermen or farmers were supported
by their religious faith. However, without a temple
to go to the Japanese felt a void and sent a request
to Hongwanji for a minister. In 1905, Hongwanji
dispatched Rev. Senju Sasaki as the first minister to
Canada district and a lodging facility in Vancouver
was renovated into a temple.
A century has passed since overcoming the many
hardships along the way including the confiscation of
the temple building during WWII and forced removal of
the Japanese from the coastal region sending them
further inland where harsh living conditions were
waiting. Having lost their jobs, personal
possessions, and property, it took many of them
awhile before being able to return to the west coast.
Despite being offered only low paying jobs, they
worked hard and pulled together in rebuilding the
Vancouver Buddhist Temple and a new temple in
Steveston.
With the memorial for Shinran Shonin conducted once
every fifty years, members of Canada district
gathered at the Steveston Buddhist Temple on
September 29 for the district’s observance of the
memorial. The chanting was officiated by Shimmon
Kojun Ohtani. A youth gathering was held on the 28th
in conjunction to the observance.
With the increase in interracial marriages and
Christianity as the basis of the public education
system, the foundation of the Japanese community in
Canada is on the verge of crumbling. In the midst of
these transitions, propagation work must now be able
to adapt and cater to both the needs of the Japanese
and non-Japanese membership.
With the BCA youth study programs as a hint, the
Young Buddhist Association (YBA) of Vancouver
Buddhist Temple has been conducting a program
educating the temple youth on Buddhist and Shinshu
teachings for the past four years. Resident minister,
Rev. Tatsuya Aoki comments “There is never a better
time than now to learn (about Buddhism and Jodo
Shinshu).” In addition to the weekly study sessions,
Aoki and neighbouring Steveston Buddhist Temple
resident minister, Rev. Grant Ikuta, are currently
putting together an overnight mini retreat program
that is scheduled to be offered twice annually,
focusing on Buddhist rituals and liturgy.
Austin Fisher, who commutes by bus for an hour and a
half to the temple shares, “My parents are
Christians. But in reflecting on world peace, I found
the way that Buddhism teaches the importance of
respecting the lives of one another to be appealing.”
Vancouver Buddhist Temple member David Ohori
comments, “To my grandfather and great-grandfather,
the temple was important to them as if it were their
own life.” Ohori and his mother, Junko are glad to
see the youth coming to the temple and learning about
the teaching.
The Jodo Shinshu Buddhist Temples of Canada is faced
with a shortage of ministers as the four local
districts of British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, and
Eastern district currently consisting of twelve
temples are being overseen by ten ministers.
The truth is, whether it may be the temple or people
interested in learning about Buddhism, it is
difficult to cater to everyone’s needs with the
shortage of ministers. There is hope for our future
if members from our youth program become ministers,
new temples become established in this vast area of
Canada, and more people can come to appreciate the
Nembutsu, Aoki said.
It was one hundred thirty-four years ago that the
first Japanese travelled across to Canada. Today,
third and fourth generation Japanese Canadians with
an interest in Buddhism gather at the temple. The
Nembutsu is also beginning to grow within the
non-Japanese who until now had no encounter with
Buddhism.
Aoki closed by saying, “With the memorial observance
as the opportunity, the Nembutsu torch of our
forefathers is now being passed on to the next
generation.”
Walking Meditation
The British Columbia Jodo
Shinshu Buddhist Temples Federation (BCJSBTF)
consisting of temples in Steveston, Vancouver, Fraser
Valley, Kamloops. Kelowna and Vernon held their
annual convention on Saturday, September 25th and
Sunday, September 26th at the Steveston Buddhist
Temple.
As part of the convention, a 750 minute (12 & ½
hours) walking meditation relay took place from
Saturday at 8:30 to Sunday at 9:00am.
The event was to commemorate the memory of Shinran
Shonin (1173-1263), a Japanese Buddhist practitioner
from the 12th century and the founder of Jodo Shinshu
Buddhism.
The 750 minutes represented a remembrance of the 750
years since the passing of Shinran.
Some 100 individuals took part in the relay in his
memory and it is wonderful to report that there were
participants at all times even in the wee hours of
Sunday morning. These early morning relay spots were
taken naturally by our youth who would lead the
2:00am service.
Participants recited Namu Amida Butsu as they walked
slowly around the perimeter of the hondo. Many of the
participants wrote the names of loved ones they
wished to remember and honour on sheets of paper and
placed them on the pews so they could reflect on them
each time they passed by. Participants walked various
durations from 20 minutes to several hours. Some used
timer candles to mark the duration of their walk.
These walks represented an abbreviated version of the
practices by Shinran and other monks on Mt. Hiei.
Shinran originally practiced a form of walking
meditation as a young monk on Mt. Hiei, near
present-day Kyoto, Japan. Monks would take turns
walking in two-hour blocks, continuously chanting the
name of the Buddha Amida, with beautiful rhythm and
tone. The practise would continue throughout the day
and night for 90 days.
After the walk, the participants were able to rest
quietly in the gym or the classroom and have some
tea, water, onigiri or pastries prepared by the SBT
Fujinkai.
The walking meditation itself works in multiple
registers: it is a basic form of self-cultivation and
purification of the mind, it is an expression of
gratitude for those who have come before us, and it
is a difficult practice helping to loosen the bonds
of ego and self-reliance, an opportunity to be opened
to the true nature of this world and the compassion
of the Amida Buddha. The participants all experienced
these benefits from the meditation in varying
degrees.
Everyone who participated were grateful to have had
the opportunity to remember and thank Shinran Shonin
and relatives and friends who had passed away.
Many thanks to Elmer, Greg, Joanne and Naomi who took
on the inspiration from Reverend Dennis Fujimoto of
the Idaho-Oregon Buddhist Temple to create this
Nembutsu walking meditation relay experience.
Steveston 750th Memorial Convention
Six BC-based Jodo
Shinshu Buddhist temples are also holding their
annual convention at the Steveston Buddhist Temple.
All interested are invited to join in as we
walk for 10, 20, 30 minutes or more in a 750 minute
relay starting at 8:30pm on Saturday September 25th,
2010. Please take a look this video to see what
the Nembutsu Walking Meditation Relay is all about.
For more information about the walking meditation and
the 750th Memorial of Shinran Shōnin in the Vancouver
area, please
contact sbtwalkingmeditation@gmail.com.
As part of the 750th Memorial events in Vancouver,
Professor Reverend Mark Unno will be lecturing
on Shin Buddhism and
Inter-religious Dialogue at The University of
British Columbia.
MORE INFORMATION AT THE STEVESTON
BUDDHIST TEMPLE WEBSITE...
Shin Buddhism in Inter-religous Dialogue
Mark T.
Unno
East Asian Religions, Japanese Buddhism
Associate Professor
Biographical Information
Ph.D., 1994, Stanford; M.A., 1991, Stanford; B.A.
Oberlin, 1987. (2000)
He is the author of Shingon Refractions: Myoe and the Mantra of Light, an study and translation of the medieval Japanese ritual practice of the Mantra of Light. He is also the translator of Hayao Kawai, The Buddhist Priest Myoe-A Life of Dreams (Lapis Press, 1992) and author of over a dozen articles in English and Japanese including: "Questions in the Making - A Review Essay on Zen Buddhist Ethics in the Context of Buddhist and Comparative Ethics," Journal of Religious Ethics (Fall 1999); "Myoe Koben and the Komyo Shingon dosha kanjinki: The Ritual of Sand and the Mantra of Light," study and translation, in Re-visioning "Kamakura" Buddhism, edited by Richard Payne (Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press, 1998); and "Divine Madness-Exploring the Boundaries of Modern Japanese Religion," Zen Buddhism Today 10.
Member, Executive Board, Society for Buddhist-Christian Studies; Editorial Board, Journal of Religious Ethics; former Executive Board member, ASIANetwork. Member, Association for Asian Studies, American Academy of Religion, Society for Asian and Comparative Philosophy, International Association of Shin Buddhist Studies.
(BIOGRAPHY COURTESY UNIVERSITY OF OREGON)
An Olympian LDC Manning Park Family Retreat in 2010!
We did it, all of us, all 105 participants of this
year's LDC Manning Park Family Retreat!
This Olympic year was marked by the strong presence
of young adults and youth attendees and organizers.
Participants from Kelowna, Kamloops, Vancouver,
Steveston, Fraser Valley, Vernon, Washington and
Calgary all gathered to meet old friends and make new
ones. This year you joined 54 adults, 30 youth
(13-25) and 21 children (12 and under) and one lonely
black bear to share an incredible weekend of
great food, profound dharma sessions, exciting
activities and most of all wonderful company!
Whether you participated in the morning walks through
the forest, sat in on the services, sang along with
"I Believe", took a dip in the pool, lit the
campfire, flipped some steaks on the barbeque, threw
a bocci ball, chased a ground squirrel, decorated a
bike, attended a social, discussed the dharma, or
simply gathered together in a cabin with your
friends, we truly hope you had an extraordinary
experience at our very own Olympic Games!
Please take this
opportunity to share the spirit of the weekend with
your friends and family who did not have a chance to
come out to Manning Park this year. I've attached a
couple of pictures. Please also send your memories or
pictures to retreat.vbt@gmail.com.
The poem, I am Thankful, read by Dr. Bob Akune in his
Dharma talk is at
http://www.joke-archives.com/inspire/iamthankfulfor.html
We all join in gratitude to the LivingDharmaCentre,
BCJSBCF and Women's League for their financial and
moral support of this year's event.
Your participation has inspired the members of the
Organizing Committee with renewed vigour to make next
year's retreat even better. Please let us know
if you would like to be a part of organizing next
year's retreat.
Thank you for your invaluable contribution to make
this retreat truly memorable.
Your LDC Manning Park Retreat 2010 Organizing
Committee
2009 Manning Park Retreat
Clear skies and warm rays
of sunshine touched our bodies throughout the day and
dark, chilly nights with bright twinkling stars
brightened our evenings.
During the Manning Park Family Retreat everyone
greeted each other with warm smiles. Everyone seemed
to enjoy themselves, meeting old friends and making
new ones.
This LDC (Living Dharma Centre) sponsored program
took place May 16-18 at the beautiful Manning Park in
BC. It was attended by 112 participants including 62
adults, 26 youth (13-25), 16 children (6-12) and 8
children (5 and under). We were also honoured to have
the presence of six Sensei’s who prepared seminars
and dharma talks.
The LDC, JSBTC (Jodo Shinshu Buddhist Temples of
Canada) and our BCJSBCF (British Columbia Jodo
Shinshu Buddhist Churches Federation) graciously
provided funding to have local Sensei’s and their
families attend.
Everyone helped to prepare, cook, cleanup and eat the
fantastic meals during the weekend. The menu was
unexpectedly enhanced with Kaz's home made soup. The
youth entertained with a scavenger hunt, hide and go
seek "Sardine Tag” and a create your own story/solve
the mystery game called “Mafia”. The sunny afternoon
was filled with a sports tournament including bocce
ball, bedrock golf, horseshoes and ping pong. Bicycle
decorations lead up to a grand parade and, like so
many others in the past, Sora and Courtenay
celebrated cycling without training wheels.
Mornings started with Nature Walks with Sensei Akune
with an astounding attendance of 62 participants.
After sewing chickens, adults finished their evenings
by letting their chins wag and wet their lips with
some rotted grapes. Workshops included self-defence,
quiet sitting mediation, dharma discourse, self lead
dharma discussions and gatha review.
A Buddhist Leader in Canada Retires
He was the first
Canadian-raised minister to head the largest Buddhist
organization in Canada and now, after faithfully
serving the Buddhist community for over five decades,
Reverend Susumu Kyojo Ikuta is retiring.
Kyojo Ikuta was born Kyoto, Japan in 1926. At the age
of ten, his family immigrated to Canada. He grew up
in New Westminster, B.C. with his mother, Mino and
four siblings. Kyojo Ikuta would continue the work of
his father, Rev. Shinjo Ikuta. The senior Ikuta was
an early pioneer Jodo Shinshu Buddhist Minister.
During WWII, like all Japanese-Canadians living on
the Canadian west coast, the Ikuta family was removed
from B.C. during the internment of people with
Japanese ancestry. The Ikuta family was relocated to
Raymond, Alberta and Susuma spent his teenage years
working on a sugar beet farm. The uprooting almost
ended Japanese Buddhism and institutional Buddhism in
Canada. But, the hard times would lead to a spiritual
re-awakening. According to the Canadian Encyclopedia, Alberta
would eventually become the most important place
for Buddhism in Canada and would further become
the birthplace of the academic study of Buddhism
in all of North America.
The lifting of the War Measures Act in 1949 restored
freedom to those who were interned. And while some
Japanese Buddhists returned to BC, many would stay in
Alberta. Kyojo explored this new freedom and attended
the University of Toronto where he received his
Masters in Philosophy. His quest for spiritual
knowledge would continue. He attended and received
his kyoshi (minister training) at Ryukoku University
in Japan. During this time, he also met his
wife, Teruko.
With his new bride, Reverend Kyojo Ikuta returned to
Canada and was first assigned to work at the Kelowna Buddhist
Temple. He later moved to the Vancouver Buddhist Church were
he resided until 1965. Further studies brought him
back to Japan, where Rev. Ikuta obtained his PhD
in Buddhism.
Sensei Ikuta with
family and friends at the JSBTC 2008 AGM in
Vancouver
Rev. Ikuta returned to
Canada in 1970, and served as the Head Minister of
the Calgary Buddhist Temple. In 1998, he was elected
to become the Bishop of the Buddhist Churches of
Canada. The Bishop was the spiritual leader of temple
ministers and reported to the Hongwanji, the mother
temple in Kyoto, Japan. Rev. Ikuta later returned to
the Calgary Buddhist Temple and was
the Head Minister until his retirement in 2008.
During his time in Calgary, Rev. Ikuta also became a
business entrepreneur opening many restaurants,
including the successful “Edo Japan” franchise. Always
caring for his small congregation, he created this
venture so that the Calgary temple was able to
have a full-time minister, without the burden of
his income.
Full of energy, and devotion to the dharma, Rev.
Ikuta lectured and promoted Buddhism across Alberta.
He introduced study clubs on Buddhism and engaged in
pastoral care. He wrote and published articles and
books. He also taught at Calgary’s Mount Royal
College. Also a fifth degree black belt, he was
instrumental in bringing the Japanese sport of kendo
to Calgary. But above all, his proudest
accomplishment are his four children, Grant, Lester,
Mari and Roland.
Rev. James Martin, once a
student of Rev. Ikuta, has respectfully succeeded
Sensei Ikuta at the Calgary Buddhist Temple.
WATCH HIS RETIREMENT VIDEO FROM THE
CALGARY BUDDHIST TEMPLE...
Jodo Shinshu Family Retreat - May 16-18, 2009
Enjoy the natural and
friendly surroundings of the Manning Park located in
the heart of the Cascade Mountain range in the
interior of British Columbia. Enjoy a weekend
designed to promote fellowship within and between the
various groups, families and ages attending.
Participate in activities, lectures and workshops.
This will be a time of community sharing and
learning.
The event is open to anyone who is curious about or
interested in the teachings of Jodo Shinshu Buddhism.
Accomodations will be community style with shared
chalets and hotel rooms. When requesting your group
to stay together, please submit all names on one
registration form. Organizers will try to accommodate
your requests and use discretion being mindful of
other guests.
Guests will bring their own protein to the Saturday,
March 18 dinner bbq. All other meals will be provided
as planned by the organizing committee. All guests
will sign up for meal preparation, cooking and
cleanup duties. Please let us know if any member of
your group has food allergies. Local guests are
welcome to bring home-made desserts to share.
Prior to the weekend, the organizers will be looking
for volunteers to design and conduct events.
Manning Park Resort is just 3
hours from Vancouver and 2 ½ hours from Kelowna.
Participants are responsible for their own travel
to Manning Park.
Registration is during the afternoon of Saturday, May
16 and closing services will end by 11am on Monday,
May 18. Inquire about registration fees, and Early
Bird rates. Early registration fees are discounted
for registrations received with payment (by cheque)
by January 23, 2009. Final Registration must be
received with payment by March 15, 2009. All cheques
payable to “Vancouver Buddhist Temple”
*Discounted rate
apply for adult members of the JSBTC (Jodo Shinshu
Buddhist Temples of Canada), BCA (Buddhist Churches
of America), Hawaii Kyodan and members of any
affiliate of the Nishi Hongwanji.
sponsored by:
The Living Dharma Centre
Hosted by:
Vancouver Buddhist
Temple
220 Jackson Ave.
Vancouver, BC
V6A 3B3
To request a registration form or if you
have any questions, contact the Vancouver Buddhist
Temple,
(604) 253-7033
Fax: (604) 253-7076
Email: retreat.vbt@gmail.com
Now on DVD
Sensei Oshita graduated
from U.C. Berkley, attended the Institute for
Buddhist Studies, and has studied in Japan and with
many teachers from diverse Buddhist traditions.
Contact your nearest Jodo Shinshu Buddhist Temple of
your LDC representitive for more information to
receive or watch this DVD.
West Coast Jodo Shinshu Buddhist Temples 2008 Lecture Series
Jodo Shinshu teachers from all over North American have been invited to speak at Vancouver area temples throughout the year.
We hope you can attend this FREE lecture series to get a better understanding of Buddhism.
Buddhism for Dummies
Saturday, January 12, 2008 from 9:30am-11:30am
Vancouver Buddhist Temple, 220 Jackson Ave. Vancouver, BC
Speaker: Rev. Bob Oshita
Rev. Oshita graduated from U.C. Berkley, attended the Institute for Buddhist Studies, and has studied in Japan and with many teachers from diverse Buddhist traditions. He is highly treasured by his sangha for his energetic style and his compassion.
The Importance of “Self" in Amida Buddha
Friday, April 4, 2008 at 7:00pm
University of British Columbia, Thea Koerner House (Graudate Student Centre) located next to Asian Studies Centre.
(Parking is available at either the Chan Centre or the Asian Studies Centre, 6371 Crescent Road on the corner of West Mall and Crescent Road)
Speaker Dr. Leslie Kawamura
Since becoming a member of the Department of Religious Studies in 1976, Leslie Kawamura has devoted ceaseless efforts to promoting the study of Asian cultures and to fostering an interest in Asia within the University and Calgary communities. He has been instrumental in the established of connections between the University and individuals and institutions in Asia.
Buddhism for Beginners (1)
Saturday, April 5, 2008 at 2:00pm
Steveston Buddhist Temple, 4360 Garry St, Richmond, BC
Speaker: Reverend Ronald Kobata, Buddhist Churches of America
Sensei Kobata graduated with a bachelor's degree from Berkeley, and has his master's from the Institute of Buddhist Studies. He has been assigned to various Buddhist temples in Washington and Hawaii.
Kobata was most recently assigned to Makawao Hongwanji temple in Maui, Hawaii and appointed in Feb. 2005 as executive assistant to Bishop Koshin Ogui.
Finding One Self in the Vows of Amida Buddha
Saturday, April 12, 2008 from 9:30-11:30am
Vancouver Buddhist Temple, 220 Jackson Ave. Vancouver, BC
Speaker: Reverend Gregory Gibbs, Oregon Buddhist Temple (Portland)
He is a graduate of the Institute of Buddhist Studies (M.A. in Buddhist Studies and Master of Jodo Shinshu Studies) and an active member of the North American Branch of the International Association of Shin Buddhist Studies. His publications include, "Understanding Shinran and the Burden of the Traditional Dogmatics" (The Eastern Buddhist, Fall, 1997), and "Shinjin as a Transformation in Personal Identity" (The Pure Land, 1998).
Buddhism for Beginners (2)
Saturday, July 5, 2008 at 7:30-9:30pm
Steveston Buddhist Temple, Richmond, BC
Speaker: Reverend Masao Kodani, Senshin Buddhist Temple, Los Angeles, CA
After his studies were completed, he returned to the United States and was assigned to the Senshin Buddhist Temple in South Central Los Angeles.
Gathering of Joy
Friday, July 11, 2008 at 7:00-9:00pm
Vancouver Buddhist Temple, 220 Jackson Ave. Vancouver, BC
Speaker: Reverend Ronald Kobata, Buddhist Churches of America
Sensei Kobata graduated with a bachelor's degree from Berkeley, and has his master's from the Institute of Buddhist Studies. He has been assigned to various Buddhist temples in Washington and Hawaii.
Kobata was most recently assigned to Makawao Hongwanji temple in Maui, Hawaii and appointed in Feb. 2005 as executive assistant to Bishop Koshin Ogui.
Buddhism for Beginners (3)
Saturday, October 25, 2008 at 2:00-4:00pm
Steveston Buddhist Temple, 4360 Garry St, Richmond, BC
Speaker: Reverend Thomas Okano, Bishop Hawaii Honpa Hongwanji Mission, Honolulu, Hawaii
Previously, he was the Director of the Buddhist Study Centre at the University of Hawaii. He is recognized as a talented scholar and a wise, compassionate administrator.
Presented by the West Coast Jodo Shinshu Buddhist
Temples:
Fraser Valley Buddhist Temple
Abbotsford, BC
Steveston Buddhist Temple
4360 Garry St. Richmond, BC
604-277-2323
www.stb.shawbiz.ca
Vancouver Buddhist Temple
220 Jackson Ave. Vancouver, BC
604-253-7033
Coming Soon on DVD...
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