Temple Reflections - tsdbt.org

1 March/April 2014 Tri-State/Denver Buddhist Temples Page 1A TSDBT Monthly PublicationA TSDBT Monthly PublicationA TSDBT Monthly PublicationA TSDBT Monthly PublicationA TSDBT Monthly PublicationMarch/April 2014 Rev. Fujii s message1 Diana Sensei s message 2 Temple Condolences2 Arigato Gozimasu2 Japanese Article3 Dharma School 4 Hanamatsuri Plans5 Hatsumairi Plans5 Temple Offerings6 BWA Update7 Dharma Discussions7100 Year Project News 8 Planning Seminars8 Temple Happenings9 April 2014 Calendar10 March 2014 Calendar 11 Amache Pilgrimage12 In this issue!Issue threeIssue threeIssue threeIssue threeIssue threeVolume XXXIVV olume XXXIVV olume XXXIVV olume XXXIVV olume XXXIVT emple ReflectionsTemple ReflectionsMarch & April BuddhistHolidays..OhiganSpring EquinoxHanamatsuriFlower FestivalBuddha s BirthdayFormula in BuddhismThe 18 Vow: #4; King of VowsYou see the formula below.

2 These are essential items when learning the Teaching ofBuddha. They go as Learn Buddhism is to learn myself, learn myself is to learn Buddha s learn Compassion is to forget myself, to forget myself is to throw me into Buddha s 18th Vo w If, when I attain Buddhahood, the sentient beings of the 10 quarters who, with sincereand entrusting heart, aspire to be born in my land and say my name even 10 times, shouldnot be born there, may I not attain the perfect enlightenment. Excluded are those whocommit the five grave offenses and those who slander the right Dharma. being of the 10 quarters: Sentient being = you and heart: The heart generated by Wisdom of heart: The heart generated by Compassion of to be born in my land: The future direction of my 10 times: As long as my life lasts, even very short, recitation is grave offenses: Those who commit offenses such as (1) murder father, (2)murder mother, (3) murder Bodhisattvas, (4) murder Buddha, (5) destroy harmonyin the right Dharma: False spoken statements related to is the Teaching of hearing.

3 When I listen to a song, its essence appearsto me. Or, its essence generates clear experience in my mind. When I hear the essence ofWisdom (what I am) and Compassion (Namo-Amida-Butsu), it is the moment of Aha-experience because aha-experience contains sincere heart, aspiration of birth, andentrusting with 18th Vow does not require me to do any practice such as practice of meditation,sharing, efforts, patience, or observance of precepts. The Vow requires me only to listento the Teaching. Then, its essence brings aha-moment to me. I don t create or generateany clear and joyful experience by my own power and ability - the essence of Wisdomand Compassion appear to me. That s why this experience is so-called experience of Other Power (not My Power and Ability, or not Self-Power). The 18th Vow also signifies Shinjin-Faith.

4 Shinjin means that our hearts and mindsbecome clear and distinct. This awareness and experience also include every item in theformula above. In Gassho, Rev. Doei FujiTri-State/Denver Buddhist Temples1947 Lawrence StreetDenver CO. 80202 Newsletter articles are due by the 10th of each monthfor publication in the next month s additional information, or to read the newsletteronline, go to our website at (303)295-1844 FAX (303)295-1952 Email: Salutationsfrom Rev. Diana ThompsonHello everyone! Welcome to Springtime! Tobegin with, I would like to make a quick correctionto last month s article.

5 The holiday in February isNirvana Day (Nehan-e), or the celebration of thehistorical Buddha s passing into final Nirvana. All ofthe aisles full of Valentine s Day paraphernaliadistracted me from Nirvana, I am clearly notenlightened .For the months of March and April, we willobserve Spring O-higan and Hanamatsurirespectively. O-higan is observed in both Springand Fall around the equinoxes and is a time ofreflection, specifically, reflection on the other shore of enlightenment. Hanamatsuri is the celebration ofthe birth of the historical Buddha. Both of course,are important holidays for us as springtime begins, we can gradually see thedays beginning to lengthen and it is this extra timethat monastic communities use to contemplate therealm of Nirvana/Enlightenment Truth , thePure Land. Whether visualizing it as it is describedin the Three Pure Land Sutras or reciting the Nameof Amida in gratitude, O-higan is the time to focusour thoughts as much as we can towards the othershore.

6 Directly after the Buddha was born, he tookseven steps in each of the cardinal directions andannounced that throughout all of the six realms, hewas the World-Honored One. This story was aforeshadowing of his future attainment ofenlightenment. His taking seven steps in eachdirection meant that he would go beyond the sixrealms of existence to eventually become the WorldHonored One , one of many titles of respect givento him after he had become the Buddha. It isprecisely this transcendence and the truths that theBuddha arrived at that we are meant to focus onwhen recalling his life story. Hanamatsuri is a timewhen we express our gratitude to the historicalBuddha for having taught the Dharma so thatgenerations and generations later, we would still beable to hear and receive Happy Springtime, Happy O-higan.

7 HappyHanamatsuri! Enjoy the longer (hopefully warmer)days and pass them with a sense of gratitude Amida ButsuTri-State/Denver Buddhist Temples membership offers condolences to thefamily and friends of:Andrew HoriuchiJuly 5, 1947 - January 18, 2014 Ikera Akira MatsumonjiDecember 21, 1921 - February 2, 2014 Arigato GozaimasuThank you to the following people who preparedFebruary s newsletter mailing: Shirley Tsuchimoto,Kay Takahashi, Herb & Dot Inouye, RichardYoshida, Cal Kato and Diana Sensei. The job is somuch nicer with many happy you to Glenn Asakawa for acting as Chairper-son for our January HoOnko Service. Thank you toWayne Berve for acting as MC for the ensuingHoOnko Luncheon. Both your verbal commentariesadded enthusiasm to each you to Michelle Asakawa and Naomi Nguyenfor chairing the Dharma School Nehan E and PetHoji service in February.

8 Your verbiage was excel-lent in guiding us through a slightly altered specialservice you (ALOT) to Cal Kato and Gary Matsudafor keeping our front sidewalks and courtyardshovelled through all the cold and icy periods ofJanuary and February. (Did you see that theGroundhog saw his shadow on February 2nd?)(concluded on page 12)

9 Page 4 Tri-State/Denver Buddhist Temples March/April 2014 Dharma SchoolDharma School SuperintendentsMichelle Asakawa - Nguyen - School NewsThe YBA (high schoolers) chairs the family serviceduring Sales:March 2 4th gradeMarch 9 3rd gradeMarch 16 no bake sale due to Clean Up DayMarch 23 no bake sale due to no Dharma Schoolclasses (spring break)March 30 K-1-2 Did You Know?Our Jr. YBA students (grades 6, 7, and 8) are nowtidying up the hondo each Sunday following you, Jr.

10 YBA students and teacher CameoHaddan, for thoughtfully taking on this useful duty!Sunday, March 16, Clean Up TempleAfter a brief 9:30 service, everyone will go totheir assigned areas to clean. Wipe down chairs andtables, sweep and mop floors, vacuum, rearrange andstraighten supplies, wipe marks off walls, and puttables and chairs back in place. Walk trash bags outto the bin in the alley. When we re finished, we llgather in the auditorium for lunch (provided by theDharma School and Temple ). CLEANING GROUPSAREAA dult sangha Hondo and foyerAdult sangha Auditorium and stageDS students/teachersClassroomsDS students/parentsBathroomsDS parentsAll-purpose room downstairsJudo, Aikido&VolleyballGym/locker roomsBonsai & Ikebana Garden and club roomsBWA Kitchen and supply areasBRING: cleaning materials, including rags, papertowels, and labeled spray bottles; vacuum cleanersfor classroom useSO THAT OUR TEACHERS AND STUDENTSMAY ENJOY SPRING BREAK, THERE WILLBE NO DHARMA SCHOOL CLASSES ONMARCH 23.