Seeds of Compassion

When The Sand Blows Away By Annette K.

he 2015 -2016 Dharma School Year started with a once in a lifetime event! Thanks to the work of several

parents, we sent a large group of Dharma School students and parents to the 2015 Parliament of the

World’s Religions October 15-19. It was an amazing event with hundreds of presenters, workshops,

Sacred Music Night, Empower Film Festival, and Cultural Hall Exhibitions. Every day was an opportunity to

select from events that covered the inside and outside of the Salt Palace. We got a taste of religions I’ve never

heard of and others I’ve always wanted to know more about. The BCA had two booths within the events hall,

one was staffed with volunteers from the Buddhist Book Store, the other staffed by ministers offering pamphlets

and taking questions from the hundreds that attended. Our large incense burner was used in the Meditation/Sutra

area in what was a sacred area that all could come and sit as several BCA Ministers at different times of the day

would recite sutra chanting.

One ongoing item just inside the entrance close to registration was the Tibetan Vajrayana Monk’s Mandala table.

A mandala is a spiritual and ritual symbol in Indian religions that represents wholeness, a cosmic diagram

reminding us of our relation to infinity, extending beyond and within our bodies and minds. Each day the monks

(with no talking) would work shoulder to shoulder tapping a long metal cylinder filled with the finest sand I’ve

ever seen, as the sand fell onto the table it started to create a pattern. For

hours they worked as onlookers took photos and watched, day after day

we could see the patterns form into the most amazing shapes and with

amazing color. If you have never seen a monk’s mandala please look it

up; so amazing. The symbolism that the mandala’s represent are

beautiful, become one with the universe, understanding impermanence.

At one site I was looking at the statement, “There are not many who are

able to achieve this state of mind from just studying a mandala. The

symbolism behind the creation of a mandala can have significant

meaning for many individuals”. The circle grew day after day, become

so intricate and had such detail. I wish I had a photo to help you

understand what I’m saying. On the last day of the Parliament the monks

swept the sand away! Serious just wiped it off nothing left. What a

feeling of loss, something so beautiful that took so long to create just wiped away. All that emotion was one of

the lessons the mandala is teaching us, everything is impermanent. It’s the attachment with “things” that cause

so much of our suffering. What a lesson!

T

THE GEPPO

A publication of the Ogden Buddhist Temple September/October 2016 Issue

155 North Street Ogden, UT 84404 801/392-7132

P.O. Box 3248 Ogden, UT 84409 Temple President: Thomas F.

Supervising Reverend: Rev. Jerry Hirano Minister’s Assistant: Geoffrey R.

Rev. Hirano contact info: Office – 801-363-4742 Minister’s Assistant: James A.

Home – 801-299-8727 Junior Minister’s Assistant: Charles A.

Emergency – 801-819-2648

Web Site: ogdenbuddhistchurch.org

Temple E-mail: [email protected]

Annette’s article continued on next page.

Figure 1: The monks of Drepung Loseling

Phukhang Khamtsen creating a mandala. The

minimum diameter of a mandala is four feet.

When we returned to our normal lives and started to forget all the things we saw and learned we had a thought

that just maybe we could recreate a small amount of the emotions and peace we felt each day at the Parliament.

We can have the Dharma Students create a mandala. “Groups can create mandalas that will reveal what they

should be doing in order to grow and develop as a group”. Val gave me some information she uses working with

clients that need help in development and social skills and the mandala was one of the therapies they use.

In November we started the process first picking teams, and then each team picked a pattern. All Dharma School

members joined in, well at least once over the next eight months. I will say Andrew and Madison did most of the

work, the hardest thing was finding the time to work on them. We do so many activities during our Dharma

School year that we were lucky if we had one week a month to work on it. At the end, seriously the very last day

of Dharma School it was finished and it was time to let the wind blow it away. We took the boards outside had a

small service, talked about impermanence, why we just spent an entire school year working on this project and

what it meant to each student. Then … we let the wind blow! That didn’t work so we blew the sand into the air.

Not as emotional as the monks but I hope and really believe that our students did get something out of this activity.

The monks at the 2015 Parliament of the World’s Religions in SLC:

Dharma School’s creation of their version of the mandala:

Ogden Buddhist Church GEPPO September/October 2016 Issue

The boys’ mandala The girls’ mandala

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT …..

Dear members of the Ogden Buddhist Church

At this time in my life I feel my attention to my parents is of the up most importance, and the

responsibility of Ministers Assistant is going to suffer greatly. With my job in Farmington, it has been

difficult to be as accessible to my parents as I would like, so Sundays is the best time for

me to help them. As time goes on it will take more and more time to assist with the care

my mom’s needs. On top of that I need time with my family as well.

It is with deep regret that I feel the need to resign from the position of Ministers Assistant

for the Ogden Buddhist Church. I will continue to help when I can with church activities,

but will not continue to wear the robes and will no longer be available to perform the duties the

certification of Ministers Assistant has allowed. I hope to continue to the end of the 2015/2016 Dharma

School year, but starting in September I’m asking Rev. Hirano to accept my resignation.

Sincerely and In Gassho,

Annette K.

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

I Hope you are all doing well this summer.

Thank you for your support of this year’s Obon Odori Festival. The event was very successful

and I appreciate all the help.

August 3 2016, Lindsay Y.-W. and her family, lost their home to a fire. They have found

temporary housing, but lost everything! The Taiko Group is collecting donations for her to buy

basic necessities and such. If you would like to donate, you can mail your check to our P.O. Box

with a note to Betty to earmark it for Lindsay!

Bazaar time is around the corner, October 8. We are starting to organize the major activities and

if contacted by an activities Chairperson, please volunteer some of your time if you’re able. In

the event that you aren’t contacted and would like to help, please contact a board member or

myself - your help will be gratefully appreciated.

In Gassho,

Thomas F.


GEPPO –

BWA NEWS

Greetings from the Ogden BWA …

Summer is over and that means Obon has come and gone.

The BWA ladies made and sold manju for Obon. Thank you ladies and for all the extra help in making and

selling the manju. Everyone loves this special treat. The lunch prepared before Obon service was also prepared

by the BWA. The lunch was delicious, thanks to all the ladies that prepared the lunch.

In June the BWA sponsored a bus trip and the Salt Lake group also joined us. Thank you to Ellen K. for all the

work she does on setting this up. Also, I would like to thank George Y. for setting this up and taking care of us

for all these years. A fun time for all and yummy treats galore.

Looking forward to seeing everyone at the annual food bazaar Saturday, October 8th where we will be selling

manju and sushi once again. Anyone that would like to help with preparing the manju, the schedule is as

follows:

Yaki Manju, Saturday September 17th at 9:00am

Fukashi Manju, Sunday September 25th at 9:00am

Mochi Manju, Sunday October 2nd at 9:00am

Any help would be appreciated.

The next meeting will be Sunday, September 18th, 10:00am.

We always have so much fun when we make manju together! It is exciting to

see our “young” women come out and want to learn the tradition!

More BWA news continued on next page.

GEPPO ~


BWA DONATIONS

Omitted for Online Version

2016 Membership

Kyoko M. and Alice S.

DHARMA SCHOOL NEWS Superintendent Message

Where has the summer gone? Our Dharma School students are already back in school and it seems like it was

only a few weeks ago when we finished our Obon festival! Thanks to all the Dharma School students and their

parents for their hard work to help with our Obon activities. Our students helped with making and selling the

concessions and merchandise, directing drivers to parking, washing dishes in the kitchen, and setting up and

cleaning up after our festivities. Domo arigato to everyone!

Also, a round of thanks to all the students, parents and kind temple members who came to paint the multi-

purpose room stage on Saturday, June 25th. This was a great way of ending the Dharma School year and

provided a chance for our Dharma School students to contribute (with their sweat equity) to the temple.

The Salt Lake Dharma School will hold their back-to-school picnic on Sunday, September 11th at 11 am. The

picnic will be held at Sensei Hirano and Dr. Carmela’s home, and the Ogden Dharma School families have been

asked to bring a dessert dish to share with all. Additional details will be provided as available.

The Ogden Dharma School will start up on September 18th for the new school year. We will be doing outdoor

activities for the Dharma School students at 11 am, followed by lunch and then service at 1:30 p.m. We will be

conducting our Dharma School planning meeting to discuss our curriculum and activities for the school year,

including the students’ assignments for our upcoming food bazaar.

And, believe it or not, because this newsletter covers events through October, please mark Sunday, October 30th,

on your calendars for the Salt Lake Dharma School Halloween party. We will not be conducting Dharma

School services on this day. Further details will be provided when available.

In Gassho,

LaVerne K.

More Dharma School news continued on next page.

GEPPO –


Dharma School Donations


Taiko Donations


YBA Donations


In Loving Memory

The Ogden Buddhist Temple Sangha extends its deepest sympathies

to the families of the following member who recently passed away.

May the family members find solace and comfort in the Nembutsu.

Namo Amida Butsu

Arthur Asa Toimoto – June 27, 2016

Masayo Y. Sato – June 29, 2016

Manabu Fujimoto – July 16, 2016

Minoru Aoki – July 16, 2016

Kaye Kazue Kuroiwa – July 24, 2016

Ferry Hiroko Taniguchi – August 2, 2016

Tok Yoshimura – August 2, 2016


GEPPO ~

Thank You, Thank You, Thank You!

Our Obon Festival was a huge success because of YOU! Thank you to everybody for pulling together and

making this one of the best years yet! A special THANK YOU to the following for helping to defray the costs

of Obon by either making a monetary or product donation.

Bruce & Christy F.

Julia F.

Aiko H.

Craig and Susan H.

Fran H.

Marie H.

Alice H.

Stan and Tami H.

Grideli's (Mae M. and Janie H.)

Pat K.

Brenda K.

Fumi K.

Mike and Annette K.

Wes and Debbie K.

Kunie O.

Ila and Beb O.

Shauna R.

Geoff and Linda R.

Ruth S.

Betty S.

Roland and Janice S.

Craig and Geniel S.

Harry and Alice S.

Kris and Steve Y.

Betty and Kirk Y.

Max & Georgia Yo.

GEPPO ~


BAZAAR DONATIONS NEEDED

We know that Obon just got over and it seems as if we are constantly asking for donations! However, it is

because of your generosity that our church is able to survive and prosper!

It is time again for us to ask for your help! Bazaar is scheduled for October 8th and we need YOU! Please feel

free to come anytime to help! There is always a job that needs to be done! If you can help us by offsetting

some of the costs of Bazaar, it makes a big difference!

If you are able to donate any of the following items, please let any board member know.

Please bring all items to the church by September 25th.

Two - 25-pound bag sugar

Three - Gallon size bottle rice vinegar (green label)

One - 56-oz can toasted sesame oil

One - large bag Genmai Tea

12 regular or 6 large bottles chicken bouillon paste

Eight - 20-lb bags rice

Large bag white sesame seeds

Large bag wasabi powder

Two boxes gloves, size small

4 small or 2 Costco size cornstarch

4 regular or 2 large boxes salt

2 bags Ajinomoto

Two - Gallon size bottles oil

Two - Gallon size cans pitted whole olives

Two - Boxes sandwich bags (fold over type)


GEPPO ~

MEDITATION CLASS Meditation Class to Begin September 16th at 12:00 p.m.

Beginning on September 16th, the Discussion Group will be preceded by a short seated

meditation and period of Mindful Movement. The class is open to anyone who is interested

in meditation. It would be helpful if attendees could bring a yoga mat or Zafu to use during

sitting meditation.

Loose, casual clothing is all that is required.

MOUNTAIN STATES CONFERENCE 2016

This year’s Mountain States Conference is being held on November 5 – 6, 2016 and hosted by the

Longmont Buddhist Temple!

Please …

and make arrangements to attend!

More information to come soon!

WHAT IF IT HAPPENED TO YOU?

Can you image what it would feel like to lose everything you own, including your house!

Unfortunately, one of our own Taiko members and supporter of our church, Lindsay Y.-W. and her

family, knows exactly what this feels like!

As some of you may know, the Wilbur Family lost their home to a fire! Luckily no one was hurt and

they were able to find temporary housing quickly. The Ogden Buddhist Taiko Group is collecting

donations for her to buy basic necessities and such.

Also, THANK YOU if you were able to eat at Pizza Pie Café in Layton to support Lindsay and her

family. A HUGE thank you goes to Val K.D. for setting this up for the W. Family.

If you would like to donate to Lindsay and her family, you can mail your check to our P.O. Box with a

note to Betty to earmark it for Lindsay!

P.O. Box 3248

Ogden, UT 84404


GEPPO ~

GEPPO ~

The Ogden Buddhist Church


http://www.ogdenbuddhistchurch.org/

OHIGAN SERVICE August / September Shotsuki Hoyo*

Sunday, September 18, 2016

1:30 p.m.

The word Higan comes from the Sanskrit word Paramita - "Other Shore." The words "other shore"

refer to the "world of Nirvana." As the name Higan denotes, this is the time to remind within each

and every one of us the Bodhisattva practice of the Six Paramitas of charity, morality, patience,

effort, meditation, and wisdom. It is the means by which one crosses over the illusory ocean of birth

and death to the other shore of Nirvana.

October Shotsuki Hoyo*

Sunday, October 16, 2016 1:30 p.m.

*Monthly Memorial Service


GEPPO ~

Oct 28 2014 Yusako Obayashi Burke

Oct 15 1964 Jintaro Hano

Oct 11 1991 Masao Eugene Higashiyama

Oct 23 1964 Kuichi Hirabayashi

Oct 15 1984 Mack Susumu Hirai Oct 6 2004 George Imaizumi Oct 12 1979 Mary S. Imaizumi Oct 26 1995 Chiyoko Barbara Inouye

Oct 17 2012 Fusaye Nakamura Kano

Oct 5 1991 Tayoko Iriye-Kawaguchi Oct 11 1999 Tom Tadao Kinomoto

Oct 5 1992 Tatsuo Koga

Oct 13 1974 Moju Kosaiku

Oct 13 1969 Rodney Manji Kuroiwa

Oct 29 1979 Yorimoto Murakami Oct 16 1978 Fumi Nakahara

Oct 11 1971 Mary Chiyono Nisogi Oct 22 1959 Sumi Nisogi Oct 14 1964 Chujiro Ono

Oct 30 2000 Joanne (Kano) Petersen

Oct 4 1994 Harry Takeo Sato

Oct 4 1983 Mitsuyo Shiki Oct 15 1975 Royce I. Shiki Oct 2 1962 Tamekichi Takahashi Oct 23 1977 Kome Tawatari Oct 31 2004 Shigeto Tokifuji Oct 14 1965 Yukichi Ukita

Oct 22 1973 Tokutaro Yagi Oct 28 2008 Masaru “Mas” Yamada

Oct 25 1971 Senai Yamaguchi Oct 21 1965 Tsuruyo Yamane

Oct 22 1968 Shikazo Yamashita

Oct 10 1998 Mary S. Yonemura

Oct 19 2003 Tatsuo Kay Yonetani Oct 24 2009 Tokiko Yoshida

Oct 27 2003 Valentine Hisako Yoshinaga

Oct 11 1932 Toshi Yoshitaka

August/September Shotsuki Hoyo September 18, 2016 at 1:30 p.m.

October Shotsuki Hoyo

October 16, 2016 at 1:30 p.m.

August/September, & October Shotsuki Hoyo

Corrections/Additions to the Shotsuki Hoyo list, please contact Ruth Schriock, 801-292-6042

2016 Memorial Service Schedule for those who

passed away in:

2015 – 1 year 2004 – 13 year 1982 – 33 year

2014 – 3 year 2000 – 17 year 1967 – 50 year

2010 – 7 year 1992 – 25 year 1917 – 100 year

Aug 1 2010 Lily Aoki

Aug 27 2014 Michiyo Michi Aoki

Aug 15 1945 Tome Fujita

Aug 22 2005 Kiyoko M. Hamada

Aug 8 1983 Kazuye Kay Hattori Aug 30 1976 Tama I. Kariya

Aug 15 2007 Dick Hideki Kishimoto

Aug 15 1969 Matsuichi Kurokawa

Aug 27 2010 Mildred N. Miya

Aug 10 1997 Buster Shizuo Miyagishima

Aug 6 1961 Tomoshichi Mochida

Aug 28 1973 Yoichi Sakiyama

Aug 14 1973 Kenzo Shiki Aug 11 1970 Tamegoro Shimizu

Aug 9 1995 Masao Shirazmizu

Aug 6 1971 Joseph Terumi Suekawa

Aug 18 1988 Jiro Joe Sumida

Aug 12 2000 Kenneth Kiyoshi Takamatsu

Aug 5 2005 Isao Yamaguchi Aug 28 1999 Ada Muriko Yonemura

Aug 23 2015 Sam Osamu Yamamoto

Sept 25 1980 Otoshichi Endow Sept 4 1964 Tetsuzo Fujita Sept 22 1996 Butch Masakazu Higashiyama Sept 20 1989 Fumiko Horiuchi Sept 17 2015 Yuriko Inouye Sept 2 1966 Tokio Kuroiwa Sept 6 2000 Yoshiko Miyagishima Sept 11 1992 Toshi Oda Sept 26 1978 Run Okawa Sept 9 1997 Kosuye Okura Sept 25 1994 Nobuichi Sato Sept 23 1980 Taeko O. Suekawa Sept 22 1980 John Y. Taniguchi Sept 17 1961 Taichi Teramoto Sept 2 1961 Shime Tokifuji Sept 9 1996 Sachiko Sharon Yamamoto Sept 19 1971 Yasaburo Yamane Sept 21 1983 Akira William Yokota Sept 9 1987 Dick Yoshida


GEPPO ~

For those years not having a specific memorial service

such as 2nd, 4th, 5th, etc. the temple is holding these

monthly Shotsuki Hoyo. During these services, the

temple will list the names of those members who have

died during the month in the preceding years. The

families then attends that monthly service in memory of

their loved one. These services are not meant to replace

the specific memorial services. Please contact Rev.

Hirano to make arrangements for those services. Rev.

Hirano contact information - Office: 363-4742,

Home: 299-8727, Emergency: 819-2648

Toban Cleaning Group:

James & Marisa Aoki (Toban Cleaning Leader)

Charles & Catherine Aoki

Max & Georgia Yoshida

Toby Yoshida & Mui Tran

1 2 3

4 5 6 7 10:00 a.m. Buddha’s

Round Table

8 9 10

11 11:00 am – SL Dharma School Picnic @ Sensei Hirano’s Home

12 13 7:30 pm

OBC Board Meeting

14 10:00 a.m. Buddha’s

Round Table

15 16 17 9:00 am

BWA Yaki Manju making

6:00 pm WFN JACL

Family Fun Night

7:00 pm Washin-Denshin

Concert

18 10:00 am – BWA Meeting 11:00 am – Dharma School Kick Off, Lunch, & Parent Mtg. 12:00 pm – Meditation 12:30 pm – Study Group 1:30 pm – Ohigan Service Shotsuki Hoyo

19 20 21 10:00 a.m. Buddha’s

Round Table

22 23 24

25 9:00 am – BWA Fukashi Manju making 12:00 pm – Meditation 12:30 pm – Study Group 12:45 pm – Dharma School 1:30 pm – Family Service

26 27 28 10:00 a.m. Buddha’s

Round Table

29 30

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

September 2016


GEPPO – Page 15

Toban Cleaning Group:

*Bazaar Clean-Up Committee*

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1

SLBT Bazaar

2 9:00 am – Bazaar Yard Clean-Up 9:00 am – BWA Mochi Manju making 12:00 pm – Meditation 12:30 pm – Study Group 12:45 pm – Dharma School 1:30 pm – Family Service

3 4 5 10:00 a.m. Buddha’s

Round Table

6:00 pm Bazaar Prep

6

6:00 pm Bazaar Prep

7

6:00 pm Bazaar Prep

8

OBC Bazaar

Prep at 8:00 am

Doors Open at 3:00 pm

9 NO SERVICES

Bazaar Clean-Up

10 11 7:30 pm

OBC Board Meeting

12 10:00 a.m. Buddha’s

Round Table

13 14 15

16 12:00 pm – Meditation 12:30 pm – Study Group 12:45 pm – Dharma School 1:30 pm – Family Service Shotsuki Hoyo

17 18 19 10:00 a.m. Buddha’s

Round Table

20 21 22

23 12:00 pm – Meditation 12:30 pm – Study Group 12:45 pm – Dharma School 1:30 pm – Family Service

24 25 26 10:00 a.m. Buddha’s

Round Table

27 28 29

30 NO Service in Ogden 10:00 am - SL Dharma School Service & Halloween Party

31


GEPPO – Page 16

October 2016

http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwjXzuXYgObOAhUI6GMKHfFvDZIQjRwIBw&url=http://clipartix.com/october-clip-art-image-10411/&bvm=bv.131286987,d.cGc&psig=AFQjCNFt59U5kjETEumCHdjCZhWlCkBD3Q&ust=1472538797580750

http://clipartix.com/october-clip-art-image-10373/

This is a musical group that Stan & Mackenzie Hirai are members of. Please support them if you can.


GEPPO – Page 17

Seeds of Compassion

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