VOL XLXIX, NO. 7 JULV2013

OUR PRACTICE IS THE SANGHA On a recent speaking engagement at the Kelowna Buddhist Temple in Canada, I was again reminded of how essential a sangha is to Jodoshinshu Buddhism. Kelowna temple strikes me as being a very mixed group of people who have formed a very interconnected family who enjoy each other's company, an upbeat, happy community of "fellow travelers in the Dharma". They surely have the same kind of problems as many of our temples, but they shared them with me openly and in a very positive manner. Under the guidance of Rev. Yasuhiro Miyakawa, the core of what a Jodoshinshu temple should be was very much alive. I felt very much at home there.

With the advent of Shinran. Shonin's Jodoshinshu, the meaning of Sangha changed drastically. The sangha no longer referred to the monastic order of monks and nuns. With Shinran Shonin's marriage, Jodoshinshu became a new kind of Buddhist institution. The scholastic and rigorous meditative life of the monk supported by a laity who believed in gaining merit from their support simply fell apart. For jodoshinshu, the laity and their "Sensei" became the sangha. When we "take refuge in the Sangha", we mean that we take refuge in each other as "fellow travelers [on the road} of the Dharma''. With this affirmation, thoughts of control of one's life through ritual, magic incantations, astrology, miracles, etc. fade into

the realm of superstition - and this from a traditional following of unlettered peasant farmers.

Our practice then became not the urge to be in control of our lives, but to see how our ego-self constructs our life of self-delusion. If our self-aggrandizing ego is the core cause of our suffering - how can we see it if what is seen is the product of the seer? How can the self see itself? The ego-self most often studies Buddhism to defend

family - living, loving, laughing, fighting, conflicting, complaining, resenting, etc - all together. It is not a family that looks up, but one that looks around, respecting each other as in a family. The ultimate friend is of course reality itself- Amida Buddha - impartial but always there to support and affirm - with infinite patience, since it is almost always ignored by his most ardent followers. Yet even then - there itis.

what it already is- a self-centered Namoamidabutsu, control freak. It uses Buddhist Rev. Mas theory and learning to attack the delusion in others, but seems incapable of seeing one's own delusion. The sangha, as a group of monks, are the traditional teachers of the Dharma, showing others of their delusion and how to overcome it. It is a full-time occupation unencumbered by the need to provide one's own food, clothing, and shelte1:

Shinran Shonin saw no essential difference between monk and layman as regards the difficult matter of the self seeing the self. If anything, he was somewhat critical of the monks of Hieizan, referring to them as "those well­oiled monks". If the self is almost never able to see itself, we need help in seeing ourselves. The Jodoshinshu meaning of the sangha is that help. Our fellow "travelers" and "friends" in the Dharma help us to achieve this. But our sangha is more than just friends, it is more like a

TEMPLE UPDATE AUGUST RELIGIOUS ACTIVITIES BCA Ministers Seminar in Chicago August 13th thru 15th

Osoji Temple Clean-Up on August 25th- No services

Bon Odori - It was a wonder­ful Bon Odori. So many people! A special thanks to Greg Yee for once again for coordinating the day. Thank you everyone for all of your help. And thank you for dancing!

Howakai- Next meeting is August 12th at 7:30pm. Contact JoAnn Komai or Ted Akahori for details on this study group.

Religious Committee - Contact Eugene Murakami or Rev. Mas if you are interested.

ORGANIZATIONS BWA/Fujinkai -Thank you to all who supported of our Oden and Spam Musubi sale.

Thank you also to everyone who helped out at Saishin Dojo and to all who helped prepare, set up and sell our Oden and Spam Musubi.

We are grateful for the following Dana: Sally Shirasago, Hatsubon for George Shirasago Elle Shimohara, Special donation Nell Sawada, Special donation Suzanne & Bob Toji, Special donation Elaine Takahashi, Saishin Dojo Grandmother Saishin Dojo, donation Toshiko Yoshida, donation of kyuri for oden tsukemono

Reiko Sonday, Hatsubon for mother Kiyoko Niimi.

Our next meeting will be held August 25, after Osoji.

Happy Summer Harvest to all!

ABA- The Annual Rummage Sale is scheduled for Saturday, August 10th. We open at 8:00am, but can use any and all help with set-up from 6:30am. Donations for the sale can be brought to the social hall after July 26th. Proceeds from the sale will be donated to our neighboring Weemes Elementary School. Contact John Hiramoto if you have any questions.

Jr. YBA- The Hanamatsuri Bake Sale proceeds of over $320 was donated to the Southern District JR YBA Endowment Fund. Way to go Jr.'s!

Dharma School - Classes will meet twice monthly on Sundays at 10:30am. For more information, please contact Jean Nakashima, Chris Aihara or Wilbur Takashima. Here is the schedule for 2013 for Dharma School:

August September October November December

15th & 22nd 13th & 27th 3rd & 10th 1st & 8th

Sangha Teens - As Sangha Teens ends its second year, we'd like to give our thanks and deepest appreciation to all the Senshin members who supported us with their donations and who took time out of their busy

schedules to serve as volunteer workshop leaders. A big thank you also goes out to Rev. Mas as our Religious Advisor, Wilbur Takashima as our Dharma School Superintendent, and to all the Sangha Teen parents who worked with volunteers to insure that our youth had meaningful and fun experiences this year.

We had eleven active teens, and seven will be eligible to join Jr. YBA in September under the direction of Parent Advisors Koichi and Linda Uyemura. Miki Fujimoto has resigned as Sangha Teen Advisor since her own daughter will be one of the teens who will move on to Jr. YBA. If you are interested serving as Parent Advisor, please contact Dharma School Superintendent Wilbur Takashima

Book Club - The last meeting was on Sunday, July 14th discussing the first half of THE BEST BUDDHIST WRITING 2011, by a variety of authors, published and edited by the "Shambhala Sun" magazine. At the following meeting, we will discuss the rest of the book. Bring book suggestions, questions, and food to share. New members are welcomed anytime. For more info, contact Lilly & Mike Yanagita at (818) 956-1070 or email n 7willow@gmail.com.

Saishin Dojo - Big thanks to all the volunteer teachers and help­ers who made for a successful summer program!

TEMPLE UPDATE AUGUST CONTINUED

Hongwanji Place Bookstore -Now housed at Senshin! Hours: Wednesday thru Saturday, lOam to 3pm; Sunday, 11:30am to 2pm. www.hongwanjiplace@ yaboo.com. Sponsored by BCA Southern District Dharma School Teachers' League.

FUN PRAISING Obon Raffle Chairman - We need a replacement volunteer as soon as possible. Contact Neil Komai or Don Akamine if you are interested. Thank you again, Don, for another successful raffle!

Chicken Teriyaki - Another successful event. Thank you,

everyone!

fundraising Committee - If you have ideas, please contact Chris Aihara.

ANNOUNCEMENTS Temple Bus to San Diego Bon Odori August 3rd - See Kathy Ikari for details.

Temple Board Meeting on Thursday, August 1st at 7:30pm

Facilities & Maintenance -There's a brand new 12-foot lad­der, donated by Richard Kodani. The light on Raymond Avenue has been fixed and the auto-

2013 OBON RAFFLE THANK YOU Thanks to all of you who bought tickets for our 2013 OBON RAFFLE. Although most of us did not win any prizes, our fundraising efforts could not have been successful without your support.

We have special thanks for the following businesses and individuals who donated the many wonderful raffle prizes. Many of them have supported Senshin for many years. Please patronize these businesses and thank the individuals for their generosity:

- Pacific Commerce Bank (Mr. Ken Ota)

Pacific Commerce Bank paid for the cost of raffle ticket printing.

Prize Donors: - DIRECTV (Chikako Kojima) - California Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada - Six Flags Magic Mountain -Aquarium of the Pacific - Sony Computer Entertainment America (Yumi Yang) - Gary Shirasago (Dodger tickets) - Kerin Shimozon Reynen (Snow Summit) in memory of Jim E. Shimozono

sensor light in the parking lot bas been deactivated. The toi­lets in the Social Hall have been repaired. The A/C units in the Education Building were fixed. Whew! Thank you ButsuButsu­Kai.

Otoki Cookbook- Now (for real) only a few remain! Pro­ceeds go to the Senshinji Building Fund. Come to the office or see Wendy to get the cookbook or contact Hongwanji Place Book­store cjo Wilbur (310) 398-9558 for orders to be mailed.

- Rafu Shimpo (Qris Yamashita) - Feast from the East (Suzanne Toji)

Thanks to those who donated raffle prizes: Robert Hori, Cathy Iyemura, John & Debbie Hiramoto, Wilbur Takashima and Ted Akahori. Special thanks to Chris Aibara for helping with the ticket sales, Eugene Murakami for assembling the mail out packets and helping with ticket sales, and Ted Akahori for helping with ticket sales and handling the finances every year.

DANA JUNE Listed below are donations handled by the Regular Treasurer. special= donation received with no specific reason given. orei = donation for use of temple facilities, equipment, etc. Nokotsudo =donation by families who have family cremains in the Nokotsudo (columbarium)

The Regular Treasurer is required to send receipts for donations $250.00 and over. Receipts for all other donations will not be sent unless requested by the donor. Membership dues are $189.00 per individual ($364.00 per couple). The dues include BCA membership fees. Members 80 years of age and over need not pay temple dues but may pay $99.00 for BCA dues which includes the Wheel of Dharma newsletter.

Date 6/2/2013

6/9/2013

6/16/2013

6/23/2013

6/30/2013

Donor Darr Family Edith Nishikawa Yoko Uneda Chikako Kojima Nobuko Tanaka

D Uyeshima

Victor Ito Kenneth Hatai

Nishi family

Donna Ebata Young-Ae Park Fumie Fujimoto Elaine Takahashi Arlene Yokoyama Ellen Shimohara Rose Hom Ricky Imamura

Nick & Wendy Nagatani Carolyn & David Calica Alan Terakawa Foshay Jr High School Nell Sawada Celia Huey

....

Occasion for Donation 50th cycle for Frank Eiichi Yoshida 50th cycle for Frank Eiichi Yoshida "get well donation - Noreen Kojima" "get well donation,- Noreen Kojima" 49th day memorial for Tamotsu Yamashiro, 3rd cycle memorial for for Masuo Tanaka 49th day memorial for Tamotsu Yamashiro, 3rd cycle memorial for Masuo Tanaka Funeral service for Evelyn Inamine Special Donation

7th cycle memorial for Soichiro Nishi

1st cycle memorial for Masato Hokoda In memory of Inae Park In memory ofTakuya Fujimoto 13th cycle memorial for Nakamura Takahashi 17th cycle memorial for Ellen Yamada Special Donation Special Donation Nokotsudo

1st cycle memorial for John & Diane Nagatani Funeral service for Chitose Nishi 3rd cycle memorial for Hisaye Matsumune Visit to temple Special Donation Special Donation

..

DOCUMENTING THE SENSHIN BUDDHIST TEMPLE STORY Dear Senshin Sangha,

I'd like to inform and enlist your support in an important new project­archiving and documenting the Senshin Buddhist Temple story.

Rev. Mas and Bob Nakamura are taking on this new project of organizing and documenting the temple and its activities. Some great strides were taken earlier with the photo archiving, but there remain lots of photos, slides, video and printed material stashed in boxes at the temple. And there are plans to take new interviews with people to capture their personal memories and recollections.

We also believe that many of you may have great photos, home movies, video, and other memorabilia in your homes of temple activities, like picnics, chigo parades, Hatsumairi, Obon, Mochitsuki, weddings, and Dharma School activities.

If you have such things, please fill out this form and let us know wh_atyou may have. If any items are borrowed, they will be returned. With your permission, some items may be copied and placed in the archive.

Thanks for your help, Chris Aihara, Admin. Support to Rev. Mas & Bob (213) 247-6931

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

I have the following items I would be willing to share:

Photos. What & When _ __________ _ Example: Picnics, Fujinkai outings, 1960-1970

Home Movies. What & When. _________ _

Slides. What & When. __________ _

__ Other, What& When. ___________ _

Myname: ______________ __

Contact Info: (email and/ or phone) _______ _

Return this form to Senshin Temple Office, and place in mailbox marked: ':Archive Project"

2013 HATSUBON DANA Donor Donna Hokoda Patricia/Bob Nakawatase Reiko /Mark Son day PhylissjDean Nakagawa Kazuojlkuko Matsubayashi Nadine Courtney Ron/Fujie Ohata Meri Mitsuyoshi Seichi Jinde Iris/Wilbur Takashima Sally shirasago Gary /Paula Shirasago Dale/Susan shirasago Gene/Connie Matayoshi Mitsuo/Yukie Ushirogata Robert Hori Chris Aihara KymAoki Jeanne Sakamoto Richard/Helen Nakawatase Alice Yamada JoAnn/Neil Komai David Yamada/Leslie Shirasawa Anonymous Karen/Robert Nakamura Patricia/Ira Murabayashi Luanne/Robert Niimi Kathy Yamamoto-Hirose Yoshiko Takeuchi Ellyn Hasama Akiko Matsuno Anonymous

HELP WANTED Volunteers are needed to help with collating and packing the Prajna Newsletter for mailing. The "crew" meets on the third Sunday of the month after service to assemble and bundle the newsletter for bulk mail through the US Postal Service. It only takes about one hour. It's easy to do, but we could use more helpers. Contact Ed Ito if you can help. Thank you!

In memory of: Katherine Kuramoto Dolly Ogami Kiyoko Nimi Kiyoko Nimi Atsuko Matsubayashi Yoshi Arita

Peggy Aiko Jinde Peggy Aiko Jinde George Masao Shirasago George Masao Shirasago George Masao Shirasago George Masao Shirasago Goichi Ushirogata Takashi Hori Takashi Hori Takashi Hori Takashi Hori DollyOgami Yoshito Yamada Yoshito Yamada Yoshito Yamada Georgia Matsui Mary Ishizuka Hideo Nakayu Yoshi Arita Noboru Miyakawa Sharon Takeuchi Miyo Abo Kiyoko Nimi

SENSHIN NEEDS YOUR HELP Don Akamine, who has been our raffle even more successful than it Obon Raffle Chairman for the past has been. Please contact Don, Neil nine years, has asked to step aside. Komai or Janice Nabara in the We need someone to step up to office if you are willing to pitch in relieve Don and take over this to keep Senshin vibrant under our important fund raising position. new Sensei, Rev Furumoto. Don will help the new chairman with the information about donors and what hasjhas not worked for him in the past. We welcome anyone who may have new and innovative ideas about making the

2013 SENSHIN TEMPLE fALL HIGAN SEMINAR SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2013

"The Essentials of}odoshinshu"

Guest Speakers: English/Japanese - Rev. Shousei Hanayama, Watsonville Buddhist Temple English/Japanese - Rev. Katsuya Kusunoki, Lodi Buddhist Temple

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Saturda~ September 21st

9:00am - Omairi

9:30-ll:OOam - Session I English Japanese

11:00 -11:15am -Break

11:15 -12:30pm -Session II English Japanese

12:20 - 1:30pm -Lunch

1:30- 2:30pm - Session III English Japanese

2:30- 2:45pm -Break

2:45- 4:00pm -Session IV English Japanese

4:00pm - Omairi

4:30pm - Dinner

Sunday, September 22"d:

9:30am - Fall Higan Hoyo

Hondo

Hondo - Rev. Hanayama Classroom Bldg. - Rev. Kusunoki

Social Han /Courtyard

Hondo - Rev. Hanayama Classroom Bldg- Rev. Kusunoki

Social Hall/Courtyard

Hondo - Rev. Kusunoki Classroom bldg. - Rev. Hanayama

Social Hall/Courtyard

Hondo - Rev. Kusunoki Classroom bldg. - Rev.Hanayama

Hondo

Trio Restaurant

Guest Speakers: Eng. - Rev. Shousei Hanayama Jpn. - Rev. Katsuya Kusunoki

Some important news!

Save the Date! Rev. Mas Appreciation Party at Senshin Buddhist Temple Saturday, October 19,2013 (Details to follow .... )

Onegaishimasu... A Car for our Sensei The Senshin Board is asking for the Sangha's support to purchase a temple car for our new minister' s use.

In appreciation to Rev. Kodani for his many years of service to us all, we are gifting the current temple auto to Rev. Mas. Your donation to help us purchase a car for Rev. Furumoto is needed and will be greatly appreciated.

Please make your check out to Senshin Buddhist Temple and memo "Sensei's Car." Donations can be turned in to the office or mailed to the temple.

Rev. Furumoto and Family Welcome Lunch Sunday, September 8, 12pm at Senshin Buddhist Temple $5 Per Person (Children 10 and under are free)

To welcome our new sensei, Rev. Ryuta Furumoto, his wife, Yoriyo, and their three children, Matz, Gen and Goh, we are having a luncheon at Senshin.

Please complete the form below and return with your check made out to Senshin Buddhist Temple, 1311 W. 37th St., L.A., 90007

__ Yes, I (we) will attend the Furumoto Luncheon.

_ _ (#of people) X $5.00 = $ ___ _

__ (# of chHdren, 10 yr and under) = $_Free

Total Amount = $ ___ _

Contact Name ------------------

Phone and/or Email -----------------

FLOWER DONATIONS Due to scheduling of the monthly memorial service, flower donations for July I August will appear in the September "Prajna".

SENSHIN CAR DONATION If you would like to donate a car, truck or any vehicle, to Senshin, please contact Wilbur Takashima at (310) 398-9558 or Jean Minami at 323 938-0048.

CLASSES GAGAKU (Ancient Court Music) 1st & 3rd WEDNESDAYS OF THE MONTH -7:30PM

BUGAKU (Ancient Court Dance) znd & 4th WEDNESDAYS OF THE MONTH- 7:30PM

KINNARA TAIKO THURSDAYS 8:00PM

MORNING EXERCISE CLASS TUESDAY & THURSDAY -9:30AM.

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1311 W. 37TH ST., LOS ANGELES, CA 90007 TEL 323· 731-4617 SENSHINTEMPLE@GMAIL.COM SENSHINTEMPLE.ORG

AUGUST 20 13 CALENDAR OF SERVICES AND ACTIVITIES Toban: Dharma School

Date Day Time Service or Activity

1 Thu 7:30pm Temple Board Mtg.

3 Sat noon Temple bus to San Diego Obon

4 Sun No seiVices

10 Sat 8:00am ABA Annual Rummage Sale

11 Sun No services

13-15 BCA Ministers' Seminar- Chicago

18 Sun No seiVices

25 Sun Sam- noon Temple Osoji -Temple cleanup, volunteer help needed 11 am BWAReikai

No services