Last year, about 30 members participated in state Jr. YBA Convention on Kauai from Japan. After the convention, some of our members contributed as their host families. After finishing the home stay program, some of the host families told me the same matter. "When they reached our home, at first they asked us the location of the altar in our home. Then, they immediately went to the altar. They put their hands together in Gassho and bowed their heads in front of the family altar. " This scene is often seen in my country. When one visits another home, at first they express their appreciation to Amida Buddha in front of the family altar.

When I was at Hawaii Betsuin, members sometimes brought their family altars. They say that they do not want it because they do not need it in the home anymore. I hope that all of you have a Butsudan in your home.

Oneday,amanwhowasabout30yearsoldvisitedtheHawaiiBetsuinfromJapan. He came to Hawaii with his friends to do sightseeing, but he broke away from the tour to visit the coming to the Betsuin by himself. Since he came to see us, I thought he was a minister, but he was a company employee. After talking with him in the ministers' office for a while, I showed him around the Betsuin. During the tour, he asked me "why do you place some family altars in the corner of your office? " Then, he said, "My late grandfather often said to me that a home which does not have a Butsudan is not a real home even if it is nice. By contrast, even if the home is a poor one, it is a nice home if it has a family altar. " This visitor said that he was learning about Jodo Shinshu Teachings by taking correspondence courses and by receiving the Nembutsu from his late grandfather even now. Though I have never seen his home, I think that his home must surely be a nice home.

In the Larger Sutra, Shakyamuni Buddha preaches the significance of the Nembutsu to his many disciples who are sitting before him to hear his Dharma talk. When we sit in front of our Butsudan which enshrines Amida Buddha, we must feel as if we were attending a gathering together with our deceased beloved ones and listening to Shakyamuni Buddha's Teachings on the Dharma.

Shakyamuni Buddha also explains the meaning of Amida Buddha's Primal Vow in the Larger Sutra. Shakyamuni Buddha says that Amida Buddha saves all sentient beings at all times and in all places without any discriminations. This is why we express our gratitude to Amida Buddha before the Butsudan where the limitless compassion and timeless wisdom of Amida Buddha shines on us.

The family altar is a very important heirloom. However, it is not for our ancestors. We do not say or invoke the Nembutsu for the sake of our ancestors' peaceful repose. Rather, we make the family altar the center of our life through the practice of the Nembutsu gratitude.

Hawaii's customs, religions, and ways are quite different from those in Japan, because of the differences, you may have no longer any appreciation for the Butsudan. Instead of the Butsudan, the TV and computer are becoming the center of the home. However l think that the family altar is the most important means and support Of our true entrusting minds in placing complete Shinjin in Amida Buddha.

On Sunday, June 11, at 9:00 A.M., I am planning to have a workshop on the altar. Mr. Murata of Wakabayashi Company which we purchased the whole altar ornaments will visit our temple. He will explain about our new temple ornaments which will be replaced in our temple in the year, 2002. He will also bring some family altars of new style. There is a saying that Shinjin emerges from proper arrangements of the altar. If you do not have an altar in your home, if you do not know the proper arrangements of the ornaments in the altar, please come and share the True Teachings of the Buddha.