Marriage
Reverend Koho Takata
When I was a university student, I spent more than one month on the mainland with Rev. Tone of Hilo Betsuin. This was my first opportunity to go to a foreign country. We visited San Francisco, Cleveland, Washington D.C., New York, and Los Angeles. When we visited Cleveland Buddhist Church, we had an opportunity to attend a wedding. Although there was only one couple, Rev. Ogui, the resident minister, and a Christian minister officiated the joint ceremony. When Rev. Ogui was reciting the Nembutsu, Namo-Amidabutsu, and Christian minister was reciting Amen, I was deeply moved. I was very impressed with the ceremony at that time.
The other day, I had an opportunity to officiate a wedding ceremony at Mahelona Hospital. There were eight couples. Four of the couples were Buddhists. The others were Christians. I officiated over the four ceremonies at the same time. They were members of Kapaa Hongwanji, Jodo Mission, and Higashi Hongwanji. Although they exchanged their wedding vows more than 50 years ago, they reaffirmed their feelings to each other on this occasion. All the staff of the hospital wore dresses and tuxedos. They served as bridesmaids, ushers, and so on. Although most couples were using wheel chairs, they all enjoyed this wedding ceremony very much.
All of the staff from Mahelona Hospital and family members of the wedding parties helped with the ceremony. They made bridal bouquets, decorations, and leis, set the place, prepared a buffet lunch, and so on. Also, Kauai Marriott Hotel donated the wedding cake, Garden Island Newspaper took pictures, musicians from Smith’s Boat sang songs, and danced. Even non family members donated flowers, made on arch, and played keyboard. Everybody enjoyed and celebrated this ceremony. I was very glad to officiate and participate in this ceremony. My feeling was very happy.
Till then, I had never dreamed that I would have a chance to officiate the wedding ceremony with a Christian minister like I witnessed at Cleveland. I am very appreciative for such an opportunity. Even though we shared different religions, joy is joy, sadness is sadness for all of us. However, Amida Buddha’s salvation is universal. Amida Buddha saves all of us equally at all times and in all places without any discriminations. We are always one and together, that is oneness. We always help each other, work, and grow together. That is why the wedding was very successful. Let us come together through the world of the Nembutsu,
Namo-Amidabutsu