SBA

Reverend Koho Takata

About 1 year ago, we reorganized and reactivated Kapaa Hongwanji Sr. YBA and changed the name as Kapaa Hongwanji Senior Buddhist Association. Although the name is "senior", most members are young members. They are enjoying their activities in Buddhist Education, social, and service projects. Their updated activities since re-organization was printed in the last newsletter, please read it. If you are interested in their activities, please join us.

As one of their projects for the triple celebrations (new altar dedication, Kyodan’s 80^th anniversary, and Fujinkai’s 90^th anniversary) in 2002, SBA has purchased a buffer and cleaned the floor of our social hall. You can now easily see the differences before and after the buffering. The floor is now shining. Thank you for their Dana. If you do not see yet, please come and see the floor.

As you all know, when we clean something, we remove the dirty things. The surface or appearance will be shining after the cleaning. However, how about your mind and heart? Can you clean your mind like the shining floor?

"Although I take refuge in the Pure Land way, it is hard to have a true and sincere mind. This self is false and insincere; I completely lack a pure mind."

"Each of us, in outward bearing, makes a show of being wise, good, and dedicated; but so great are our greed, anger, perversity, and deceit, that we are filled with all forms of malice and cunning."

"Extremely difficult is it to put an end to our evil nature; the mind is like a venomous snakes or scorpion. Our performance of good acts is also poisoned; hence, it is called false and empty practice."

(The Collected Works of Shinran, P. 421)

No matter how we try to clean our mind, it will not be able to completely clean our mind and heart. Shinran Shonin deeply reflected upon himself and wrote these hymns. We should not present outwardly the appearance of being wise, good, and diligent, for inwardly we possess that which is false and empty. Since the moment we are born and until the day we die, we are filled with greed, anger, wrong views, and all kinds of deceit. Our evil nature is as difficult to renounce as venomous snakes and scorpions.

For example, since my assignment to this temple, I stopped to print all the donors’ names of fund-raising, offertory, and etc. in the newsletter in accord with my understanding of the teachings. I explained why I stopped it in my article of the newsletter. I hope you read it. If you have not read yet, please contact me. In any rate, after that, you can clearly see that the donations and donors decreased. Why? You may know the reason. Also, some of members called me and visited me. They still like their names in the newsletter and they like to know who donated, what donated, and how much donated.

To donate something is a really good act. In general Buddhism, we call it "Dana". Three characterizes Dana. 1) Purity of the giver - any gesture whatsoever of appreciation from the receiver is not expected. 2) Purity of the gift - all attachments to the relative value of the gift, whether it be material goods, a helping hand, kind words and smile, etc. is no more. 3) Purity of receiver - the giver sees no receiver in the sense of attachment of any kind in interdependence the giver becomes the given.

Dana is not only the materials and money, but also your actions (eyes-no sharp looks; face-gentle smile; mouth-kind words; heart-kind and understanding; body-helping; position-share honors; and hospitality).

Some members tell like this, "I do not have any children in the Dharma School and Jr. YBA. Yet, I am helping their organizations." Helping is one of Dana. The act is good, however, how about in your mind? It is not necessary to appeal it and tell others. If you are truly think about youth and like to help their organizations, you will not criticize them by saying it. The important thing is your feelings, hearts, and minds on the Dana.

Like these examples, you should not present outwardly the appearance of being wise, good, and diligent, for inwardly we possess that which is false and empty. We cannot completely remove our egoism at all. However, we can practice Dana, Eightfold Path, Shinshu Pledge, Golden Chain, and etc. in our daily lives and realize our evilness. Let us rededicate ourselves through Amida’s Compassionate Activities.

Namo-Amidabutsu