I have one thing always bothered me since my assignment to Kapaa in 1998. During this period of time, there were some occasions that members told me that they would quit our temple membership. The reason was always relationship with others or things it did not go as they wished. As I always tell you, please think about why you are a member of Kapaa Hongwanji and why you have a temple here at Kapaa Hongwanji. It is solely to listen to the teachings of the Buddha. It should be the primary purpose of having a temple for all of us.

After knowing they quit our temple membership, other members always ask me why teachings could not have resolved the cause of quittance or why I as a minister could not have stopped them quitting from the membership. However, I cannot agree with these thoughts. It is like bargain sale in the shopping center. Of course, the Dharma is always available for you to resolve the problem. However, if you think that the cause of the problem can be resolved by the Dharma, you should seek the Dharma by yourself. It is your practice as a follower of the Nembutsu path. Then, I can share my appreciation on the Dharma with you as a same follower.

You always expect the minister to do everything for you. However, it is totally wrong. Listening to the teachings is your practice and not someone else. If you truly listen to the teachings in your daily life, you will not think you quit your temple, a place to listen to the teachings, and those negative thoughts will be out of question for you. Those who quit membership and ask me to stop their quittance are people who do not listen to the teachings. In fact, they did not come to the temple to listen to the teachings.

Recently, a member came to tell me that he is going to quit our temple if a certain thing does not go as he wishes. The reason was regarding the facility usage for the interfaith activities. He thought that our temple facility should be used by only our temple members and should not be used for interfaith activities because it includes other faiths. I explained to him couple times on how interfaith activities play important roles in sharing our teachings with other faiths and communities and to celebrate and honor our diversity as a fellow being.

In any rate, as I mentioned earlier, I told him that it is up to him whether he quits or not. If Kapaa Hongwanji is not a religious organization, I do not tell him like this. However, Kapaa Hongwanji is a temple to seek the Dharma. It is up to him whether he seeks the Dharma at this temple or not.

I reflected upon myself on what I could have done for him. It was only thing I could do for him was to encourage him to listen to the teachings and nothing else. If he truly listened to the teachings, he would realize what the small thing he was angry and made troubles with others, and would be aware of more important things what he had to do. The above events reminded me of attitude for seeking the Dharma.

I strongly feel the different understanding of significance of having a temple between those who are seeking the Dharma by attending Sunday services, workshops, study sessions, etc. and those who are coming only for the social events such as bon dance, clean-up, fund-raising, meeting, etc. As younger members always mention, the entrance of Kapaa Hongwanji should not be the social hall. It should be the temple door. I feel the gap between younger and elder members. What do you think?

Buddhism teaches the impermanence of all things. However, our Buddhist organizations and communities seem to be lack of the ability to change. If each of you continues to hold the state of NO-DHARMA in your life, your temple certainly will not exist in the future. As Shakyamuni Buddha preached at the moment of his death, we should always live in the truth of the Dharma and in the practice of the Dharma. Let us seriously consider what is the Dharma for you.