VISION FOR THE FUTURE OF KAPAA HONGWANJI MISSION

Reverend Koho Takata

INTRODUCTION

            The history of Kapaa Hongwanji Mission dates back to September 1922, when the first temple was constructed.  After passing more than 80 years of history, Kapaa Hongwanji Mission is at crossroads.  It faces a problem of declining membership.  This problem threatens the existence of Kapaa Hongwanji Mission in the future.

            While there is an urgent need for more membership which means establishing more strong Sangha, we must begin to pursue an avenue to make Kapaa Hongwanji Mission possible to exist in the future to share the Buddha-Dharma which was handed down by the past resident ministers and their wives, devoted members, and supporters.

            According to the history of Kapaa Hongwanji Mission, during 1974 to 1976, Kealia Hongwanji was closed and soon after Kilauea and Hanalei Sangha were also disbanded and joined Kapaa Hongwanji Mission.  The reason of closing and disbanding the temple and Sangha groups was the same problem Kapaa Hongwanji Mission face today.  

            The following is the survey of Kapaa Hongwanji Mission membership based on the September 9, 2004. (176 families, 295 individual members)

            Age:    0 - 10               4                     

                        11 - 20             22

                        21 - 30             21

                        31 - 40             11

                        41 - 50             25

                        51 - 60             29

                        61 - 70             32

                        71 - 80             45

                        81 - 90             86

                        91 -                  20

            This survey clearly shows you the future of Kapaa Hongwanji Mission.  If you do not take any actions right now, you have to close Kapaa Hongwanji Mission in the near future like Kealia Hongwanji and Kilauea and Hanalei Sangha groups.  I hope all of you realize this situation and seriously consider the future of your temple. 

            I understand that Kapaa Hongwanji Mission had been mainly the center of the social functions for the Japanese-American community for the many years rather than on Dharma because of the history of immigrants.  I truly appreciate the history of Japanese-American community, however, we no longer should cling to only a nationality and community.  If you still keep cling to only Japanese-American community, Kapaa Hongwanji will not exist in the future.  We must propagate our teachings beyond this small community if we think about the future of Kapaa Hongwanji Mission.  Therefore, I feel we need to put more emphasis on the Buddhist Education for those who seriously seek the teachings of the Buddha regardless of nationality.  It is necessary to create a new American Buddhist way of sharing the teachings of the Buddha.   

            I initiated the meditation practice into the Sunday services and also daily practices which are held from Tuesday to Friday from 7:00 to 8:00 in the morning and 5:30 to 6:30 in the evening.  Since then, non Japanese-Americans, mainly Caucasians, join the practice.  They simply come to the temple to practice and listen to the Dharma.  However, they do not want to join the Japanese-American community, Kapaa Hongwanji Mission.  The reason is that Kapaa Hongwanji Mission is a temple for Japanese-American.  They do not accept Japanese traditions and customs.  It is very difficult to change the image of Kapaa Hongwanji Mission lasted more than 80 years.  However, we must share the Buddha-Dharma, the universal religion beyond this small community.  It is the only way we can resolve the problems we face today and survive in this country and leave the name of Kapaa Hongwanji Mission in the future.      

ESTABLISHING A PURE LAND SHIN BUDDHISM DHARMA PRACTICE CENTER

            I propose to establish and build a Pure Land Shin Buddhism Dharma Practice Center in Kilauea.  Recently, many Caucasians are moving to Kilauea & Hanalei areas from the mainland.  As you know, Buddhism such as Zen and Tibetan is rapidly growing their Sangha in the mainland by non Japanese-Americans.  Here on Kauai too, they are seeking a place to practice and listen to the Buddha-Dharma.  I firmly believe that now is the last opportunity for us to seriously consider the future of Kapaa Hongwanji Mission.  Depend on your decision whether you move forth or not, it will determine the future of Kapaa Hongwanji Mission.   

            I would like to quote Professor Takamaro Shigaraki’s writing, translated by the late Rev. Kenryu Tsuji. 

“The present Shinshu Kyodan in Hawaii and the mainland U.S., insofar as Shinshu Studies is concerned, rely heavily on Nishi Hongwanji and directly imports its brand of Shinshuology to the United States.  Whenever a problem is Shinshu Studies arises both Kyodans consult Kyoto.  Moreover, every year Nishi Hongwanji dispatches a scholar to the U.S. for lectures to both ministers and laymen.

Unfortunately, the traditional Shinshuology of Nishi Hongwanji, which was formulated during the feudal Tokugawa period (1603-1868), is being extended into America today.  This is why this type of Shinshu does not speak to the issues of modern life.  Even in Japan it suffers from a critical time lag and a reformation is vociferously proposed.

It is unthinkable that this conventional Shinshu Studies, which has not seen any reformation whatsoever and become long outdated, is now being disseminated in its original form and is expected to take root in America.

Without casting off its conventional trappings and without a radical changes, how can it possibly become American Jodo Shinshu?  This is a foregone conclusion.”

            We have a tendency to cling to the external and superficial forms and appearances of Buddhism or Pure Land Shin Buddhism.  Kapaa Hongwanji Mission is really a temple of Japanese Shin Buddhism in America and not American Shin Buddhism.  The teaching taught by Shakyamuni Buddha during his life time was addressed to each Sangha’s particular situation and each occasion’s particular circumstance.  For some situations and circumstances, Shakyamuni Buddha’s teachings transcended human’s conceptual knowledge.  In this sense, how is it possible to interpret and pass down such essential teachings that can be applied to every possible occasion and individual situation by just following the traditional and Japanese way of sharing the Dharma?

            Buddhism is the universal religion.  It means that the teachings should be acceptable to everybody regardless of age, sex, ethics, nationality, etc.  By establishing and building a Pure Land Shin Buddhism Dharma Practice Center, we will be able to meet the needs of our fellow Sangha.  It is the only way to survive in this country and leave the name of Kapaa Hongwanji Mission in the future.   I hope that this proposal will be taken positively to move forth toward making a strong Pure Land Shin Buddhism Sangha if you seriously think about the future of Kapaa Hongwanji Mission and Pure Land Shin Buddhism in America.