Hawaii Council of Jodo Missions

Jodo Buddhism in Hawaii since 1894

2023 Hawaii Jodo Shu 

Pilgrimage Tour to Kyoto, Japan

The website for registration has been released.  For more information, please visit the link below: Deposit by March 20, 2023.

https://cvent.me/QDLX7n


Message from Bishop Kosen Ishikawa

 
Dear Members and friends of Jodo Mission,

Recently, gusty weather caused damages and problems across the State of Hawaii.  I hope you all are okay.  Here at the Jodo Mission, many vases fell down from the shelves and scattered glass over the floor.  Also, to our surprise, the strong wind even made our dumpster that is in the parking move.  Because there was a possibility for the dumpster to hit the cars, we kept it in the social hall all night, until the wind ceded.  Later on, I watched the news that there were power outages at many sites, including Roosevelt High School where students couldn’t do anything for one hour because of no power. 

When I was a high school student, I, too, experienced a power outage at school.  Not like Hawaii, it was very rare though.  Because of no electric light, the classroom became darker.  However, my teacher continued the class as if nothing happened.  In the classes of my time, teachers were using a huge blackboard and chalk which didn’t require electricity.  To add to that, everybody was using textbooks made of paper.  Therefore power outages during the daytime didn’t affect classroom instruction much. On the other hand, students in modern times today, use Chromebook computers or tablets as tools of instruction, and teachers may even use electric whiteboards called “smartboards” instead of blackboards or whiteboards.  Therefore no power means no electric usage and no class.  Thus students were forced to wait until power recovered.   This sounds ironic because modern convenient technology becomes instantly inconvenient when the power inconveniently cuts. 

This reminded me of a famous episode about Hanawa Hokiichi (1746-1821), who was a Japanese blind philology scholar during the Edo period.  I’m sure some of you must know this story because this episode was included in the old textbooks of Japanese schools here in Hawaii.  

The story starts with one night, Hanawa Hokiichi was teaching Japanese literature to his students. They were studying hard, with their eyes open under the light of a candle. Suddenly a strong wind blew the light off. The students were at a loss under the darkness, but Hokiichi who was blind didn’t know it. He just continued his lecture. Then one of the students said, “Sensei, please wait. We cannot see anything because the light was off.” Hokiichi just smiled and said, “You guys are so inconvenient. You are physically handicapped.” 

This story inspired many people including Helen Keller (1880 – 1968) whose life has been known as a “miracle worker.”   When Helen Keller visited Japan in 1937, she requested to visit the birthplace of Hanawa Hokiichi and left her impression as follows:  "When I was a child, my mother told me that Mr. Hanawa should be my role model. To visit this place and touch his statue was the most significant event during this trip to Japan. The worn desk and the statue facing down earned more respect of him. I believe that his name would pass down from generation to generation like a stream of water.” 

In a sense, we are all spoiled because of the advanced technologies and the convenience they provide.  And our many parts of happiness may even deeply depend on these materials and technologies.  I’m not suggesting a return to the old days when we didn’t rely on materialism.  But I feel it’s very important to live with true happiness which doesn’t require materials.  One example of true happiness is peace brought by religious practices.  When we practice meditation, we don’t need anything.   By taking a breath in and out mindfully, we can realize this wonderful moment.  If we have worries or regrets, we cannot concentrate on breathing. The fact we can meditate means we don’t attach to the past nor the future.  We can live in this present moment.  This is peace brought by meditation.  Our Jodo Shu practice, Nenbutsu is actually more than meditation.   

Honen Shonin (1133-1212) has mentioned, “In this moment, we can pile up merit by the practice of Nenbutsu, and in the future after death, we can go to the Pure Land.  Whatever befalls, I have made up my mind not to be anxious about myself, and so, come life, come death, nothing troubles me.”
By reciting “Namu Amida Butsu” anytime and anywhere, we can have peace in this moment and then in the future when we die, we will attain birth in the Pure Land thanks to Amida Buddha.  What great teaching! 

Again this month, we will have a Zoom Nenbutsu together with our Dharma friends in the world, hosted by Jodo Shu South America Missions in Brazil on Saturday, March 11th, 2023 from 11 am to 12 noon (HST).   You may join us either online or in person at Jodo Mission of Hawaii.   Let’s recite “Namu Amida Butsu” together.   We have also Higan Service and more this month.   Please check our schedule and plan to attend our services.   At the same time, if you need spiritual assistance or prayer, please feel free to let us know.  We are looking forward to more opportunities to serve you in the future.  Thank you very much for being our Ohana member of Jodo Shu. 


11th Zoom Nenbutsu 

-Chanting "Namu Amida Butsu" Internationally-

 
Hosted by Jodo Shu South America (Brazil),  we will have the 11th Zoom Nenbutsu on Saturday, March 11 from 11:00 am -12:00 noon.  Please join us in reciting ”Namu Amida Butsu” from anywhere in the world. 
Please use the link below for your participation.   It's absolutely for free!  

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85858506482?pwd=MzRtS0xGU2NWcFZaNExNZFlZTnFTUT09


Meeting ID: 858 5850 6482

Passcode :  313813 


 * Times around the world are as follows

Hawaii Time:March 11 , 2023 @11:00am
 Japan Time:  March 12  @6;00 am
 Brazil Time: March 11, 2023  @6:00 pm
France Time: March 11, 2023 @10:00 pm
 Australia : March 12  @7:00 am
 Nepal: March 12  @ 2:45 am
 India: March 12  @2:30 am

Jodo Mission Youth Retreat on Oahu 

Sunday, March 12, 2023 

9:00am -2:oo pm 

Hosted by Haleiwa Jodo Mission

Haleiwa Jodo Mission Sunday School will host our annual Youth Retreat program on Sunday, March 12, 2023 from 9am -2pm as follows:

8:50 am         Gather at Haleiwa Jodo Mission
                         (66-279 Haleiwa Rd A, Haleiwa, HI 96712)
9:00 am         Jodo Buddhist Sunday School Service at Haleiwa Jodo Mission
9:30 am          Visit Malama Loco Air Fishpond in Haleiwa
                         Tour of Loko ea
                          Iʻa (Fish) Identification and Observation activity 
                          Mālama ʻĀina activity 
                          Clean-up and Closing Circle 
12:30 pm        Lunch at Haleiwa Jodo Mission
1:30 pm          Holo-holo around Island X
2:00 pm         Dismissal

Jodo Mission offers this program for free for children/grand-children/great-grandchildren of our Jodo Shu members.  Please encourage them to join in our youth activities.    For more information, please contact Rev. Myoko Takano (Email: myokotakano717@gmail.com ). 

Spring BDK-Fujitani Interfaith Program 

March 19, 2023  @2 -4:00pm

at the Mystical Rose Oratory on the Chaminade campus. 3140 Waialae Ave., Honolulu, HI 96816.


HBC Buddha Day Service 2023 

April 2 @9:30 am 

at Jodo Mission of Hawaii 

Guest Speaker: Dr. George Tanabe  

Special Presentation of Jataka Tales 

by Jeff Gere & Lesley Kline

Honen

No. 4    December 2022

A collection of Buddhist Sermons by Jodo Shu Priests around the world.  

Jodo Mission of Hawaii 

LIVE Jodo Buddhist Sunday Service @10:00am

(In-person & YouTube LIVE)

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LIVE streaming Sunday Service at 10:00 am (HST)!

Please check Bishop's YouTube Channel.

Jodo Mission Major Events for 2023
January 22 (Sun.)    Gyoki / Memorial Service for Honen Shonin
January 29 (Sun.)  Sunday Service & General Membership Meeting
February 12 (Sun.)   Nirvana Day Service
March 5 (Sun.)   Fujinkai General Membership Meeting
March 19 (Sun.)  Higan Service
April 2 (Sun.)   HBC Buddha Day Service
April 15- May 15   Koinobori Celebration
May 14 (Sun. )  Mother's  Day service
May 28 ( Sun.)  Memorial Day Service
June 18 (Sun.)  Father's Day Service
July 9 (Sun.)   O-Toba Set Up and General Cleaning
July 14-16  O-Bon Services
August 13 (Sun.)  Yagura Set Up
August 19 (Sat.)  Bon Dance 
September 10 (Sun.)  Higan Service
October 15 (Sat.) Bazaar Preparation Day
October 22 (Sun.) Bazaar
November 12 (Sun.)  O-juya Service
December 3 (Sun.) HBC Bodhi Day
December 10 (Sun.) General Clean-up
December 17 (Sun.) Mochi Sale
December 31 (Sun.) New Year's Eve Service

Pure Land Life

2022 No. 35

LIVE Bodhi Day Service via YouTube

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Sunday, December 8, 2022 at 9:30 am (HST)
at Jodo Mission of Hawaii

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Hawaii Buddhist Council presents 2021 Virtual Bodhi Day Service 
with One Minute Dharma Talk Challenge by 16 ministers!

Aloha from Hawaii

Aloha!   Welcome to the Hawaii Council of Jodo Missions' website.  HCJM is the umbrella organization for the 13 Jodo Mission temples in the State of Hawai'i. 
We belong to Jodo Shu (Pure Land Buddhist Sect) which was founded by Honen Shonin (1133-1212) in Japan in 1175.   
Please visit our temples and/or website for more information about our services and events throughout the year.
The purpose of HCJM is:
a) To propagate the teachings of Jodo Buddhism and the Buddhist religion;
b) To promote generally the welfare of the people of the community throughout the State of Hawaii;
c) To serve as the liaison body for the various Jodo Missions.
Please feel free to join in our temple services, activities and events.

Big Island

Kurtistown Jodo Mission
Hilo Meishoin
Hakalau Jodo Mission
Hamakua Jodo Mission
Kohala Jodo Mission
Hawi Jodo Mission

Island of Maui

Wailuku Jodo Mission
Kahului Jodo Mission
Lahaina Jodo Mission

Island of Kaua'i

Kapaa Jodo Mission
Koloa Jodo Mission

Events & Services

Don't miss out—mark these dates in your calendar! All upcoming events, gatherings, and important dates have been listed here. Remember to bookmark this page to keep up to date with what's going on.

Our Project

We're always working on something. Most of the time, we're focused on providing better service for our members and friends.  But every so often we get the chance to experiment with new concepts and ideas.

Otsutome Book

PDF version of Otsutome Book - Daily Devotion Book is now available to download.   If you wish to purchase this hard copy, please contact kosenishikawa@hotmail.com 

Hawaii Council of Jodo Missions

c/o Jodo Mission of Hawaii   Phone: (808)949-3995

United States

Our privacy policy applies.

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