THE LIGHT OF THE BUDDHA
Steveston Buddhist Temple
4360 Garry Street, Richmond, B.C. V7E 2V2
July 2006
CALENDAR OF EVENTSJULY 2006
July 16 10:30a.m. - Dharma Service
01 (Sat ) 6:00 p.m. Pot-luck for Sensei Miyaji
* please note: No services
02 (Sun) 2:00 p.m. Obon& July Memorial Service (Shotsuki)
July 9th, 23rd and 30th
02 (Sun) 6:00 p.m. Obon Dance
08 (Sat) 4:00 p.m. Fraser Valley Temple for Obon, Potluck & Bon Dance
09 (Sun) 10:30 a.m. Join us at Vancouver Temple for Obon
10 (Mon) 7:30 p.m. July Board Meeting
19(Wed) 11:00 a.m. Nikkei Home Monthly Service
23 (Sun) 11:00 a.m. Temple Picnic (with Vancouver and Fraser Valley) at Central Park
AUGUST 2006
06 (Sun) 10:30 a.m. August Memorial Service (Shotsuki)
12 - 13 (Sat - Sun)
Vancouver Island Obon Tour
13 (Sun) 7:30 p.m. Convention Planning Meeting at temple
14 (Mon) 7:30 p.m. August Board Meeting
August 20 10:30a.m. - Dharma Service
* please note: No services
Aug. 13th , 27th and Sept. 3rd
** Ryukoku Sogo Gakuen High School English Study – July 21(Fri) – August 10(Thur)
Pot Luck on Saturday, July 1st at 6 p.m. at the temple, to welcome Akio Miyaji Sensei of BCA,
Orange County Buddhist Church. Everyone is welcome. Please come and join us that evening
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“ I have them, I have them all…”
For this month’s issue, I will write about a very famous female Nembutsu follower, Mrs. Hisako Nakamura.
She was born in November 25, 1897 in Hida Takayama, Gifu prefecture. When she was just three years old,
frostbite on her foot developed into gangrene, ultimately resulting in the loss of both her hands and both her
legs.
When she was five, her younger brother Eizo was born. During the summer of her seventh year, her father died.
During the fall of her eighth year, her mother remarried, and she became a member of the Fujita family. During
the spring of her tenth year, her younger brother Eizo, then five years old, was placed in an orphanage, and she
would not meet him again until just prior to his death at a young age.
When Hisako was twenty years old, she left her hometown of Takayama to become a member of a freak show.
She began her life as a “freak” in the city of Nagoya; billed as “Daruma Musume”. “Daruma” is a Japanese
traditional red doll which has no arms and no legs.
And “Musume” means a young lady. She performed all over Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and even in Manchuria
(Manshu) in China. She said about the freak shows.
“ As for my “ art” , I did needle work, knitted, and did things such as tying knots. In addition, I did
calligraphy.”
She performed just by using her mouth and very short arms without fingers.
Hisako’s brother Eizo died during May of 1920, when he was 20 years old. Her mother also died in the same
year in August. These tragedies were very hard events for Hisako, however she had to go forward…
Through her work, she encountered Mr. Nakatani and she married him in 1921. Fortunately, he always looked
after her, becoming her arms and legs. Their first daughter, Michiko, was born next year. She was treated well
by her husband, but he suddenly passed away.
She re-married, but the next husband too passed away, just after she gave birth to her second daughter.
She tried to survive as a popular performer, but she needed help. But her third husband was not a good man. She
made a decision to divorce him after she lost her young third daughter through illness. She then met Mr.
Nakamura. She married him when she was 37. He looked after her with deep compassion and love. She led a
wonderful life until her peaceful death at the age of 72 years.
During her life, she had countless hardships both physically and mentally, which were beyond our imagination.
It must have been like “hell”. But fortunately she encountered the Nembutsu teaching through “Tannisho”,
which was written by Yuien, quoting his master Shinran Shonin. Through reading the Tannisho, Hisako’s
hardship was transformed completely into gratitude for her life. In Japanese, we say Okagesama, expressing
gratitude for Amida’s compassionate working. For Hisako, all the people around her helped with deep love and
became her hands and feet.
Amida’s compassion made her aware of her parents’ obligations and also other’s obligations.
When she was older, Hisako looked back with tears and gratitude on her life and said,
I wish I had a hand with four fingers and a thumb…
Everyone laughed at me shouting, “ Hand-less!” “ Feet-less!” .
Where are my hands? Where are my feet? Who took them away? I want them back… Please return them!
How clearly I remember the days and nights that I both screamed and cried like that.
But regardless of how I cried, not even a single finger was returned to my body, much less a complete hand or foot.
I wonder if people blessed with two hands and two feet have ever considered what it is like to be without even one hand
or one foot? I wonder how many people appreciate their four fingers and thumb, and five toes by saying, “ Thank you,”
to them?
How many times have I thought about this…
Although she entertained at freak shows for 22 years to look after her family, she never gave up her life as a
human being even though people saw her as a “freak”. These are the words that were given to her from her very
famous calligraphy teacher.
“ Even if you are in a freak show,” he said, “ you must be like a lotus growing in a muddy pond. You must develop a
spirit that will not allow the mud to stain your spirit; otherwise, you cannot be called a human being.”
The words sustained her.
During her life, she encountered wonderful people who
had also lived very hard lives with many handicaps.
One of them was Helen Keller. Helen Keller was a
great woman who lived in darkness and silence, loved
and admired by not only the world of the disabled, but
by the entire world itself. She is known in Japan as the
“great person of the three heavy sufferings (blindness,
deafness, muteness)”. Helen Keller came to Japan in
1937 to give a public talk. Hisako was also blind for a
while when she was a child. When the two ladies met
Hisako’s body. When her hands came to where
Hisako’s hands and legs were supposed to be, she was
so surprised she cried.
for the firs timeHelen touched
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She kissed Hisako’s cheek and hugged her very gently with tears in her eyes. Hisako presented her a Japanese
doll wearing a Kimono that was sewn by Hisako using only her mouth. The two became friends and saw one
another two more times in their lives.
As I had mentioned earlier, Hisako experienced many hardships as well as many wonderful things. By receiving
the compassionate working of Amida Buddha, Hisako showed us the way to live life to the fullest despite any
difficult circumstances that we may face.
It is said that our Buddhism, the Shin Buddhist character is to be humble
and accept everything as it is including ourselves. In conclusion, I’d like to
share her poem…
I have them, I have them all…
And then removing my false teeth
A limb Without a bone.
A refreshing Autumn morn…
To clean them further,
A soft arm, A short hand.
“ Please hand me a towel.”
And washing my face…
I have them, I have them, I have
A husband who answers, “ Oi,”
Though short And without fingers,
them all…
A daughter who says, “ Hai.”
My round And strong stump of an
It’ s all I need.
Brushing my teeth
arm
What a refreshing Autumn morn
Does everything for me.
I can’t tell you all about her in such limited space. If you want to know more about it, please read the book about
Mr. Nakamura. There is an English translation which our temple will purchase soon.
In Gassho, Masumi Kikuchi
*Please feel free to contact the office if you wish the minister to visit a hospital or a seniors’ home…
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------BCC UPDATE – June 2006
May 27, 2007 Kelowna Buddhist Temple 75th Anniversary May 13/14 weekend was a very pleasant and happy
one as Calgary Sangha celebrated 50th Anniversary with the weather co-operating. There was Open House and
reunion at the temple and Banquet Dinner at Blackfoot Inn on Saturday and then Ochigo procession and
Commemoration Service at the temple on Sunday. A few surviving chartered members and Rev.& Mrs. Kyojo Ikuta
were acknowledged before the guest minister Sasaki Sensei’s Dharma Talk.
BCC president and I attended World Jodo Shinshu Coordinating Council on May 25/26 in Kyoto. Mr. J.
Hisanaga who visited Japan for the first time seemed to have enjoyed Kyoto as well as meeting other delegates from
Brazil, Hawaii, and BCA. The roof of Founder’s Hall was completed and as the cover being taken down, you can
see the new roof next year, although the inner restoration has to be done for a few more years before Shinran
Shonin’s 750th Memorial Service in 2011-12. The entire budget of the service will be 260 million dollars.
My Recollection as BCC minister:
As I have been a minister for many years, I have encountered with many presidents across Canada. Generally
speaking, temple president is expected to be a dedicated Buddhist as well as showing leadership in the
administration of the Sangha. And also he/she has to assist resident minister who can work comfortably in the
missionary activities.
As far as I remember, Mr. Masao Terakita was a great president at Lethbridge Buddhist Church during my tenure
in1968-70. He was the first person to open the temple door and most likely the last one to close it. He attended all
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the Sunday services as well as fundraising activities. He was always a top donor and supporter of the temple.
Whenever we had guest ministers for special occasions, he and his wife volunteered to entertain them and offered
accommodations.
One Sunday morning I woke up to find a huge amount of snow outside and I thought there would be no service
for the day. After breakfast, however, I noticed someone working hard to clear the snow on the driveway. It was
the president with his bald head steaming by shoveling the snow. I went out to assist him to finish the work. I really
appreciated his kindness when his wife told me later that he had got up dark and early to clear his own driveway
before coming over to my residence. I found out people in Alberta got used to the big snow, so they eventually can
manage themselves to come to Sunday Service on time.
At any rate, I hope the resident minister is the spiritual leader and the president and the board can assist him/her
in the missionary activities.
In gassho, namo amidabutsu…
Socho Orai Fujikawa
Coming events:
June 25
Montreal Buddhist Temple 60th Anniversary
July 15-29 Hongwanji Youth Tour led by Aoki Sensei
July 10-Aug 21 Ryukoku Summer School in Steveston
Sept 1-3 13th World Buddhist Women’s Convention
Sept 12-13 BCC Ministerial Association Seminar in
Calgary
Oct 14
Oct 21/22
Oct 28/29
Nov11/12
BCC Board Meeting at Headquarters
Jodo Shinshu Center Dedication in Berkley
Kamloops Buddhist Temple 60th Anniversary
Alberta and BC Buddhist Convention
THE ENLIGHTENED GARDENS
Steveston as a community is changing. Its rural and suburban character is becoming more urban and dense as each
year marches deeper into the twenty-first century. Our neighbours, our friends, our parents and our temple
members are down sizing to meet their changing circumstances. They built a home and raised a family, and often
had proud front lawns and landscaping reflecting their love of plants and gardening. With the demolition of these
houses the Enlightened Gardens that were created are disappearing.
Earlier this spring, plants and shrubs from one of these special gardens were offered to the Steveston Buddhist
Temple. It started with three beautiful mature rhododendrons, which were re-planted along the west side of the
gymnasium in mid April. As you may all have noticed, these rhododendrons flowered and showed their full
colour and true form. If these plants had not been moved and replanted, they would have been plowed under by
a bulldozer.
Saving plants cared for by temple members and their families, and replanting them around the temple provides
an opportunity to create a Special Enlightened Garden for all of our members. Therefore, if you have plants
from your garden or you have sold your house and it may be demolished and you wish to donate the plants,
please feel free to offer them to the Temple.
To create the Enlightened Gardens around the Temple, other planting character areas are being examined. The
Landscape Committee is considering daffodil beds along the south property line, a row of Sakura along the west
property line adjacent to the lane, fukie beds and other tree planting around the site. Members are encouraged
to participate. Thanks to some of the dedicated Gate Ball members, the flowerbed along the west property line
adjacent to the lane has been beautifully maintained. If you are interested in making a donation to the Formal
Tree Planting or Daffodil Beds and receiving recognition for your contribution, please leave your name at the
office for the Landscape Committee to get in touch with you or to speak to Larry, Kiyo or Bud. The
Enlightened Garden is yours to create. The Landscape Committee looks forward to your comments and
participation.
In Gassho, Bud Sakamoto
NOKOTSUDO/COLUMBARIUM UPDATE – Kiyo Domai
Currently We have available 70 niches.
(16 large 14”x 12”x 12”, capacity 4-5 urns. 53 standard 8”x 12”x 12”, capacity 2-3 urns.)
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A sprinkler system was recently installed to alleviate concerns raised by several people.
The purchase price remains the same but may be increased in the near future.
Cost – ۰ Standard $1,200.00
۰ Large $1,800.00
00
Plus $30. for name plates ( Initial inurnment included in purchase price. )
Subsequent ones - $200.00 per inurnment.
Thank you to family members for placing flowers in the Memorial Garden.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------GARDEN COMMITTEE – Kiyo Domai
We would like to thank Mrs. Setsuko Yamashita and Mrs. Shizuko Nishi for their donation of shrubs and
perennials. Passersby have made positive comments about the garden along the fence.
Please feel free to donate plants – Leave your name and phone number with Chizuru-san (604-277-2323 or 604271-5198 ). Someone will pick them up.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------THOUGHTS ON MIYAKAWA SENSEI’S LECTURE
Rev. Miyakawa’s lecture began with a personal declaration from each person in attendance on their spiritual
background & on their present faith. In the 30 years I have been coming to the Temple it is the first time anyone
has asked me this. I found it to be very enlightening. I was very surprised by the answers. Being an outsider
and not having been brought up in a Temple family, I had wrongly assumed that everyone who attended other
than me had always been a Buddhist. It seems this is not the case. The vast majority of people in attendance
had tried other Faiths, as well as other Schools of Buddhism before they CHOSE to become Jodo Shin Shu
Buddhists. I found this very encouraging.
Rev. Miyakawa presented a time graph showing the time span of the world’s major religions. This also was a
first for me. It seems Hinduism, which was Buddha’s original faith is the world’s oldest formal religion at
approximately 10,000 years. It is followed by Judaism at approximately 5,000 years. Buddhism, Christianity &
Islam are relatively new in comparison. I was surprised by the number of religions, some of which I hadn’t
heard of before. It seems mankind needs to believe in something other then its own self.
The other encouraging point I found was Rev. Miyakawa’s explanation of the time it took for Buddhism to
spread from country to country. It took approximately 600 years from the time Indian Buddhism was introduced
into China until it adapted & became Chinese Buddhism. It also took approximately 600 years for the Chinese
Buddhism introduced into Japan to become Japanese Buddhism. We just celebrated our first 100 years of
Japanese based Buddhism here in Canada. It will be interesting to see in 500 more years what Canadian
Buddhism will be like. It makes me feel that the difficulties we are experience now are just growing pains as the
Japanese based Buddhism adapts to its new home.
Written by John Rennie
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------FUJINKAI NEWS – Hiroko Yoshihara
Observations made at the AGM at Toronto Buddhist Church. Styrofoam was non-existent at the coffee
breaks and meals. There were some paper cups available but few or none were used. Toronto members must
be commended for their awareness of the environment and expense of waste disposal. Also, the Saturday lunch
of udon was prepared and served by the men. This task was accomplished efficiently without assistance from
the ladies.
BCCWF topics to be considered. At the 2002 World Buddhist Women’s Convention, several resolutions
were passed of which we were unaware. These are similar to the resolutions to hold Dana Day (1965
convention) and Eshinni nikko Service (1978 convention). We have been asked about what we do for Special
Care Day, Peace Efforts and Kakushinni Day. Discussion can be held at our mid-year meeting, which is usually
scheduled for August or September.
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Food Fair, May 28th. Monetary proceeds were similar to last year’s despite cash sales being significantly
different. For example, cash sales of teriyaki chicken combo were more than double this year, but cash sales of
miscellaneous sushi were down by $925. The total proceeds to be shared with Bukkyokai is $5,124.62. In
addition to Fujinkai’s 50%, we will retain the funds from Baiten and donations in lieu of baking.
Garage Sale, June 3. Profit of $467.44 (to be shared with the otera) was achieved. This includes table rentals
and our four tables of “stuff”! Even though the earnings are small, we did well if you consider this activity to
be one of recycling (good again for the environment) and also a reasonable and fun way of purchasing needed
items.
DHARMA REPORT – Steveston Dharma Group
The Dharma group is planning a trip to Seattle to see a Mariner’s game against the Toronto Blue Jays on August
28th. It will be an overnight trip. For those who wish to join us, please let us know. You will have to prepay for the
tickets and let us know regarding what you need for accomodaitons.
We hope you will have a wonderful and safe summer.
CHOIR PRACTICE
July 7, Friday 19:00-20:00 * There will be no choir practice for August & September
*** We will perform at the BCJSBCF’s Banquet on November 11 !
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TOBAN LIST FOR JULY 2006
Captain Takao Yamanaka (604) 277-2976
Yoshio & Etsuko Hamanishi
Miyuki Nitta
Isao & Kazuko Ohara
Ayako Nitta
Takao & Miyoko Yamanaka
Satoru & Mary Okabe
Noboru & Nuiko Yamamoto
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TOBAN LIST FOR AUGUST 2006
Captain Ted Hirose (604) 275-8315
Ted & Mary Hirose
Hozumi Sakata
Norman Kondo
Peter & Louise Doi
Eddy Tanaka
Mary Murao
Hisashi Ryomoto
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------TABLE SETTING TOBAN
(After activities i.e. Obon, Funeral, etc.) For July, August & September 2006
Captain Toshiyuki Tabata (604) 272-9275
Kelly Hamaura
Hajime Tabata
Toshiyuki Tabata
Yoshiaki Tabata
Setsuo Hayashi
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------OBITUARY
We would like to express our heartfelt sympathy to the family members of the following
deceased:
♦ Mrs. Hatsuko Inouye
June 4th, 2006
91 years old
♦ Mrs. Patsy Shizuko Kamide
June 6th, 2006
72 years old
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June 9th, 2006
♦ Mr. Tadasu Hibi
90 years old
JULY MEMORIAL SERVICE
July 2 , 2:00 p.m. (Please bring your "Homyo".)
• Kitagawa, Kikuye
• Sakai, Yasuichi
• Kondo, Hiroshi
• Sakamoto, Yasue
• Kung, Laurence
• Sakiyama, Toshiye
• Matsumura, Eikichi
• Takane, Katsu
• Maeda, Tomino
• Tanaka, Koharu
• Maede, Kikuye
• Tani, Mikie
• Mori, Chiyo
• Taniwa, Fusae
• Morimoto, Chiyo
• Taniwa, Kazuo
• Morimoto, Toshinosuke
• Teramura, Kinue
• Nishi, Tsuta
• Teranishi, Hatsu
• Nishi, Hiroshi
• Uchida, Fumiko
• Nitta, Kitaro
• Uyeyama, Fukujiro
• Okano, Koito
• Yoshida, Inosuke
• Oura, Toshiharu
AUGUST MEMORIAL SERVICE
August 6th , 10:30 a.m (Please bring your "Homyo".)
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Akune, Yuichi
Amadatsu, Toshi
Arima, Kenichi
Atagi, Kaoru
Clarke, Sandra May
Domae, Isa
Hamade, Taki
Hashimoto, Toyozo
Higo, Saichiro
Hikita, Taz
Hirose, Tahei
Hirose, Toku
Ishida, Yokichi
Kishi, Kazuko
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Doi, Roy
Hamade, Tomekichi
Hamaura, Kazuo
Haya, Kumae
Hayashi, Hirokichi
Ikuta, Mino
Ishida, Ren
Iwata, Roy Motomaru
Katayama, Ishi
Kimura, Kazuo
Kobayashi, Yoshiaki
Maede, Yakichi
Mukai, Unosuke
Nakade, Sode
Nakanishi, Takaharu
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Nakatsu, Kannosuke
Narukami, Katsujiro
Nishi, Fusae
Nishihama, Shigeharu
Nishii, Kinue
Nomura, Fuji
Ogawa, Tokiko
Ohara, Chiyo
Oura, Miyoko
Oyama, Seiwa
Oye, Yazaemon
Sakai, Kazuichi
Sakai, Tsune
Shiyoji, Yakichi
Tabata, Inao
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Tani, Kazuo
Terai, Cheryl
Tomosada, Kikue
Toyoda, Yoshiharu
Tsumura, Isao
Wada, Chikae
Wakabayashi, Shige
Yamada, (Roy) Hideo
Yamamoto, Iwakazu
Yamamoto, Jukichi
Yamamoto, Kazuo
Yamamoto, Mamoru
Yamamoto, Sadako
Yamamoto, Yasu
Yoshida, Tsurue
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SPECIAL DONATIONS
The Steveston Buddhist Temple sincerely appreciates and thanks the following for their generous donations:
 Special Donations : C.G.F. ( Canadian Gateball Federation * Tonarigumi, Nikkei Place, V.B.C. , Steveston )
Moriharu Tanigami , Alan & Cathy Sakamoto, Masako Tanaka, Mikio Yamashita ( Mitsutoyo Canada Inc. ), Bukkyo
Dendo Kyokai Canada, Shigekazu Morimoto, Misayo Mizuyabu, Inouye Family, Herb & Cheryl Tanaka, Mari
Cameron
 Birth of Granddaughter, Madison Nicole Sakai : Mr. & Mrs. Terry Sakai, Mr. & Mrs. Mitsuhiro Yamanaka
 Funeral of the late Mrs. Hatsuko Inouye : Inouye Family, Richmond Funeral Home
 Funeral of the late Mr. Toshiharu Nishi : Michiko Nishi, Richmond Funeral Home
 In memory of 49th day of the late Mr. Shigeo Nishi : Hideko & Pat Nishi
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 In memory of the late Mr. Shigeo Nishi : Yoshiko Nakatsu, Kuni & June Ikuta, Kiyoko Tanaka, Kimio &
Sachio Shirakawa
 In memory of the late wife, Nagako Murao : Kazuji Murao
 In memory of 49th day of the late Mr. Morio Budo : Misao Budo
 In memory of 100th day of the late husband, Hideo Kokubo : Eiko Kokubo
 In memory of 1st year of the late wife, Kikuyo Katy Kuriyama : Masami Kuriyama
 In memory of 1st year of the late mother, Kiyoko Hamanishi : Kiyoshi Hamanishi, Akiko Mukai, Mitts &
Keiko Sakai, George & Toshiko Uyeyama, Chizuko Uyeyama
 In memory of 3rd year of the late Mr. Mike Kokubo : Alice Kokubo & Family
 In memory of 7th year of the late husband, Takedo Ishida : Kimiko Ishida
 In memory of the Yamanaka Ancestor’s Inurnment : Mr. & Mrs. Mitsuhiro Yamanaka
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** All donations received after the 15th of the month, will be reflected on the next newsletter
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------▪ Please note that the office secretary will be working from her home during the summer
(July and August). Please leave messages at the office or phone Chizuru at (604) 271-5198
during these months.
Also, if you haven’t paid your 2006 membership, a reminder that the 2006 membership is $70 per person.
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