DELTA DHARMA The Walnut Grove Buddhist Church Newsletter PO Box 336, Walnut Grove, CA 95690 916 776-1312 www.walnutgrovebc.org [email protected] February 2017 YEAR END SERVICE AND NEW YEAR SERVICE We said goodbye to 2016 with a service officiated by Rev. Katsuya Kusunoki. The temple bell rang 108 times, the members attending each having their turn with the striker. The next day 2017 was welcomed with Rev. Roy officiating the service. The gavel was passed to Craig Nakahara as our incoming president. A great thank-you goes to David Ito for serving the board last year. Attendees enjoyed refreshments after in the social room with Frances Nakahara serving her special Ozoni. REV. TANAKA VISITS On Friday January 6th, Rev. Kenneth Tanaka gave a special presentation at the Walnut Grove Buddhist Church. The evening began when Rev. Roy Mayhugh and Rev. Katsuya Kusunoki and two church members joined Rev. Tanaka for dinner at Wimpy’s. Rev. Tanaka was very gracious and asked many questions of his fellow diners about their connection to Buddhism, and about the church and area. Back at the church, Rev. Tanaka gave a very interesting lecture, and took questions at the end. We had a midway intermission and enjoyed tea and cookies. It was well attended, with the more than 30 coming from local area temples and the Antioch group. MEMBERSHIP Our temple continues to offer support to our sangha through monthly memorial services, special services, Dharma study, parties, luncheons and picnics. Our sangha gives back faithfully every year by participating in the annual Bazaar fundraiser. We ask that you continue to show your support by remembering to send in your annual membership dues. We are still at $30 per person, a very small price for what you are receiving in return. If you have already paid your dues, we thank you ever so much. Members 80 years of age and older are exempt. BAZAAR MEETING CALLED The first bazaar planning meeting is scheduled for Saturday February 11th at 9 AM. If you are in charge of a booth or a food committee, please plan on attending as we need your input to make 2017’s bazaar another well-planned event. We continue to have a great volunteer turnout to help on the prep days and the event days, but the actual planning of the event is of vital importance. We are in need of more people stepping up in this area. The more people who make time in their schedules to attend these meetings, the easier it is for all. BEREAVEMENT Gene Sakai, a long time and generous member of the church has entered into Nirvana. Our condolences to the family. He was well known and loved in the community. He will be missed. NEW YEAR’S PARTY On Saturday January 14 church members gathered at the Gakuen Hall for a day of Fabulous Food, Fun games, Family and Friends. Our chairperson Linda Soliven did a great job MC’ing the event and kept us all on track. Church and BWA presidents gave very short and sweet New Year’s wishes so that we quickly moved on to Kan Pai, singing and most importantly, EATING. The food, catered as usual by Locke Garden, was really tasty and there were lots of little doggy bags to go home. The BWA ladies really outdid themselves in the dessert department too. We played bingo, and thanks to so many generous donations we had lots of prizes to hand out. Thanks to all who helped with the set-up, the potted primroses and the lovely flower arrangements and center piece. WOMEN OF JODO SHINSHU SERVICE Please join us for this BWA sponsored service on Sunday February 19th at 1:30 PMhonoring those individuals that were instrumental in expanding the dharma so that women became and continue to be vital to the evolution of Jodo Shinshu Buddhism. We look forward to a Dharma Talk from guest speaker Sensei Tadao Koyama from….. 二月祥月法要 February Shotsuki Deceased Bunroku Kitaro Kunisaburo Takao Shizu Jyohichi Moheiji Jun Teruko Yuishin Kiyomi Setsu Suenari Suemi Sotaro Asakichi Hanjiro Nami Yoshio Kimito Gohei Minoru Atsumu Toshio Ray Robert Richard Yoshimi Matsumoto Ishizuka Sugimoto Sakai Sakai Sakai Nagoshi Mizutani Kondo Okada Hirakawa Koga Shimozaki Iguchi Koyanagi Heisen Ike Ikeuchi Kimura Yasumori Takagi Ohara Matsubara Pauls Faulk Moshu (Chief Mourner) 吉見 文六 松本 喜太郎 石塚 国三郎 杉本 孝雄 坂井 シズ 坂井 尉七 坂井 茂平次 名越 順 水谷 憶子 近藤 祐真 岡田 きよみ 平川 せつ 古閑 末成 島崎 すえみ 井口 荘太郎 小柳 浅吉 平仙 半次郎 池 ナミ 池内 義雄 木村 君登 安森 吾平 高木 実 大原 緝 Vickie Joanne Hiroko Joyce Joyce Joyce Mikio Edwin Edwin June James Dorothy Dorothy Gary Gary Gary Matsumoto Ishizuka Sugimoto Sakai Sakai Sakai Nagoshi Mizutani Mizutani Okada Hirakawa Koga Koga Hirotsu Hirotsu Hirotsu Wayne Betty Mitsuko Alyce Shigeru June Holly Lesli Ikeuchi Kimura Norikane Takagi Ohara Matsubara Pauls Faulk 石塚 ジョアン 杉本 博子 名越 水谷 水谷 岡田 平川 古閑 古閑 幹雄 エドウィン エドウィン ジェーン ジェームス ドロシー ドロシー 池内 木村 乗兼 高木 大原 ウェーン ベディー 光子 アリス シゲル The Walnut Grove Buddhist Church Gratefully Acknowledge The Following Donations In Memory Of Gene Sakai Gerald Sakai Joyce Sakai & Frank Greene James Burchill & Family Leslie Inokuchi & Family Steve & Donna Hiromoto Janice Jow Richard Kawahata Dona Ow Fook & Calvin Hara The Bob Matsumoto Family Wesley Honbo David & GiGi Ito Toshiko Hamada Jack Mello Linda & Topper van Loben Sels Hisae Sakai Shinmoto Family Craig Nakahara Edward & Nancy Nakamoto Kaz Omoto Gary Chaix Alan & Diane Perkins Shiro & Nellie Kawamura M&M Arthur Imagire Howard Mizutani Kathleen G. Hutchinson Tom Okamoto Frances Nakahara Shirley Nakao In Memory of Bob Matsumoto Wong’s Restaurant Roy & Yuri Yokoi The Bob Matsumoto Family Tom Okamoto WG Buddhist Sonen Kai In Memory of Mary Yoshimi Yoshimi, Vore & Hirakawa Families 500.00 500.00 500.00 50.00 30.00 200.00 25.00 100.00 25.00 50.00 40.00 100.00 50.00 100.00 300.00 25.00 25.00 25.00 20.00 25.00 35.00 50.00 30.00 50.00 50.00 50.00 25.00 50.00 20.00 50.00 380.00 100.00 50.00 1,570.00 Shotsuki Gladys Katsuki Craig Nakahara David & GiGi Ito Gladys Katsuki IMO Henry Katsuki Carol Tang IMO Margaret Ito Teruko Ono IMO Rev. A Ono Steve & Junko Egi IMO Rev. A Ono Frances Nakahara Mikio Nagoshi Shizue Nagoshi Sue Hori Kazuharu Omoto IMO Lillie Omoto Tokue Shinmoto Steve & Donna Hiromoto IMO Grace Kenmotsu Kawahara Janet Omoto IMO Lillie Y. Omoto 35.00 50.00 20.00 200.00 50.00 25.00 25.00 25.00 25.00 25.00 25.00 25.00 25.00 35.00 50.00 Year End Donations WGBWA Hisae Sakai Steve Sakai Ralph Sugimoto Steve & Donna Hiromoto Linda Soliven 100.00 100.00 100.00 500.00 40.00 20.00 New Year Donations Craig Nakahara Linda Soliven 500.00 30.00 Special Donations Ann Sakata Howard Mizutani Karl & Akiko Payne 40.00 70.00 20.00 Kusunoki’s Korner <UGUME NO YUREI (The motherly Ghost)> I would like to introduce a Japanese folk tale “UGUME NO YUREI (The motherly Ghost) which has been told at my family temple, Kogenji. -----------------------------------------------------Long long time ago, there was a candy shop in a small town called “Kojiya-machi” in Nagasaki city. One late summer afternoon, on a really muggy day, the candy shop’s owner was thinking “Getting dark outside. It is time to close up the store.” Just at that time, he heard someone knock on the door. “Knock-knock, knock-knock.” “Ex…excuse me…” It was a woman’s voice. “Oh no! Such a late afternoon, who are you?” The owner opened the door a little bit. Just then, a pale faced woman was dejectedly standing there. “I already closed the store today. What do you want?” He asked brusquely. “I am so sorry to bother you. I would like one-dollar worth of candy, please.” She said in a feeble voice with a Kyoto accent. “Okay. Okay. One-dollar worth of candy.” The owner reluctantly put the candies into the bag and gave it to her. Her hands touched his hand, and they were icy cold. The owner closed the door and grumbled, “She looked strange and weired. Who was she? Where is she from?” He said and then he slipped into bed. However, the woman came to buy the candy the next night, and the following nights. On the seventh night, the woman came to the store again. She looked very sad and said, “I am sorry. I don’t have money anymore. Would you please give me a candy?” In a really faint voice. He felt sorry for her, so he gave her some candy. She was overjoyed and thanked him over and over again, and she went into the darkness towards the neighboring town, Tera-machi (temple town). “What happened to her? Her behavior was strange.” The owner gathered some young men who were in town, and they trailed her. “Where is she going ….?” Just then, she passed through the Kogenji temple’s gate, went up the stone steps, and turned left at the precincts of temple. “It is really weird. I think it may possibly be….” They kept chasing the mysterious woman. She went behind the Hondo (main hall) and disappeared into a grave. “That’s exactly….she was…a ghost…” Everybody felt a shudder, and they ran away at full speed. Next day, the candy shop owner and the young men visited the Kogenji temple, and they explained to the resident minister about the story of last night. Then, they went to the graveside where the woman disappeared. “Namoamidabutsu, namoamidabutsu….” They were reciting the Nembutsu, and tilled the grave with a hoe; at that time, “Mewl, mewl….” How surprise it was! A new born baby was curled up on the mother’s belly. “Here is a baby!!!” “The baby is still fine although it was under the ground.” “Reverend. This baby is still a new born, isn’t it?” “Countless wondrous events have happened in this world. However, I cannot believe that it actually happened here in Kogenji temple….” They were so surprised and wrapped up the baby with a cloth, and they took it into the temple. The reverend’s wife took the baby up in her arm and said. “It is such a cute baby. You had grown up really well although you had eaten only the candies. Good baby, good baby.” The reverend researched that grave’s owner. The woman died before she delivered her baby. However, the baby was born in the casket. Because she had strong will to raise her baby, she became a ghost, and she went to buy some candies instead of feeding her milk. Right away the resident minister found the baby’s father. The minister told the father the wondrous story. The father took the baby home to raise it. The mother must feel glad and relief. “It was very good. I did good deeds. Eventually I can sleep well tonight.” “It was good. It was good.” The candy shop owner and the young men rejoiced with each other. A few nights later, Knock-knock….knock-knock…. It was a sound, which somebody was knocking on candy store’s door. “Excuse me……” It was a woman’s voice. It sounded familiar. The candy shop’s owner was very surprised, and his heart stood still. He fearfully opened the door. The woman was standing there, just as he had suspected. However, the woman’s expression was totally different from before, and it was very gentle and happy. “Thank you very much for your kindness. My baby is now raised by the father. I came to repay your favor tonight. What can I do for you?” The candy shop owner thought for a short while and said. “There is not enough water around here. We always suffer from drought. Can you help us?” “Okay. Tomorrow early in the morning, please find this comb and dig that place. The water will gush out from that place. Thank you very very much again for your kindness. Good-bye.” Then, she disappeared. The owner collapsed to the floor for fear. Next morning, the owner looked for the comb around there, and he finally found it. He cautiously picked up it. Then, he started to dig there. Just then, he heard the sound of water splash. The beautiful water gushed out in a steady flow. “Wao!!!! The water sprang out!! The water sprang out our town Kojiya-machi. How grateful it is!!” The owner delighted and jumped. People made a splendid well there. It was called “YUREI (Ghost) well in Kojiya-machi.” Even through spells of dry weather, this well has never dried up. It supplied water not only for the neighboring people but also people who lived far away. Now, this well was filled, and it is still quietly at side of a road in Kojiya-machi. Please go visit the back side of Kogenji temple. You can see the monument of this folktale. The END The evaluation of 2017’s resolution (E-excellent, G-good, S-so so, B-bad) Organize day-trip and short trip Read books Go to gym twice a week Eat hamburger Have another baby B S B G B 2017 Memorial Service Schedule 2017 is the memorial year for those who passed away in: 2016 1 year 2001 17 year 2015 3 year 1993 25 year 2011 7 year 1985 33 year 2005 13 year 1968 50 year Rev. Katsu: [email protected] 【光源寺に伝わる昔話“産女の幽霊”】 昔、長崎の麹屋町に一軒の飴屋さんがありました。今日も、あたりが暗くなってきたので飴屋の主人 は、“ボツボツ戸締りをしてやすもうか〜”と考えていました。その時です。トントン トントン…表の戸を たたく音がします。「もし…こんばんは…すんまへん…。」女の人の声です。“だれやろうか？？？〜”と主 人はめんどくさそうに立ち上がって、戸を少し開けてみました。そこには真っ青な顔をしたゾーっとするよう な気配の女の人が、しょんぼりと立っています。「何の用ですか！」主人はめんどくささと、おそろしさのい りまじった気持ちでつっけんどんにたずねました。「すんまへん、一文ほど飴おくれやす。」か細い京なまり の声がかえってきたのです。「一文がとね。」主人はしぶしぶ飴を紙袋に入れてやりましたが、その時ひょっ と触れた女の人の手…、氷にでもさわったようにヒヤーッとしました。ガタ、ピシッと戸を閉めて“あ〜気持 ちの悪さ、一体どこの誰やろうか？”とつぶやきながら、そそくさと布団にもぐりこみました。 ところがあくる夜も、またその次の夜も女の人は飴を買いに来たのです。それから七日目の夜。主人 は思いあまって、町内の若者たちを集めて相談し、この女のあとをつけ、今夜こそどこの誰かをつきとめよう と何くわぬ顔をして待ちました。やっぱり、女の人はやってきたのです。今までとちがってなんだか切なそう で、なんともいえないくらいにさびしそうな顔をしています。「すんまへん、今夜はお金がなくなってしまい ました。どうぞ飴をめぐんでいただけないでしょうか。。。」聞き取れないほどほそーいさびしい声です。主 人は気味の悪さも忘れて、あわれに思い飴をただでめぐみました。女の人は、それはそれは喜んで何度もお礼 をいいながら真っ暗になった寺町の方へと姿を消していきました。 打ち合わせ通りに主人は若者たちと見えかくれにあとをつけて行ったのです。シーンとした人影のな い寺町通りをすぎて伊良林へと角を曲がり、すべるように遠ざかっていきます。“一体どこへ…”とみなが顔 を見合わせながらつけていきますと、光源寺の山門をくぐり石段をのぼって境内を左に折れていくではありま せんか。“こりゃ、いよいよおかしかばい、ひょっとすると…”と、首をかしげながら見つめていると、女の 人は本堂のうらへ回り、新佛の墓の中へスウーッと消えるように入ってしまったのです。なんだか見てはなら ないものを見てしまったようで、背筋にゾゥーッと寒気が走り、みんなは一目散に逃げ帰りました。 まんじりともしないで夜の明けるのもまった飴屋と若者たちは、さっそく伊良林の光源寺に住職さん をたずねました。一部始終をきいていた住職さんはやおら手を合わせて、「世の中には不思議は多いもんじゃ 、しかしこの光源寺でそのようなことがあろうとはの…。」としばし考え方でしたが、早速に墓守さんを呼び 、鍬をもたせて、「みんなついてきなさい。」飴屋の主人が案内し、住職さんの後には若者たちと墓守さんが 神妙な顔で従います。その墓は、あばかれた様子でもなく、真新しい土が盛られていて、その手前には燃え尽 きた蝋燭と線香の灰が葬ったときそのままにあります。住職さんの読経がすんで、みんなが念仏を称えるなか を、墓守さんが新佛の墓に鍬を入れました。するとこれはこれは…、なんと生まれて間もない元気そうな赤ち ゃんが母親のお腹の脇に丸くなっているではありませんか。びっくり仰天した一同は、拾い上げた赤ちゃんを はんてんに包み、急いでお寺の庫裏へ連れて行きました。 住職さんは新佛の墓の持ち主を調べてみました。それは、筑後柳川出身で地元では、左甚五郎とまで 呼ばれた長崎在住の藤永清永という宮大工、ということがわかりました。早速、住職さんは墓守さんを清永の もとに走らせて事と次第を伝えました。そして、住職さんのはからいで、赤ちゃんは父親である清永のもとで 育てられる事になり、飴屋の主人や町内の若者たちは、「本当によかったのう、よか功徳になったばい。さ、 今夜からはゆっくり寝るったいね。」と、よろこびました。 さて、この赤ちゃんの父親が藤原清永という人だと言いましたが、それにはこんな事情があるのです 。というのは、清永が彫刻の修行で京都に滞在している頃、泊まっていた宿の女の人と恋仲になりました。長 崎の親元から急いで戻るようにと矢の催促です。清永はいたしかたなく「必ず迎えに戻ってくるから…。」と 固い約束をして、後ろ髪をひかれる思いで、京をたったのです。清永が長崎に帰ってみますと、そこには親が 決めたお嫁さんになる美しい人が待っていました。気の弱い清永は、京都にいる恋人のことを親に話し出せな いまま、とうとういわれるままにその美しい女の人と結婚してしまいます。 一方、京都では、藤原清永の迎えを今日か明日かと指折り数えて心待ちにしていた恋人は、待ちきれ ずにはるばる長崎まで清永を訪ねて一人旅をすることになりました。長い道のりと一人旅の辛さを踏み越えて やっとあこがれの長崎に着いてみると、恋い慕ったあの清永は、他の女の人と結婚していることを聞いて落胆 しました。張り詰めた心がガラガラと崩れ落ちてしまいました。あまりの悲しさ、悔しさに加えて、長旅の疲 れがどっと出て、とうとう病の床に着くと同時に、一人さびしく死んでしまいました。その時、お腹の中には 清永の赤ちゃんが宿っていたのです。清永は、赤ちゃんのことは全く知りませんでした。恋人の死だけを伝え 聞いて、以前宮大工の仕事をした縁のある光源寺の本堂の裏手に大切に葬ったのです。でも、その赤ちゃんは お墓の中で生まれて立派に育っていたのです。死んでも死にきれなかったこの母親は、棺に入れてもらってい た冥土への一文銭六枚を毎夜一枚ずつ手に持ち、赤ちゃんのお乳のかわりに飴を買いに通っていたのです。お 母さんの子を思う心の素晴らしさに感動せずにはおられないではありませんか！！ それから何日かたったある夜。また、あの女の人の幽霊が飴屋に姿を見せました。主人がトロトロと 眠りかけている頃です。トントン、トントン。。。戸をたたく音です。「もうし、すんまへん。もうし…。」 主人は心臓がとまるくらいびっくりしました。また、あの声です。引き寄せられるように表の戸をそろりそろ りと開けてみると、やっぱりそうです。あの女の人です。でも、今までと違って、うれしそうでやさしい声で した。「おかげはんで、父親の手で子どもが育ててもらえるようになりました。今夜はご恩返しをしたい気持 ちがいっぱいでやってまいりました。あなたのためにできることはなにかないでしょうか。困っていることが ありましたら、ぜひおっしゃっておくれやす。」「う〜んと、この付近はな、水がいっちょんなかけんでみん なこまっとっとですたい。でてくるじゃろうか？」「はぁー。そんなにこまっているのですか…。それじゃー 、明日朝早うにわての櫛が落ちている所を掘ってみておくれやす。きっときれいな水が湧き出しますせ。ほな 、さいなら。ほんまにありがとさんどす…。」腰をかがめてお礼を言いますとスウーと、消えて行きました。 主人はヘタヘタと座り込んでしまいました。おそろしさと不思議さで頭の中がひっくり返りそうだったのです 。 主人は一睡もできませんでした。それでも、あくる朝は、鶏の声と同時に起き出して、付近をあちこ ちと櫛を見つけて回りました。ありました、ありました。麹屋町から寺町へと通じる坂道の左側の溝のすぐそ ばに、女物の櫛が落ちていました。おそるおそる櫛を拾い上げ、頭の上までおしいただいて大事に懐にしまい こんでしまうと、急に思い出したようにそこを掘り始めたのです。鍬を一振り、二振り、…十振りもしないう ちに、チャポッと水音がして、こんこんときれいな水が湧き出してくるではありませんか。主人はひざまずく と両手で水をすくい上げてみました。指の間から水が流れ落ちます。…“こらぁほんまもんたい”…と感じた 瞬間、飛び上がって喜びました。「ワァーッ！水が出たぞ〜、麹屋町に水が出たぞ！！」付近の人は朝早くか ら何の騒動か、目をこすりながら水の周りに集まってきました。飴屋の主人が身振り手振りで「実はかくかく じかじか…」と一気に説明をしました。町内の人たちは、もう水で苦労をすることがなくなったのです。「よ かった、よかった。」っと女の人に感謝しました。それから町内の人が相談して、立派な井戸が作られました 。その井戸はどんな日照りにも渇れることなく、いつまでも地面すれすれまできれいな水をたたえ町内を始め 遠くの人の人々の暮らしをうるおしました。合掌 SONEN KAI NEWS The Sonenkai will hold its annual member meeting at the Gakuen Hall 10:00 AM on Saturday March 11. The Sonenkai Luncheon will follow at 11:30 AM at with Randy Yen preparing the meal. BUDDHIST WOMENS ASSOCIATION NEWS We would first like to thank the members who were able to help and attend the co-sponsored New Year’s Party. And a special Thank-you to Toshiko Hamada and Mary Oda for the great food organization: Toshiko ordering the meal and Mary organizing the desserts. The tables were lovely thanks to the group that came to set up, and Frances Nakahara for the flower arrangements and Gladys Katsuki and June Matsubara for the primroses. We greatly appreciated Linda Soliven for doing a fine job of chairing the event. Our next meeting takes place on Sunday February 5th at 11:00 AM. We will be finalizing details for the Women of Jodo Shinshu Service that takes place on Sunday February 19 at 1:30 PM. We will begin discussion of the Keiro Service and Luncheon occurring in March. Toban for the month of February are Mary Oda, Christy Ishizuka, Mitsuko Norikane, Yuri Yokoi and Jean Yokotobi. DHARMA STUDY NEWS Friends gathered for meditation, service and study/class groups on Sunday January 15. The group would like to take this opportunity to thank Rev. Roy for his dedicated service to this assemblage of individuals. We are a diverse group and bring many different ideas to the table; which Sensei attends to with the greatest compassion and respect. We feel so very fortunate to have a teacher and mentor that has such a wide understanding of history, religion, events and issues, so that when we have questions about how things relate to Buddhism and how Buddhist relates to things, he can call on this knowledge to share with us. We meet again on February 15 starting at 10 AM with Meditation, followed by Service and discussion group and Sunday School Class. February 2017 Sunday 5 11:00 AM Buddhist Women’s Association Meeting Sunday 5 1:30 PM Wednesday 8 9:00 AM Oasaji Saturday 11 9:00 AM Tuesday 14 7:00 PM Board Meeting cancelled Sunday 19 10:00 AM Dharma Meditation Sunday 19 10:30 AM Dharma School/Adult Study Class Sunday 19 1:30 PM Shotsuki Service Bazaar Meeting Women of Jodo Shinshu Service Buddhist Be-Attitudes Do not be afraid to stop and feel... for in your teardrops, pearls of wisdom are being created
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