January 1, 2014  New Year’s Day  Issue No.225 TH E NEW YEAR’S GREETIN G - Bishop Emeritus Taisen Miyata A Happy New Year 2014, the Year of the Horse/Uma! May I extend my best wishes to your family for a Happy and Prosperous New Year “Uma-Doshi”, the 26th year of Heisei in the Japanese calendar. According to the Oriental Zodiacal Symbolism/Signs, it is called Year of Uma/Bronco and considered as the speedy fulfilling year of an individual’s wishes, just as a horse quickly reaches a goal stretching his legs in the race. According to the zodiacal prediction, people born in the year of the horse have a tendency of drifting through life of hardship. They have problems related to the opposite sex (eloping) and some difficulties with their family and relatives. Their birth years are 1918, 1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, and 2014. Their guardian deity to protect (Skrt:Mahāstāmaprapta Bodhisattva) their fortune is “Seishi-Bosatsu” in Japanese whose mantra is “Om sam jam sah svaha” in Sanskrit (On san zan saku sowaka) in Japanese. The meaning of the Mantra is to arise and attain/fulfill one’s wishes through transcendental wisdom. In other words, Seishi-Bosatsu’s main function is to remove quickly all men’s defilements/hindrances and mistakes such as greed, hatred and ignorance. The deity is portrayed in forming Gassho and making the salvation for all mankind in the realm of misfortune. His purpose is speedy induction/creation of transcending wisdom in the world. Recite the mantra daily and you will be blessed and make a great success on your mission through the year of “Uma”. On san zan saku sowaka with gassho. N EW YEAR’S DAY SERVICE (SHU SHO-E) Perhaps the largest event of the year, the Buddhist temples in Los Angeles are offering Oshogatsu on New Year’s Day. Koyasan Buddhist Temple will hold its Fire Rite on January 1st, 2014 at 10 a.m. Bishop Taisen Miyata will officiate. The Traditional Shingon Fire Ritual Service begins with chanting mantras and beating of the drum with the goal of bringing joy, enlightenment, good health and peace of mind. The year 2014 is the “Year of the Horse” (1906, 1918, 1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014), Ema (wooden plaque), Omamori (amulet), Omikuji (fortunes), Hamaya (good luck arrows) and consecrated Fuda will be available. three days, January 1st through 3rd. 1 The temple is opened from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. for SETSUBUN HOSH IM ATSURI GOM A SERVICE Koyasan Buddhist Temple will hold the Setsubun Hoshimatsuri Goma service at 1:30 p.m. Sunday, February 2nd, 2014. Bishop Taisen Miyata and staff priests will conduct the Goma Fire Ritual and pray for happiness, good health and ward off misfortune. According to the lunar calendar this service usually, falls in February, referred to as the Hoshimatsuri Prayer Service. Hoshimatsuri literally means “Star Festival”. The movements of the heavenly bodies influence all life. The ancient horoscope using the Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn, Sun, and constellations is integral to this unique Shingon Esoteric Service. If you would like to receive an OFUDA, an applications form must be sent or brought to the Temple by Sunday, January 26th, 2014. HARBOR KOYASAN FAM ILY FESTIVAL WAS VERY SUCCESSFUL October 13th, Sunday, Harbor Koyasan Buddhist Church held their Family Festival. About 10 years ago, Harbor Koyasan had stopped having their OBON carnivals. Recently, Rev. Kako had an idea to start Family Festival. Our society is a nuclear family, parents and children both are very busy every day, but we have to remember the importance of family gatherings. The purpose of the Family Festival is for multi-generations to enjoy and have chance to learn Japanese culture. Over 100 people attended the Family Festival and everyone had a very good time. The Family Festival had a Chopsticks Contest, which was a race to move soybeans and red beans from a plate to a bowl with chopsticks. A Paper Airplane Contest was held to see who could fly the plane the furthest. Not only children, but also adults, enjoyed the contests. The Festival climax was a Hula Dance show and Taiko performance. Harbor Koyasan Girl Scouts and families performed Hula Dance. The Koyasan Taiko group gave a rousing Taiko performance. Harbor Koyasan will be planning another Family Festival in 2014. SHICHI-GO-SAN PRAYER Sunday November 17th, Koyasan Buddhist Temple held the Shichi-go-san Goma service. About 80 children and families, totaling about 250 people, attended this prayer. The weather was good and many family photos were taken. (Pictured from left: Maya Koyama, Hana Koyama, Tara Koyama; photo taken by Bishop Taisen Miyata) 2 W hy the Twelve Signs of the Zodiac Do Not Have a Cat - Rev. Keishin Kako 2014 is the year of the Horse. Our predecessors used twelve animals, Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and the Boar, to mark the calendar, time, and the directions of a compass. Today, the twelve signs of the zodiac are used basically to designate the name of the year only. The twelve animals of the zodiac are quite familiar to the Japanese people, but have you ever thought that among the animals, there is a common animal that is conspicuously missing? Yes, that’s right. It is a cat that is missing. As to why the cat is not included within the twelve signs of the zodiac, there is actually an interesting anecdote. This story happened a long, long time ago when dragons and gods were still living in this world. One day, a great god asked the animals, “I would like to decide on which are the excellent animals in this world. On January 1 of the New Year, I shall open the gate of my palace when the sun rises. Of the twelve animals that pass through the gate first and visit my palace, I shall deem them the leaders of the animal world for each year.” In order to be the leaders of the animal world, all of the animals decided to go to the god’s palace. At that time, the Cat asked the Rat, “When should I visit the god’s palace?” Apparently, the easy-going Cat did not listen carefully to the god. The smart Rat, wanting to eliminate his competition, told the Cat, “You should go the morning of January 2.” At night on December 31, the Rat was awakened by a noise. The Rat found one animal that was departing for the god’s palace. It was the Ox. The Ox is slow of feet and thought that if he woke up in the morning and then departed, it might be too late. Therefore, he departed the night before. The Rat asked the Ox, “Are you going to the god’s palace? If you are alone, it would be lonely, so let’s go together.” The Rat jumped on the Ox’s back, and they headed toward the palace. January 1 arrived. The eastern sky was getting light. The earliest animal to get up was the Tiger, thinking, “I’ll be the leader of the animal world.” Tiger if he went in front. The Rabbit also got up early, but he was worried that he might be attacked by the So, the Rabbit departed carefully following the Tiger. At the same time, the Ox and the Rat, who had departed the night before, were in front of the gate, waiting for it to open. As the sun came up with the gate opening simultaneously, the Rat jumped down from the Ox’s back, went inside the palace, passing through the gate and saying that he was number one. The second one was the Ox; the third one was the Tiger, and the fourth one was the Rabbit. And then in the following order, it was the Dragon, the Snake, the Horse, and the Sheep. The Monkey and the Dog fought on the way over to the palace, but the gentle Rooster got in the middle and the three, the Monkey, the Rooster and the Dog, managed to get along, went inside the palace. last animal was the Boar. The Actually, he arrived around the same time as the Horse, but it seemed that the Boar could not see his surroundings well and passed the front of the gate. When the Boar, the last of the animals, went through the gate, the gate closed slowly. This is how the order of the twelve signs of the zodiac among the animal world was decided. On the very next day, there was one animal that visited the palace of the god. It was the Cat. The Cat, who did not listen, was scolded by the god, and he realized that he was tricked by the Rat. It is said that this is the real reason why the Cat usually chases the Rat. I pray that all of you have a wonderful 2014. NAMU DAISHI HENJO KONGO 3 TEM PLE PROJECT Koyasan Buddhist Temple offers the following classes Goeika, Meditation and Taiko. Rev. Hayashi started the Meditation class in 2013. He teaches how to sit, have good posture and breathe to become composed. If you have too much stress, you may wish to come to meditation and restore your mind. Rev. Kako teaches Goeika. From 2014, he will start Beginning Goeika Class (once a month 10:30 a.m. 4th Saturday). The Goeika sounds like something special and difficult, but it is not. Goeika is one of the chanting meditations. At the Goeika class, Rev. Kako teaches easy to understand Buddhist and Shingon teachings. He will teach the class in English. He welcomes you to visit and consider starting Goeika practice. Koyasan Taiko classes restarted in January 2013. Mr. Masumi Asahi teaches Taiko, he graduated UCLA. When he was a student, he belonged to the Kyodo Taiko Group. All Koyasan Taiko students are beginners. If you are interested in Taiko practice, please join the class. The Taiko Class is held at 11:00 a.m. following Sunday Morning Service DISCOVERY COLU M N The DISCOVERY COLUMN will introduce Koyasan Temple members. We introduce Mr. Brandon Paris. He has been an active member of Koyasan Buddhist Temple since April 2011. He has joined the Goeika Class, Taiko Class and he helps at many of the temple services and events. Q: What made you come to the Los Angeles Koyasan Temple? Why have you become a member? Mr. Brandon Paris A: A friend of mine introduced me to Shingon Buddhist Teachings and I wanted to learn more about Shingon Buddhism. I like Odaishi-sama’s teachings very much. When I visited the Koyasan Temple, everybody welcomed me and I wanted to keep coming to the Temple. Q: Do you have some message for other Koyasan members? A: I try to attend the Morning service and other services, but I have not met and talked to many of the members. I would like to see more people come to the Temple, make friends and share in the teachings of Odaishi-sama. It would be nice to have more members participate in Temple activities. I am looking forward to seeing you at Koyasan Temple! Thank you, Brandon. With Gassho. FU NDRAISER Koyasan Buddhist Temple thanks all who have contributed and/or volunteered at our annual fundraisers. This year we welcomed back saba sushi for our food fundraiser held on Father's Day. We extend special thanks to the fathers who came out to help, to those who prepared, cooked and packed the food, and to Koyasan Scout Troop 379. We apologize for the delay in some of the orders. We appreciate any suggestions to help us for next year. Our annual drawing was held after Fall Ohigan Service. We congratulate the winners and thank those who contributed prizes. A special drawing was held for those who stayed for the fall fundraiser drawing. 4 Prize Donor Winner Ticket # Prize Donor Winner Ticket # $500 F. Nakamura 2950 $40 Nijiya Card K. Kako K. Ito 1221 $250 J. Okada 3523 $20 Starbuck’s P. Tamae M. Fujimoto 0484 $100 K. Okamoto 3553 $20 Starbuck’s P. Tamae M. Koike 1889 $100 S. Mukai 2714 $20 Chevron F. Nakamura K. Kubokawa 1947 $100 H. Sugawara 4406 $20 Chevron F. Nakamura S. Ito 1249 Opal Necklace Y. Ishizuka R. Sakurai 4070 $20 Chevron F. Nakamura K. Nagai 2852 Agate Necklace Y. Ishizuka K. Miyagishima 2444 Lottery Cards K. Kako A. Matsuno 0043 Family Porttrait A. Miyatake K. Ito 1205 Lottery Cards R. Hayashi N. Ishida 1089 $50 Nijiya Card Fujinkai Fukui Mort. 0013 $50 Rafu Bussan R. Sakurai V. Miyamoto $50 Nijiya Card Harbor S. Kuki 1979 $25 Fugetsu Do R. Sakurai M. Masubuchi $50 Macy’s Card ABA N. Yonemoto 5995 $25 Fugetsu Do R. Sakurai K. Sato $50 Lowe’s Card YABA M. Tanaka 4978 $15 Nijiya Card R. Sakuai T. Miyata $50 Lowe’s Card Troop 379 M. Wada 5519 $15 Starbuck’s L. Kanogawa N. Asahi SAVE A BABY. N O BED SH ARIN G. Los Angeles County is promoting awareness of SIDS/Safe Infant sleep practices to the community. In Los Angeles County there are a significant number of infant died due to SIDS and other unexpected causes related to sleep practices. Temples and churches in Los Angeles County have been contacted to help increase awareness about these tragic causes of infant deaths. Every week, one baby dies in Los Angeles County while sleeping. Do not bed share. Place babies on their backs to sleep safely. Your baby should always sleep on his or her back for naps and at night. The back sleep position is the safest. Place your baby on a crib alone. Do not use pillows, blankets, quilts, sheepskins, bumper pads or other soft surfaces. Keep soft items away from baby’s face. Make sure anyone who takes care of your baby knows this. To learn more about SIDS/Safe Infant Sleep Practices. Please visit, http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/mch/sids/sids.htm FU NDRAISER W ITH RALPH S Ralphs has been supporting communities through a program that provides funds to local non-profit organizations. As part of the Temple's fundraising, Koyasan is participating in the Ralphs Rewards Community Contribution Program. You can help in this fundraiser by simply enrolling your Ralphs Rewards card through the website www.ralphs.com/Community and click on Community Contribution. Or you can take a copy of the SCANBAR letter on the last page (6) of this newsletter to the cashier with your Rewards card. A percentage of your shopping trips will be given to the Koyasan Buddhist Temple. We will appreciate the participation of all Ralphs shoppers in our membership in this fundraiser for our Temple. 5