Author: Rinzai Maui Zen Mission

This year’s Hanamatsuri will be at Rinzai Zen Mission!

Please CLICK to view the 2013 Hanamatsuri Picture Gallery

The birth of Shakyamuni Buddha was the very first step toward the beginnings of Buddhism. It was said in the old tale that the sweet and fragrant warm water poured gently over the newborn baby in the flower garden of Lumbini in northern India suggested that he would be the Buddha in later years. It has been over 2500 years since Shakyamuni, from whom so many people in the world have received teachings, was born. Presently, we still continue to celebrate “Hanamatsuri,” Shakyamuni Buddha’s birthday, here on Maui, far away from India.

This year, we celebrate our annual Paia Hanamatsuri at our temple on Sunday, April 5, 10:00 a.m. with members of Mantokuji Mission and Maui Dharma Center. Our guests from Japan will be Rev. Matsui, Rev. Hoshi, Rev. Kajiro, and five of their friends. We will have a great lunch, Bingo game, and Okinawan music after the service. Please join with our honored guests and enjoy the special day.

Ukwanshin Kabudan will be presenting a conference on Okinawan identity which will hopefully provide a better understanding of who we are as Uchinaanchu, and create networking and support for individuals and community groups. We will be looking at and discussing how identity holds a place in culture, language, and history through various presentations and workshops. It will be as non-academic as possible so that everyone may feel comfortable to participate. Through the years, we have seen a growing number in the community who are hungry for more than just being able to say “I’m Uchinaanchu,” but who want to be able to explain what it means to be Uchinaanchu. We are not promising a quick fix solution to anything, but, hope that participants will leave the conference with a better understanding, and energy to seek more. The conference will be held March 20-22 on Maui, with some events at Rinzai Zen Mission.

For more information or to register online, go to http://www.ukwanshin.org/blog/? page_id=1536. Or contact Maui Ryukyu Culture Group president Amy Shinsato, 276-6684 or amyshinsato@gmail.com

Maui Ryukyu Culture Group would like to thank Rinzai Zen Mission for allowing our group to use its facilities for our activities. Sensei Norman Kaneshiro and Eric Wada from Honolulu provide classes in sanshin, kuchoo, fwanso, odori and Okinawan language twice a month. Our yearly Yard Sale fundraiser is also held on temple grounds. Anyone interested in MRCG should contact Amy Shinsato, President, at 276-6684.

We put a lot of energy into advancing technology in order to serve our lives better, and we exploit the non-human elements, such as the forests, rivers, and oceans in order to do so. But as we pollute and destroy nature, we pollute and destroy ourselves as well. The results of discriminating between human and non-human are global warming, pollution, and the emergence of many strange diseases. In order to protect ourselves, we must protect the non-human elements. This fundamental understanding is needed if we want to protect our planet and ourselves.
~Thich Nhat Hanh, The Diamond That Cuts Through Illusion

Please CLICK HERE to view the new Gallery

We have received many beautiful photos from Masako Cordray who has been taking photos of our Obon for years. You will find her beautiful photos for the last couple years and will soon have this year’s one, if not posted already. Masako and her husband Greg have given us beautiful flower arrangements for every major ceremony too. You may find yourself or a family member on our site. Enjoy!