2008 September Bulletin - West Los Angeles Buddhist Temple

West Los Angeles Buddhist Temple September 2008
BWA NEWS
Haru Matsumune
Beef brisket … some people
really look forward to the booth
construction lunch. We can all
thank Yasuko Shohara and
Shirley Ito and Toban 2 for
preparing another great meal!
Did you enjoy chirashi, sushi, or Spam musubi
during our Obon Festival? These specialties
were provided through the capable leadership of
sushi booth chairperson Gail Yamanaka. Work
begins months before the event, and two ladies
helped Gail from the beginning with planning,
taste-testing, and shopping. A special thank you
to these two ladies, who worked so tirelessly
behind the scenes.
Obon weekend days begin especially early for
Hidemi Ohkawahira, who drives out to
Gardena to pick up the cooked rice for us. Not
only that, but he also sharpens all of our knives.
Many people contributed to the success of the
sushi booth. We would especially like to
acknowledge Masako Ishioka, who has been
helping us for many, many years; Susan
Ishioka-Pai and her in-laws; Pat Bungo and
her daughters; Sumi Shohara; Gwen Toma;
and Tamiko Yamaguchi. Mata dōzo yoroshiku
onegai shimasu!
BWA
What Would Buddha Do?
school of life.
Jacqui Pierce
Most people live very busy
lifestyles and sometimes
when we are so busy that we
forget to take the time for
learning. Buddha says that it
takes concentration. Not only
that, it takes time. We cannot
be hasty or negligent or we
will stop learning in the
Listening and Learning are two very important
abilities that we all carry with us. Even Buddha
took years to learn everything his gurus taught.
It will take us longer. I believe Buddha would
want us to take time and remember the
importance of Listening and Learning.
MIRACLES DO TRANSPIRE
Day before Obon, Friday,
preparations were being made
to serve delicious udon on
Saturday and Sunday. But
who was going to prepare the
kamaboko, chashu, and onions,
because active Buddhist Men
were almost non-existent now?
Masako Ishioka must have realized the
dilemma I was in; she volunteered to help
prepare whatever was necessary. BWA ladies
present and Masako all took part in cutting
each kamaboko stick into 24 pieces (for 55 total
sticks) and slicing 40 lbs. of chashu into small
pieces. Buddhist Men who showed up only had
to prepare the onions and remaining chashu to
be picked up on Saturday.
My second problem was whether enough
workers would show up to run the udon booth.
The answer was YES! We had many new faces,
men and women, who did a wonderful job.
I would like to thank you all for rescuing the
Buddhist Men. Lately, we are being saved by
many organizations. Maybe the Buddhist Men
should join the BWA and become honorary
members.
Again, thank you!
Mas Sasaki
(Buddhist Men Save Udon Burners cont’d from page 4)
Ishioka, one of our two hardworking chairpersons
for the 80 Plus Yard Sale (in addition to
Chiyo Nitta), thought the burners looked rather
ordinary sitting in the corner of the garage when
she arrived early that morning to set up for the
day. So she marked them for what she imagined
they were worth and put them on sale for Five
Bucks! Fortunately, Mas rescued them before
the gates opened that morning and secreted
them back into the recesses of the garage,
saving them for a successful udon sale at our
Obon Festival. Whew! That was a close call.
Thank you, Sasaki San!
MARK YOUR CALENDAR
Tri-Temple (Venice, WLA, Gardena) Seminar
Saturday, October 11, 2008, 1 – 4 p.m.
at WLA Buddhist Temple
7
SEE MORE OBON PHOTOS
This Bulletin contains only a few of the great
many Obon photos available to us. To see more
photos, go to the WLABT Photo Gallery at:
http://wlabt.smugmug.com/gallery/5585765_fzsfa