Namo Amida Butsu
The first Sunday of March is designated as Hongwanji Day in Hawaii. Honpa Hongwanji Mission was founded in 1889, and the first official minister was Reverend Soryu Kagahi of Oita, Japan. Reverend Kagahi was appointed as the first overseas minister by our Mother Temple in Kyoto, bringing the light of the Dharma to Hawaii. He gave great encouragement to many Japanese immigrants, much like bringing fresh water to people stranded in a desert. He spread Buddha’s wisdom and compassionate heart to the Issei, uplifting them as they endured complicated lives on the plantation.
With the guidance of Rev. Kagahi and other ministers, the Issei built Hongwanji temples in plantation communities and rejoiced in spiritual joy together. Through temple activities, the ladies organized Fujinkai, the young adults organized YBA, the ministers’ wives and other leaders organized Japanese language schools, and the ministers established Sunday schools and martial arts programs. Young people started holding weddings at the temple, with wedding receptions in the social hall. The temple truly became the center of the plantation community.
Today, we have more than 30 temples throughout the state of Hawaii, and our Hongwanji organization continues to provide spiritual support to our community.
Do We Need Omamori (Good Luck Charms) and Ofuda (Amulets)? People often ask me, “Many Buddhist temples provide Omamori and Ofuda, but why doesn’t Hongwanji? I want them for my grandchildren to protect them.” Others have said, “I have terrible body pain, and my house needs blessings. I need Omamori for my family’s health and Ofuda for good fortune.”
According to Hongwanji tradition, we do not use Omamori or Ofuda to determine fortune. We do not rely on these items as our guide, nor do we believe in magic or the superstitions associated with them. There are many superstitions in our lives, and when we hear them repeatedly, we may start to believe them, creating unnecessary fear and anxiety.
One member told me very seriously, “When someone passes away, a big moth will visit their home. Sensei, believe it or not, the moth is the spirit of the deceased.” I have seen many large moths near the Nokotsudo, sometimes the day after a funeral or bedside service. But are these moths truly spirits?
A story from over 400 years ago in a Japanese village illustrates this point. At the village entrance stood a small Buddha statue, Ojizou-sama, which the people believed protected them. They offered food and flowers daily, though the food never disappeared. Then, on one hot afternoon, the food left the day before was gone. The villagers panicked, believing something terrible had happened.
That same day, a traveler in a nearby temple fell ill with severe diarrhea. The villagers discovered that he had taken the food from the Buddha statue and quickly concluded that Buddha had punished him for his actions—saying, “Bachi ga atatta” (he received divine punishment).
But did Buddha really punish him? The truth was, this traveler had been attacked by bandits and had not eaten for days. When he reached the village, he saw the food, ate it, and became sick—because it had spoiled under the hot sun. His illness was not punishment but simply cause and effect.
Superstition vs. True Guidance In Jodo Shinshu, we do not accept misfortune as divine punishment. When someone passes away, we conduct bedside, cremation, and funeral services—not to send their soul to the Pure Land, but to express respect. Some fear that if these services are not held, “Bachi ga ataru”— that they or their family will be punished or experience bad luck. However, these services are not about warding off misfortune, but about healing our hearts and minds.
If divine punishment truly existed, we would all experience it every day. Superstitions only add fear and anxiety. Of course, when we face difficult times, we naturally seek guidance and comfort, but it is important that we do not rely on misguided beliefs.
Many of us heard from our parents and grandparents growing up, “If you do something wrong, you will be punished by the Buddha.” While such sayings were used as moral guidance, they are not based on Buddhist teachings.
Only Rely on Amida Buddha’s Great Salvation The Jodo Shinshu teaching does not require belief in superstition or reliance on objects. Instead, it teaches us to see life as it is and live with true gratitude and joy. That is why Hongwanji does not use Omamori or Ofuda and does not promote prayers for divine intervention.
Instead, we simply listen to the Buddha Dharma as our true guide, appreciating whatever we have in our precious lives.
Hongwanji Day is a time to express deep gratitude and appreciation to our Nembutsu pioneers, who left us this great guidance. It reminds us that we are inheriting profound wisdom and spiritual values in our lives.
When we truly listen to the Buddha Dharma, we open our hearts and discover the path of truth—Amida Buddha’s great wisdom and compassion in our lives. The Nembutsu life encourages us to work together and find joy in the happiness of others.
As we observe Hongwanji Day, may we all express our gratitude to our Nembutsu pioneers and ancestors, and may we pass this guidance and wisdom to future generations as our precious gift..
