Namo Amida Butsu
Dear Wailuku Hongwanji members and families, I heard the good news that the Maui Fair will return this year on the first weekend of October! Unfortunately, we will not be participating in the Chow Fun booth fundraising this time. However, I fondly remember the many games, rides, and delicious foods at the fairgrounds. The Maui Fair is truly one of the most significant events for the people of Maui. Many local organizations rely on it as a major fundraiser. For children and young people, it is a source of joy and excitement: four days filled with fun and cherished memories here on our island.
At the fair, many organizations run booths, including groups we recognize from our daily activities and community events. People work together as a team to accomplish their fundraising goals. But beyond that, I see something even more meaningful: through working together, they create joy and lasting friendships.
When I used to help at the Chow Fun booth, I found it interesting that even if we didn’t know each other, conversations would naturally flow about the economy, sports, politics, and daily life. Interestingly, we rarely talked about religion (it seems people aren’t too interested in that during the fair!). But everyone was open-minded, and we shared a lot of laughter.
Many newcomers, especially parents of preschool children, often don’t know I’m a minister. They speak in strong local dialects, using expressions I sometimes don’t understand, including frequent use of “F-words” as part of their natural way of communicating. Then someone would say, “Eh, watch what you say, we get one minister here!” That always made everyone laugh and deepened our sense of togetherness.
It’s true, when we talk about topics we care about, we can engage for hours, sharing thoughts, building understanding, and forming new friendships. I was always impressed by how informed many people were. Sometimes, I told myself that they should run for County or State office, because their comments were so insightful! In the teachings of the Buddha, there is a passage I always respect and aspire to follow:
“It is a very good deed to cast away greed and to cherish a mind of charity. It is still better to keep one’s mind intent on respecting the Noble Path.”
We are encouraged to let go of selfishness and cultivate a sincere heart dedicated to helping others. One act of kindness can inspire another, and from that, happiness is born.
Another passage from the Buddha teaches:
“Thousands of candles can be lit from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared.”
As you may know, our lives are always interconnected. Through sincere offerings and sharing, we can discover true joy and happiness and pass along these wonderful legacies of dedication to the people around us.
Wailuku Hongwanji Mission is truly a place where we can learn and share this important guidance through temple services, member support, volunteer activities, and educational workshops.
The month of September is a time for rededication through the great guidance of Amida’s infinite wisdom and compassion.
