JUST SAY MAHALO®

Category: my stories

  • 「時間があり過ぎる」

    本派本願寺ハワイ別院の「本願寺アワー」というラジオ番組の為のミニ法話をするご縁に恵まれました。二十何年も経っているが、まだまだ日本語の発音などに聞き苦しいところがあると思いますが、どうぞよろしくお願いいたします。 This is a Japanese-language “mini” Dharma Talk originally broadcast on KZOO-AM as part of the Hongwanji Hour radio program that Hawaii Betsuin has sponsored for many years. The English title is “There’s Too Much Time” and my essay on this experience can be found here. Even after having lived in Tokyo for 25 years,…

  • Let’s Make Rainbows

    Once upon a time in a magical place called Hawaii, eight islands in the middle of the big blue sea, there lived many happy children who loved to play together.  One day, the children noticed they were all different colors.  “I’m black!” “I’m white!” “I’m purple!” The children started arguing. “I’m best because I am…

  • “There’s Too Much Time”

    When I consider deeply the Vow of Amida, which arose from five kalpas of profound thought, I realize that it was entirely for the sake of myself alone! Then how I am filled with gratitude for the Primal Vow, in which Amida resolved to save me, though I am burdened with such heavy karma. Shinran…

  • April Fool Every Day

    The shinjin of the wise is such that they are inwardly wise, outwardly foolish. The heart of Gutoku is such that I am inwardly foolish, outwardly wise. Gutoku ShinranGutoku’s Notes, Fascicle OneCollected Works of Shinran, Volume 1, page 587 Shinran, founder of Jodo Shinshu, referred to himself as “Gutoku” Shinran.  “Gutoku” means the “stubble-headed foolish…

  • Sunrise Dew Drops

    Shimmer in the light Winds of impermanence blow Sunrise drops of dew

  • The Kids Who Said Thank You Too Much

    Once upon a time in a magical place called Maui, a beautiful island in the middle of the big blue sea, there lived a little girl and a little boy. Maui was filled with kind and gentle people who always said, “aloha!” with a big smile and gave big friendly hugs. One day, the little…

  • Children’s Dharma Talk: Magic Words

    Once upon a time, there was a little boy and a little girl who lived in a magical place called Maui, a beautiful island in the middle of the big blue sea. Maui was filled with kind and gentle people who always said “aloha” with a big smile and gave friendly hugs. One day, the…

  • It’s not about ME

    When a person realizes the mind of non-discrimination,   That attainment is the “state of regarding each being as one’s only child” This is none other than Buddha-Nature; We will awaken to it on reaching the land of peace.      Shinran Shōnin      Hymns of the Pure Land, Verse 97      The…

  • The Buddhist Path: Dealing with Anger

    When you get so angry you don’t know what to say, say “I’m sorry” When you get so angry you don’t know what to do, be kind and gentle When you get so angry you don’t know what to think, be grateful Anger is a mirror reflecting what is inside of you, just as you…

  • Lessons from the Chalkboard: Active Listening, Truly Hearing

    The Jodo Shinshu Hongwanji-ha way of “preparing the heart-mind to actively listen and truly hear” the Dharma also applies to actively listening to and truly hearing people in daily life. “On this remarkable and unrepeatable occasion, 1. Listen as if what this person is saying is the FIRST TIME, 2. Listen as if what this…