JUST SAY MAHALO®

Just Say Mahalo®: a blog about Buddhism and ME (my ego)

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…

February 21, 2019
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…

November 5, 2018
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…

August 27, 2018
Buddha Never Said…

all things are impermanent except permanent marker on white board

August 2, 2018
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…

July 20, 2018
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…

May 30, 2018
Life in the Moment 瞬間に生きる

Life in the Moment 瞬間に生きる A tiny hand reaches out in the night A soft sigh, ‘Grandpa!’ A silent smile NamoAmidaButsu 夜中の暗みに小さな手が動く静かなため息「グランパー!」静かな微笑み南無阿弥陀仏

May 29, 2018
Peace of Mind

True peace of mind begins when we stop asking ‘why?’ 「なぜ？」がなくなった瞬間真実の安心

February 24, 2018
Dōshu of Akao, the Myōkōnin

Fellow exchange students Marcio Kuwada, Mamta Lama, and I were incredibly fortunate to enter the beautiful inner altar of Gyōtoku-ji Temple in Gokayama, Gifu Prefecture. Gyōtoku-ji traces its origins to the untiring efforts of the ‘myōkōnin’ Dōshu of Akao in the sixteenth century who, having encountered the Jōdo Shinshū teachings from Rennyo Shōnin, was inspired…

February 24, 2018
The Cause of Unhappiness

We are unhappy because we make ‘me’ the center of everything 苦しいのは自分を中心にしているからだ Takayama Betsuin Shōren-ji Gifu, Japan

February 22, 2018