Orange County Buddhist Church
Orange County Buddhist Church
Ondooboo, ondoogyoo no Minasama, akemashite omedetoo-gozaimasu. Sakunen-chuu wa iro-iro to osewa ni narimashita. Kotoshi mo mata doozo yoroshiku onegai-itashimasu. Fellow travelers and practicers of Jodo Shinshu, I wish you a very happy, healthy and prosperous New Year 2004. Thank you very much for all you have done for me and my family during the year just past. Please continue to favor us during this year.
This past year, like most years recently, has been an eventful one, whether in a global sense as with the Iraq war, or in more personal ways as with the passing of many friends and relatives, especially, for me, the passing of my friend and teacher, the Reverend Tomoji Hirata. He was a person to whom I could go with any question regarding my understanding of either a scholastic point on Jodo Shinshu or my own personal Shinjin and know that his answer was one I could trust. I miss him dearly.
Of course, there were many happy events as well, such as the birth of my second grandson, Avery Genshin, and, for the temple, finally being able to purchase land for parking. As to this latter, I hope only that the land will be filled with the vehicles of people who come to realize the necessity for the Greater Vehicle (Mahayana).
This year 2004 that we have just begun will, without doubt, also be an eventful one, both happy and sad. Let us all hope that the happy events outweigh the sad, and that we learn more about ourselves and our dependence on all those around us through both the happy and sad events. As always, let us allow ourselves to awaken to our need for Amida’s compassion and wisdom manifested in the Vow, so that we each might live our lives to their fullest.
Again, thank you all for your kindness and friendship.
Gassho,
Donkon Jaan, Rev. John Doami
