Thank You All for All Your Kind Donations Financial, Materials, and Labor. It takes us
all to carry on the work of our forefathers and keep our church viable.
Membership
Dues: For individuals, it is $225. For a family, it is $400. For members over 80 years old, it is
$180.
If there is anything you would wish to share with the sangha, please let me know.
Minister’s Message
“…Therefore, be a lamp unto yourself;
be a refuge to yourself. Take yourself to
no external extreme. Hold fast to the
Truth as a lamp; hold fast to the Truth
as a refuge. Look not for a refuge in
anyone beside yourself…”
~Shakyamuni Buddha’s
Deathbed Address
For many, Valentine’s Day is just a day, however for the romantics at heart, it is a time to express
their love for each other or celebrate the days and years spent in bliss. They share cards, flowers,
dinners and my favorite, chocolates. Valentine’s Day is not what one would expect. In the history of
this “special day”, it was a period filled with mystery, intrigue and gore. Yes, gore.
According to The New York Times and History.Com, Valentine’s Day was observed as a pagan
festival dated before Christianity. The Romans, during the middle of February, held a festival that was
filled with feasting and the pairing of partners. It was a raucous time of debauchery (sensual
pleasures), blood and sacrifice. Without going into too much detail, during this time the Romans
would sacrifice a goat, take strips of meat dip in its blood and slap the women with it. This practice in
belief would make the women more fertile during the year. Hence, the color red which is a symbol of
Valentine’s Day.
Around the 5th Century, the Romans in power would outlaw this ritual and embrace Christianity.
Pope Gelasius would dedicate this day after Saint Valentine. However, the identification of Saint
Valentine is also a bit of a mystery. There are two different stories of this saint.
Around the 3
rd Century, Emperor Claudius II of Rome was said to have executed two men named
Valentine. Both men were executed on the same day, but years apart. The first Valentine was said to
have been a priest who defied the Roman Law that forbade soldiers from marrying. He continued to
defy the power of the time.
Years later, the second Valentine was an imprisoned priest who fell in love with his female visitors.
He began to write letters to his love. According to History.Com, this Valentine was to be executed and
wrote a final letter to this love with the signature, “From Your Valentine”. These two stories cannot be
officially verified, but it does create for a romantic tale.
These stories have been taken to extremes by the poet Geoffrey Chaucer and in plays by William
Shakespeare. Who does not like to be showered with romance, flowers, cards or candy? However, in
February Buddhists offer a story of compassion and mystery,
According to the Gregorian calendar, February 15th is the day Shakyamuni Buddha attained complete Nirvana. The word Nirvana means, “to blow out” or “extinction of the flame” of personal
desires. Buddha attained Enlightenment; he was able to extinguish his blind passions of greed, anger
and ignorance (lack of wisdom).
However, still having an earthly form, Buddha had not achieved complete Nirvana.
Buddha was 80 years old when he passed from this earthly realm.
One day, Buddha fell ill and he knew that in three months he would attain complete Nirvana or
Parinirvana. Yet, he continued to spread the Dharma to the very end. On a pilgrimage to a village,
Cunda the blacksmith was honored by the Buddha’s presence. Unknowingly, Cunda offered Buddha
tainted food. In Kusinagara, Buddha fell ill. He laid between two sala trees, his head toward the east
and his body facing the west, Buddha was near his end. Even Cunda was present. In a faint voice,
Buddha explained to his favorite disciples that Cunda was not to be blamed, but his virtue and merit
was great. Cunda’s offering of food and greater was the offering of the last nourishment. Buddha was
compassionate even faced with his own death.
Buddha gave his final dharma message. “Do not grieve. If I were to live in the world as a whole
kalpa, our association would still have to end. You cannot find any association which does not
end…Therefore, you must know the world is all transient, and meeting certainly implies
separation…”. His words were a source of encouragement and comfort.
Buddha was faced with the principle of impermanence or the law of change. “Everything is
impermanent. All phenomena whether organic or inorganic are impermanent and undergo change.”
This is the first of the Four Noble Truths, suffering. We wish only for pleasure and good times, and we
want it that way. We are selfish beings.
Change is not the cause of our suffering; it is our attitude that is in our hearts and minds. This
cause of suffering comes from within us. Although we have limited abilities, we can still strive to take
that small step toward reaching our level of Nirvana and that is where the mystery lies. Wishing you a
day showered with romance and compassion.
Gassho
Rev. Seijo Naomi Nakano
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