Editor's Note - The Spring Seminar “The Psychological Benefits of Buddhist Teachings and Practice” with Rev. Ryo Imamura will be held on Friday March 6, 2009 and Saturday March 7, 2009.  The Friday session at 7:00 PM is free and open to the public.  Please register by March 2, 2009 at the temple office for the Saturday session to be held from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM.  A fee of $8 pays for lunch and materials.

“Army Suicides at 3-decade high, Defense Department says”-- Frightening headlines stir those with compassion.  At the 2007 Veterans Appreciation Service, Sangha (Buddhist community) member and Vietnam War veteran, Steve Yamami, said “My mother did not raise me to be a killer of fellow human beings. . . .  I believe in peace.  I am grateful that I survived the war and did not have to kill any fellow human beings.”

But what about the tens of thousands who have taken a human life?  The constant and acute pain felt by those who have witnessed and/or participated in the taking of human life in the service of their country can be dealt with by accepting and living the Teachings of founder, Shinran Shonin.

The Rev. Bruce Nakamura, an associate minister at the Honpa Hongwanji Hilo Betsuin and advisor to the Board of Spiritual Affairs, explains, “For those of us who carry the extreme weight of karmic evil of murder and killing of the innocent, we should “turn-about” (Eshin) in this life and entrust in the mighty power of Amida’s Primal Vow.  In the ‘next Life to come’ we will be able to meet those to whom we have done grievous harm and entrust in their forgiveness.  This human life, not only for some but for all, is our important opportunity and responsibility to beg forgiveness and expose our ‘spiritual shame’ for taking the lives of others, whether they be human, animal, plant, or elemental life.  To even kill a cockroach or spray an antpile for human preservation is an evil and sinful thing, not against God, but against that and whose lives we destroy to preserve our own.”

Furthermore, “While we have human life, we can choose to act upon the grievous pain and even death we have caused upon others by surrendering our heart to a graciousness and benevolence which rejects not even the most evil of beings.”

As we all share the same life, the Board of Spiritual Affairs of the Honpa Hongwanji Hilo Betsuin welcomes all in the community to participate in its annual Spring Seminar, “The Psychological Benefits of Buddhist Teachings and Practice,” on March 6-7.  Board Chair, Henri Aki, and Spring Seminar Chair, Steve Yamami, encourage everyone to take this opportunity to participate.  The guest presenter will be the Rev. Dr. Ryo Imamura from Sacramento, California.

Beginning on Friday, March 6, at 7:00 P.M. in the main temple sanctuary located at 398 Kilauea Avenue near Starbucks, the Rev. Dr. Imamura will give a free public lecture on the Spring Seminar topic, “The Psychological Benefits of Buddhist Teachings and Practice.”  On Saturday, March 7, the Rev. Dr. Imamura will continue his focus in a seminar in the YBA Hall from 9:00 to 1:00 P.M., for which there is an $8 fee.  A late afternoon session with Dharma School students will follow along with a potluck dinner.  Finally, on Sunday, March 8, the Rev. Dr. Ryo Imamura will speak at the 9:00 Dharma Family Service and talk story session that follows in the chapel.  Please register by Monday, March 2nd, in the temple office for the Saturday seminar.  A fee of $8 pays for lunch and materials.  Checks should be made out to “Hilo Hongwanji” with the memo indicating “Spring Seminar.”

The Rev. Dr. Ryo Imamura was born in the Gila internment camp (#2) in Arizona in 1944.  Among many in his family who served the Sangha, are his father, the Rev. Kanmo Imamura, and his grandfather, Yemyo Imamura, who both served as Bishop of the Hawaii Kyodan.  His mother, Jane Imamura, composed many of the children’s gathas used in the Dharma School services.

The Rev. Dr. Ryo Imamura received his Bachelor’s degree in mathematics from UC Berkeley in 1967, his Master’s degree in counseling from the San Francisco State University in 1980, and a Doctorate degree in counseling/educational psychology from the University of San Francisco in 1986.

After receiving the major ministerial ordinations in Japan in 1971-1972, the Rev. Dr. Imamura served in various capacities in Hawaii and California for fifteen years, such as being the first director of the Buddhist Study Center.  Thereafter, the Rev. Dr. Imamura worked as a psychotherapist in California and a professor of counseling psychology at the Evergreen State College in Washington.  While he was in California, the Rev. Dr. Imamura co-founded the East-West Counseling Center in Berkeley and Oakland, which provided Buddhist-based counseling to the general public.  He was also past national president of the Buddhist Peace Fellowship and a national board member of the Fellowship of Reconciliation, which is the oldest and largest international religious peace and justice organization.

In October of 2007, the Rev. Dr. Imamura returned to active ministry and is now serving at the Florin Buddhist Church in Sacramento, California.  His wife Tery and he have four adult sons.  His hobbies outside of his work are playing guitar and tennis.

With Hawai’i’s observance this year of the 750th memorial service for Shinran Shonin, the founder of the Nishi Hongwanji Pure Land School of Buddhism, being held in conjunction with the 120th anniversary of the founding of the Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii, let us heed the words of the current Monshu Koshin Ohtani, a direct descendant of Shinran Shonin.  “The life of the Nembutsu is walking the path that leads to birth in the Pure Land, illuminated and embraced by Amida Tathagata’s wisdom and compassion, while maintaining respect and support for others.  By realizing, through the Tathagata’s wisdom, that the source of conflict lies in the self-centeredness of human beings, it is my hope that we will be able to contribute to the building of a world that is free of conflict, where we all can live life to the utmost with joy and contentment.”

“May Peace and Tranquility Prevail Throughout the World.”