People from around the globe are traveling to Hilo to attend Taishoji Soto Temple’s 100-year anniversary celebration Sunday.
The celebration’s theme is “Ho-on” — which translates to “sweet memories with gratitude.”
Kazue Tanimoto, who is in her late 90s, has both of those. She has experienced the teachings of every Taishoji Soto Temple reverend for decades.
“It’s up to you to pick up whatever they teach and emphasize that, more, for your own self. … I like the Zen church. My church is something that I cherish,” she said.
The Zen Buddhist Temple will celebrate Sunday(www.taishoji.org) with services and food, including:
• 8:30 a.m., iwai mochi maki (tossing of rice-bean balls).
• 9 a.m., memorial service for the founder and deceased ministers.
• 9:40 a.m., memorial service for deceased Taishoji members.
• 10:10 a.m., 100th anniversary celebration service.
• 10:50 a.m., picture taking in front of the temple, with a luncheon to follow at the Nani Nau Gardens park.
Temple president Rodney Nishino said 800 people — all new immigrants from Japan — became temple members after the idea for its construction was initiated in 1916. Many worked at the sugar plantations. But, today, there are just 150 members.
“Buddhist temples here in Hilo are having a difficult time getting new members,” Nishino said. “That’s what’s happening to all the Buddhist temples in Hawaii right now.”
Individuals can become members even if they themselves are not Buddhists. “Some people are not Buddhist, and yet they come,” Nishino said.
“We need more members,” said the Rev. Shinsho Hata. In particular, he hopes young people will become temple members.
“I came here last October. Since then, day by day, young people came,” said Hata, 28. “We have the Zen session twice a week now because Buddha attained enlightenment by the Zen meditation. By doing the Zen we can calm down our mind.”
Nishino said young people of Japanese heritage on Hawaii Island leave in search of jobs once they finish their educations.
“For our temple, our members are really old; their children are older,” he said. “It’s like a domino effect.”
But the practice of Zen meditation intrigues. “We have a lot of outsiders that come to do that,” Nishino said.
It can help bring perspective to life, Hata said. When people drive, for example, “everybody’s getting angry.” But, through Zen, it’s possible to “calm down my mind, so life is easy.”
“By doing the Zen, we give physical stability; heart/mind stability,” Hata said.
Hata is expecting perhaps 300 people to attend Sunday’s celebration at 275 Kinoole St. The community is welcome. Many will be former members and all will pay homage to ancestors of present-day members.
“We have the responsibility to correctly pass on, what has been passed down by our ancestors, to the next generation,” Hata said. “That’s why we perform the ministers and members memorial service.”
Email Jeff Hansel at jhansel@hawaiitribune-herald.com.
