2024 or Buddhist Year 2564, Year of the Wood Dragon
Rev. J.K. Hirano
“Just as dawn is the forerunner and the first indication of the rising sun, so is Right View the forerunner and first indication of wholesome states.”
Sharon Salzberg
Happy Hoonko and New Year, Namo Amida Butsu! The traditional New Year greeting in Japanese is “Akemashite Omedetou gozaimasu” it is basically a congratulations on the opening of a new year. This quote I began with is from one of my favorite Buddhist writers Sharon Salzberg. Although, she is referring to the first of the Noble eightfold path, I think it is an appropriate explanation for the Buddhist view of greeting the new year. Although everyday can be viewed as a good day, the New Year season allows us to aspire and see it as a good year.
When I was a student so many years ago, I asked one of my teachers Horin Yamamoto. “Shouldn’t we take this attitude every day?” He thought that was such an interesting question because a Japanese would never think of that. To Japanese it is just a saying. In America we say, “Merry Christmas”. Did you ever wonder why we in America say, “Merry Christmas” yet in many English movies they say, “Happy Christmas”? It is my understanding that the late queen Elizabeth II preferred “Happy” over “Merry”, because Merry had the connotation of making merry, such as drinking and partying and “Happy” was a feeling. Merry also creates a class distinction, because there are many that cannot “make merry” at this time. I would have to agree, but in many ways, it is just tradition.
With the opening of a new year, it is an opportunity to reflect on the past, present and future, as my favorite quote from Charles Dicken’s Christmas Carol, where Ebenezer Scrooge pleads to the ghost of Christmas future, “The spirits of all three shall strive within me.” He is saying he will live with a reflection of the past, try to live in the present, aware of the consequences for the future, such a Buddhist sentiment. Dicken’s uses “Merry Christmas” and not “Happy Christmas”. Although culture, tradition etc. are transient aspects of our life. I do believe they have a place and rather than just spouting out meaningless words, I try to be aware of what I am saying. Like the new use of pronouns, I have difficulty with the use of “They” but I will continue to try.
For many of us Asians and Asian Americans reference to the Chinese Zodiac is a part of the New Year. 2024 is the year of the wood dragon. I like all things dragons. As some people know I have a large dragon tattoo. My Mother was born in the year of the dragon and so was my grandfather, this may have some influence, but I have always heard that the dragon represents great potential. Dragon images are in many Buddhist temples. Many of the incense burners have images of dragons. My own thinking is that this is appropriate since I burn incense to remind me of my own karmic responsibility for the world, I am a part of. The incense burns away just as my life, but the smoke of the incense, representing my karma, moves out and touches others. Signifying how I do not live alone, but my actions have the possibility of affecting others, both good and bad.
It is my hope and intention to live this new year 2024, the Buddhist year 2564 with the aspiration for living up to my own potential. May each of you who read this also live your full potential. I know that in looking back over 2023 I can only express great appreciation for all that I have received and apologize for the many difficulties I have caused those around me. It’s hard to believe I have been at the Salt Lake Buddhist Temple as Kaikyoshi for 30 years and I look forward to a few more years. I am at the point of my life and career that all my temples seem to be moving forward in a positive way.
As I have said many times, each temple creates their own culture, which reflects their Sangha. I realize most of us may have financial difficulties, so I have tried to train enough ministers’ assistants to help each temple financially. Although in our BCA system the temples must be led by a Kaikyoshi such as myself. I know this may be beyond our temples to meet the financial responsibility for a full time Kaikyoshi, which is now over $100,000. That is why I work with four temples and the BCA Center for Buddhist Education. I enjoy my work, but it does sometimes take its toll on this old man. But by splitting the cost with four temples and BCA, things are still manageable.
With the BCA Ministers’ Assistants program (MAP) of which I am the director. I have tried to use the temples I supervise as an example of the possibilities of how the assistants can help temples remain viable. For example: Idaho Oregon (IOBT) we have Revs Anne and Kathy and in Salt Lake, Rev. Carmela. Ogden will now have Rev. James and Geoff who have just received their Tokudo ordination. Congratulations! With these Minister’s assistants (MA), I feel that our temples can continue whether I am here or not. I believe that our temples will become the models for how most of our Buddhist Churches of America will move into the future. Please support these MAs as you have supported me. I will be applying for Rev. Carmela, James and Geoff to become Kaikyoshi Ho, which literally means assistant minister rather than minister’s assistant, although they will still be considered MAs unless they decide to pursue becoming Kaikyoshi. Hopefully we can get the ball rolling on the Kaikyoshi Ho, so this can happen before the Summer. Revs Kathy and Anne already have this designation. I will also find an individual to be assigned as a Kaikyoshi Ho for my position in BCA as director of the Center for Buddhist Education. Thank you all for your dedication to the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha. In Christmas Carol, my other favorite scene from the movies is when Tiny Tim lifts his glass and says, “God bless us, everyone!” Tim represents the physically weak, so maybe it is appropriate that I raise a glass and wish “Namo Amida Butsu Everyone! Welcome to 2024 a year of great possibility and potential!” Thank you for a wonderful 2023.