Dharma Message from Rev. Don Castro

“Americanizing Jodo Shinshu ”

GRATEFULLY REPRINTED FROM
Wheel of the Sangha , February 2007
the official newsletter of Seattle Betsuin

The Week-end of January 13-15, 2007 our temple hosted the BCA Youth Education Committee Reunion/Retreat. Sacramento Betsuin’s Rinban Bob Oshita and Patti Oshita along with Peter Inokoji-Kim of Denver conducted the activities and coordinated the program with our Travis Suzaka. It was good to observe the bond between the young participants that has strengthened as they have continued to attend retreats together. The group was divided between high school and college students who are seriously interested in learning about Buddhism and also in participating in the rituals and practices of our religion. On Sunday, at our Hoonko Service (Shinran Shonin’s Memorial), the youth chanted Shinran’s Wasan (poems) and did a very good job.

The Youth retreat put me in mind of an experience I had more than 21 years ago. A young college student came to talk with me about the Shin Buddhist ministry. He was very interested in the ministry, but had an excellent opportunity and scholarship to study another career path. He had to make an either/or choice and chose the latter path.

Today, I could tell that young man, or any young person, that they can do both. As I am writing this article, I received a phone call from Dr. Kenji Akahoshi who is doing both. He is both a dentist in San Jose (and past president of the San Jose Betsuin) and he is studying at the Institute of Buddhist Studies in Berkeley to become a minister. Although not yet an ordained minister, he has conducted numerous retreats including two here in Seattle. While Dr. Akahoshi is in his 60’s and transitioning from one career to another, there are opportunities for young people to fully have a career outside the ministry and to ministry. Life may take our young people to distant cities but they can bring their ministry with them or, if they move to a city with a Shinshu temple, they can enhance the religious program at that temple. This is the promise of our Minister’s Assistant program and youth retreats – enhanced leadership for the future. With the changes that are currently taking place in BCA, I feel hopeful that our religion is finally Americanizing in a positive way.

Rev. Castro is a Minister at Seattle Betsuin

 

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