Naikan: Cultivating Self-examination

and Gratitude

Naikan: A Method of Self-reflection

Naikan is a Japanese word which means “inside looking” or “introspection”. It is a structured method of self-reflection that helps us to understand ourselves, our relationships and the fundamental nature of human existence.

GREGG KRECH is Executive Director of the ToDo Institute, a Naikan education and retreat center located near Middlebury, Vermont. Krech is a leading expert on Japanese approaches to mental health and well-being and is the author of several books.

Saturday, September 27, 2008

8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

PreRegister Fee $25 includes lunch (by Aug 30)   At the door $35

Student Rate (18 and under) $15

Fall Highlights

Introduction to Buddhism
A quick crash course on Dharma
Four-week course – begins September

Film Festival
View Buddhism and Dharma in film
September & October

Learn Calligraphy - Nembutsu
Four-week course in learning to write
calligraphy as a meditation – October

Cooking with Mindfulness
One-day workshop on culinary skills
to promote the health and mind
October

Goodbye to a friend: by Jerry Bolick

Rev. Ananda Claude Dalenberg died on February18th. Ananda was a Zen priest, one of the founders of the SF Zen Center and studied under Suzuki Roshi there at the same time as Bishop Ogui. Over the years, Ananda was a frequent visitor at the temple; he greatly appreciated the nembutsu teaching. He was friends with Yamaguchi and Sasaki Senseis, a good friend and teacher to me. He worked hard to cultivate relationships between various Buddhist traditions.

He had the honor of being with his family and a few close friends in his final days and conducted the pillow service at the hospice where he died. Socho Ogui was an honored guest and participant in the memorial service at the Zen Center; the family requested that the liturgy include elements of Jodoshinshu as well as Zen.

letter to the editor:

I would like to thank the Buddhist Church of San Francisco and the SF Buddhist Women's Association for the generous and thoughtful support given me and the Japanese Collection of the San Francisco Public Library. l want to also recognize and thank Past President Jeffery Matsuoka for his kind efforts on my behalf. Arigato gozaimashita.

Gassho,

Hiroshi Kashiwagi

Here is the full text of Mr. Kashiwagi's speech on the Reopening of the Western Addition Library:

Re-Opening of Western Addition Branch Library

What a day this is--the re-opening of the incredibly beautiful Western Addition Branch Library, 9and what a glorious day for me Japanese Collection in honor of so and so they, that's me. But the true miracle is I am here, alive and well, pretty much alive and well, to acknowledge the honor and join in the day's celebration with you.

First of all, I want to thank the San Francisco Public Library and the Friends of the San Francisco Public Library. Then I want to thank all those of you who participated in the Western Addition Library Campaign, which made possible much of the remarkable makeover of the library, especially the interior the furnishings. I want to acknowledge the contributions from our Japanese American community, Nihonmachi, the organizations, the individuals, friends and relatives, many of whom are present today. I thank you all from my heart. Arigato gozaimashita.

Way back in June of 1966, И was hired fresh out of the library school at UC Berkeley by the then City Librarian Mr. William Holman who assigned me to work in the Literature Department of the Main Library. Although I had been promised a job because of my Japanese language background, it seems that during the interview Mr. Holman was more impressed with my knowledge of literature.At any rate, Mr. Holman had a campaign to upgrade the rather old and stodgy San Francisco Public Library. So his new hires were all well-trained and knowledgeable and included African Americans, an Asian (myself), many male librarians and if female, very attractive ones. We might have gone overboard in trying to be hip; I still have the psychedelic necktie that I used to wear in the late 60s. But before long the San Francisco Public Library became a modern, dynamic and vibrant library not only relevant to the time but also one of the finemst in the country. I am proud to say that I was a staff member during that exciting time.

Working in the Literature Department, I was assigned to select books in Spanish and Japanese, both of which I had studied in college. However, I was also asked to select books in Gaelic and I knew not a word of Gaelic. l managed somehow; I soon learned that there's nothing impossible in library work; one just had to be resourceful.

The Japanese Collection was started in 1966 at the Main Library but two years later when I became manager of the Western Addition Branch, the collection was transferred here where it was more accessible to the Japanese-reading patrons; we were also able to buy the books locally at the Kinokuniya Bookstore and make them available to the public sooner.

The collection took off beyond our imagination; its circulation soon accounted for half or more of the branch circulation and it was funded accordingly. The word of the collection spread; San Francisco Public Library was the only library on the Pacific Coast to have this unique collection and we began to have patrons from out-of-town, some of whom came by Greyhound bus every three weeks.

Through the years wherever I was assigned, I spent a few hours every week on the collection, usually cataloging the books. But my successors are the ones who should be credited for the maintenance and growth of the collection. I'd like to mention especially the contribution of Mrs. Sonoe Jitodai who served here for many years before her retirement. The Friends of the Japanese Collection was also instrumental in providing extra funding and sponsoring cultural programs and lectures, featuring authors from Japan. A few years ago when we were celebrating the collection and I was asked to speak, I referred to the collection as a jewel of the San Francisco Public Library. Well, I don't want to repeat myself, but with the value of gold skyrocketing lately how about if I said, the Japanese Collection is a golden treasure of the San Francisco Public Library, may it thrive and may it continue to serve the public.

Before I close, I want to say a few words about my career as a librarian. First, I want to commend my family for their patience, understanding and tolerance when I often complained about what happened at the library,my encounters with difficult patrons and sometimes with racist patrons. It's true, I had my share of such patrons; I tried to win them over with good service. Nevertheless, it was trying and I needed an escape valve. But every day was a new day and I really enjoyed going to work where every question either by telephone or in person was a challenge and an adventure. lt has been 20 years since I retired and I've had a different life as an actor and writer but my 20-year career as a librarian for the San Francisco Public Library is the highlight of my life. I am sure of that, especially after this wonderful day. Thank you.

Hiroshi Kashiwagi February 2, 2008

Donations Received for Japanese Collection of Western Addition Branch Library

Thank you for your generosity! Contributions from our temple members were collected and were sent to the help fund the continuing of the collection of Japanese books Mr. Hiroshi Kashiwagi started, which allows the library’s collection to continue to grow and flourish.

YOUNG BUDDHISTS: Where Have They Gone?

by Rev. Fumiaki Usuki

Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the May 2005 issue of the Wheel of Dharma.

I am taking the liberty with my rotation in the Wheel of Dharma article to present to you a major phenomenon that occurred with the BCA youths in the last decade which is a continued concern to the BCA, temples and members. At the BCA level, ministers, temple presidents, and delegates meet regularly to discuss the problems and issues of our temple and membership. But you, the general membership, may not be aware of the concerns and efforts of these people. Therefore, I am presenting one issue that may interests you. BCA temples recently received Let's Do Something Now - Request from the Office of the Socho which asks for establishing a Buddhist Education Program in each local temple to promote Buddhist Education as the foremost means in which to sustain the growth of the sangha and to reach out to others. Socho Ogui says, Our temples cannot grow until we can adequately share the teachings with others. As a ministerial advisor to the BCA Youth Advocacy Committee that was formed in 2000 to begin planning and implementing methods of reaching out to, and advocating for, young adults and students within our temples and communities, I cannot agree more with the Socho.

All of you know the chronic problems that plague BCA such as aging membership, ministerial shortage, need for more English speaking ministers, etc. Those of you who are in the smaller temples know this situation better than anyone and it is a constant battle to keep and sustain young members and find ways to keep them interested and have them return to the temple later in life.

In 1991, the WYBL - Western Young Buddhist League consisting of high school and college level youths numbered 697 members. In 1992, they dropped to 598, and by 1993 three Southern District Sr. YBA chapters are inactive and Bay District did not have enough members to elect officers. Today, only three districts are active with handful of members and some count both Sr. and Jr. YBA in the same organization. Sr. YBA has all but disappeared with 90-95% decrease since 1991. It is a phenomenal data that we all should be aware of. Where did our youths go to so suddenly? Did they leave happy or disgruntled?

I don't think there is a need to panic because these people are doing well and living a good life and we should be happy for them. Perhaps many are simply too busy to come back to the temple at this time. If this is the case, then they may be interested in getting hold of our organization or opening our website to get information on current BCA youth activities and what YAC has to offer.

One of the concerns regarding our youth today is that there is too much emphasis on culture, mainly Japanese American/Japanese culture and not enough on Buddhist culture. This underlying assumption makes it difficult for non-JA converts to integrate into a temple. This is not to say that we are redirecting all our attention to non-Japanese and I'm sure there are many Japanese American youths who are looking for more Buddhist culture in their lives.

It is simply overwhelming to think what our youth must go through, not only the competitive demands of school and peers with increased mobility and information. Having been there as parents we have tremendous concern for them both pragmatically and spiritually. In this sense we hope that our temple is where they can continue to groom themselves religiously and that the temple will provide the adequate information, culture, and environment for them.

If we have learned anything from the past, we can be sure that things can change in an instant as seen from the above statistics and nothing is guaranteed. Therefore, rather than providing basically cultural and social environment we should take our Socho's lead and get back to Buddhist Education as the basis for our temple's environment.

You can go to the BCA Youth Advocacy Committee website to learn more about our efforts to address the needs and concern of our youth. The URL is

In Gassho.

Rev. Fumiaki Usuki
West LA Buddhist Temple

Rev. Usuki is the Ministerial Advisor for the BCA Youth Advocacy Committee and Southern District Jr. YBL