仏教 LA Koyasan Buddhist Temple Welcomes New Sensei!

よこそ! Two nights ago, the Los Angeles Koyasan Buddhist Temple welcomed new head minister Kanai Sensei from Japan. He will be presiding over the Koyasan Tenmple in Little Tokyo which has lacked a head minister for the last two years. Kanai Sensei will be assisted by the current residing ministers Higashi Sensei & Kaku Sensei and will resume morning family services as well as the major services including the monthly Goma Fire Ritual. If visiting for end of year service or Shogatsu aka New Years service, please make Kanai Sensei feel welcome おねがいします. We're sure he will appreciate it. ども ありがとう ございます.

仏教 Hoshi Matsuri 2011

This last weekend brought in the Chinese Lunar New Year of the Rabbit which for many will be a year of multiple opportunities. We spent ours at the Hoshi Matsuri at the Koyasan Betsuin in Little Tokyo which drew large numbers of people to partake in this most important of festivals. Understanding that Emperor Meji had moved Japan to the Gregorian calendar, this Buddhist ceremony still coincides with the earlier New Years traditions of Japan. It is an opportunity to seek universal wealth and harmony. Also known as Setsubun, The Hoshi Matsuri is also set to ward off misfortune hence the throwing of soy beans at the “Oni” with shouts of おに わ そと!(Oni wa soto - Get Out demons!) This was our second Hoshi Matsuri and as fun as the last spent eating as many soy beans equal to the years of your age and participating in this most traditional of services (as one can see from the video clip below).

So please continue to read American Mishima in good health and enjoy!