Where We Worship
Temple follows path of Buddha
By Zenaida Serrano Espanol
Advertiser Staff Writer
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| Members of Koganji Temple in Manoa pray during a service held Wednesday morning.
Deborah Booker The Honolulu Advertiser |
Our affiliation: Tendai sect of Buddhism, based in Mount Hiei, Japan.
Where we are: 2869 O'ahu Ave., Manoa.
Our numbers: about 400 members.
Our bishop: Jikyu Rose.
What we believe: The basic teaching of Buddhism, Rose said, points to what believers refer to as the "Eightfold Noble Path," which they believe is the means to diminish or avoid the suffering that is part of life. The steps of the path are right understanding, purpose, speech, action, vocation, effort, mindfulness and concentration.
Through the teaching and practice of Buddhism, said member Gerri Watanabe, Koganji Temple provides guidance in following Buddha's teaching in walking the right path and living in a spirit of harmony, compassion and peace.
Our history: After completing her studies and training at Mount Hiei in 1973, Rose was ordained a Buddhist priest in the Tendai sect, the oldest Buddhist sect in Japan. Koganji Temple was founded by Rose and her husband, Lester Rose, a retired Navy captain. They purchased the Manoa property in 1975; the late Archbishop Yamada Etai, supreme head of Tendai Buddhism worldwide, blessed the site in November 1976.
Construction of the temple began in 1980. In March 1982, Etai returned from Japan, along with Archbishop Higashi Fushimi, maternal uncle of Japan's Emperor Akihito, to dedicate the newly completed Koganji Temple. "Koganji" means "big mountain, stone temple," Rose said.
The temple is dedicated to O-Jizo Bodhisattva, whom members describe as an equivalent to a patron saint. Members believe O-Jizo Bodhisattva vowed to never attain enlightenment until he had saved all beings who called his name.
In a ceremony for the temple's 10th anniversary, Etai returned for the celebration and conferred the title of bishop on the then-Rev. Rose in recognition of her achievements.
What we're excited about: Members next weekend will celebrate the 20th anniversary of the temple's dedication. On Friday members will welcome Archbishop Senda of the mainTendai temple at Mount Hiei, as well as 13 other bishops and priests from Mount Hiei. Rose and the honored guests will preside over a special ceremony next Saturday, in which nearly 150 individuals will be formally admitted, vowing to be disciples of the Buddha and to practice true Buddhism. An anniversary banquet will follow on Oct. 7 at Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort.
What's special about us: "I think what makes this temple very unique among the Buddhist churches here in Hawai'i is the youthfulness," said member Vivian Kaneko. We have a . . . very young membership, and it's a very active membership, and new members come all the time." Kaneko said that most of their active members are in their late 20s, their 30s and 40s.
The membership is also culturally diverse, Kaneko said. Members are not only from the Japanese community, but include people of Portuguese, Mexican, Vietnamese, Filipino and Korean descent as well.
Rose said that she sees temple members as a "big family" who help each other and work together. "My only wish is for people to understand and to have the compassion to understand (each other)," Rose said.
"The other thing that makes us very unique is Bishop Rose, herself," Kaneko said. "Her intuitive powers to diagnose people's ailments or assess the source of their problems is so acute." Kaneko added that Rose's strong faith and "her prayer life is an inspiration for all of us."
Contact: 988-7214.
If you would like to recommend a church, temple or faith organization for a Where We Worship profile, e-mail faith@honoluluadvertiser.com, call 535-8174 or write: Where We Worship, Faith Page, The Honolulu Advertiser, P.O. Box 3110, Honolulu, HI 96802.
