Buddhist sects assemble to celebrate Wesak

By Mary Kaye Ritz
Advertiser Religion and Ethics Writer

•	Buddha Day Celebration 9 a.m. tomorrow McKinley High School auditorium 537-9409 Keynote speaker: Walter Ozawa, deputy administrative director for the Hawai'i State Judiciary, will talk on "Cherishing Our Buddhist Heritage."

The suggestions weren't taken, but the headlines will live long in the memory of Komagata, who at the time was in high school. One editorial writer even accused Abe of trying to kill Santa Claus. But don't worry about the political fate of Abe — he later went on to become an associate justice of the Hawai'i Supreme Court.

Tomorrow, the Hawai'i Buddhist Council is holding its Buddha Day Celebration, traditionally held on the Sunday closest to April 8.

The council, comprised of temples, has been holding its joint service annually for more than 50 years, bringing together Japanese Buddhists sects — the Soto Mission, Honpa Hongwanji Mission, Higashi Hongwanji Mission, Jodo Mission, Shingon Mission, Nichiren Mission, Tendai Mission — in a celebration of the Buddha's birth as Prince Siddhartha Gotama about 2,600 years ago.

According to legend, on the day of his birth, the prince made seven steps, pointed his index finger of his right hand to the heavens and his left hand to the earth and proclaimed, "I alone am the honored one." That has been taken to mean that each person is honored, born with positive qualities.

"You are essentially Buddha," explained Komagata. "We need to be awakened to the fact that we are capable of becoming Buddha."

In other Buddhist news, the Hawaii Association of International Buddhists is planning a combined prayer service for all who have suffered from the war in Iraq.

Organizers for the prayer service are the HAIB and the Buddha's Light International Association.

The prayer peace service will be at 10 a.m. April 13 at the Chinatown Cultural Plaza courtyard.