Letter from the Abbot: Zen & Aloha
In the late 1980’s, Tanouye Roshi was determined to spread the lessons of the Aloha Spirit. He felt that a deeper understanding and cultivation of Aloha would give students a more tangible sense of the Buddhist principle of compassion. Four Aloha Spirit posters were made, one of them featuring Native Hawaiian spiritual leader Pilahi Paki’s definition of Aloha. Thousands were distributed. Alvin Shim also succeeded in passing the Aloha Spirit Bill, putting this definition into law.
According to Aunty Pilahi—who recognized Chozen-ji as a manawa or spiritual energy mountain—the Aloha Spirit is “the coordination of mind and heart within each person. It brings each person to the self. Each person must think and emote good feelings to others.”
This is why some say that the essence of Zen and the essence of Aloha are not different. Both practice the coordination of mind, heart and body seeking the True Self. When the True Self is realized, a person radiates Kiai or Aloha, naturally clarifying and brightening reality. Both are beyond words but can be realized and felt at a fundamental level. Both also lead to working for the benefit of society.
In the last half of this year, two initiatives highlight the convergence of Zen, Aloha and society. Bill Kaneko led a program for young leaders, called Zen and Politics, to create the personal transformation needed to change the world.
Second, Chozen-ji members, through the group Hui Aloha, are playing a critical role in securing land to house 250 residents of Puʻuhonua O Waiʻanae, the houseless community by the Waiʻanae Boat Harbor. Hui Aloha includes Puʻuhonua O Waiʻanae’s leader, Twinkle Borge. Twinkle is like a bodhisattva giving refuge to people struggling to survive. She even shelters abandoned dogs and cats, and distributes donations to other houseless camps and neighbors who are housed but still struggle.
Other highlights of the past six months include the ordination of two priests in their thirties, Amanda Wake and Cristina Moon. A new edition of Omori Sogen’s An Introduction to Zen Training is also being released. The wood-burning kiln was completed by participants in a second three week live-in period and will be fired this January—the first time in over a decade. Our annual art show was a success, featuring the life and work of Jackson Morisawa and drawing more than 1,000 visitors. 30 students attended Norma Wong Roshi’s Full Moon Retreat. We had a unique collaboration with Kenny Endo called The Rhythm of the Universe, in which he accompanied the arts of Chozen-ji with taiko, flute and hand drum. Finally, our busy Autumn ended with a full sesshin of beginners, seasoned students and teachers.
It is a mysterious wonder that all this has happened, but no mystery at all about the effort and commitment—in a word, the Aloha—extended by so many people to make it possible.
Gassho,
Sayama Daian
Abbot, Daihonzan Chozen-ji