2005 Federation of Dharma School
Teacher's League Conference

Workshop 6

l         Kathi Takakuwa, Commission on Buddhist Education (Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii)

Open Questions

The facilitators started the discussion with introductions and questions from participants about the video.  A wide range of questions concerning concepts, terms, interpretations, history, doctrine, and practice were discussed including:

• the seven treasures:  coral, ruby, agate, purple-gold, white-silver, beryl, crystal
• Maitreya, guardian of future Buddha
• How various translations of the Larger Sutra with different numbers of vows were affected by culture and politics
• The 35^th Vow concerning women
• sutras as hoben/upaya or  right/skillful means –ways to teach people the Dharma
• reincarnation v. rebirth
• 19 hells
• Words that are out:  worship, believe, save, salvation, faith
  Words that are in:  take refuge, entrust, liberated, emancipated
• Karma as causes and conditions that come together v. fatalistic
• Defining Bussho or Buddha Nature:  the seed that can become Buddha
  Importance of 60 BCA ministers coming to consensus on terms.
• A Shin interpretation of Obon: an opportunity to hear the Dharma
• Bodhisattva is the ideal in the Mahayana tradition
• Six Paramitas as a means of realizing our true, imperfect selves
• Rennyo’s order of preference:  1) characters, 2) stylized painting, 3) statue
  Statues of Amida are “objects of reverence” (v. worship) which represent light and life that are inconceivable.
• The origins of the wisteria crest

Verbally Equipping Our Children

During the final half an hour of the session teaching Buddhist children strategies and responses they can use in the face of Christian taunts and direct proselytizing were discussed.     

The conference was a wonderful combination of content (what we teach), purpose (why we teach), and application (how we teach).

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