Thread by @EngagedPureLand

"The Lei of Aloha," a further thread in the "Peace and Harmony: Lessons from the World Buddhist Women's Convention" series.

Previous thread here:

https://twitter.com/EngagedPureLand/status/1437466727437279242

At the 9th World Women's Buddhist Convention, held in Vancouver in 1990, 1000s of Jodo Shinshu Pure Land women gathered to discuss their contributions to peace and harmony. One was May Okazaki, of the Hawai'i Federation of Hompa Hongwanji Buddhist Women's Association, who said:

"ALOHA. Today my remarks on Peace and Harmony Through Nembutsu in the Community make use of a 'Lei of Aloha' in an analogy to the moral values of Shin Buddhism. To make a Lei of Aloha we need a needle (Amida's wisdom), thread (Amida's compassion), and flowers (community needs).

"Buddhist women in Hawai'i began a Lei of Aloha in the early 1900s by working with the Red Cross and financially supporting temple activities. This is the Lei of Aloha of the Past.

"The Lei of Aloha was expanded by implementing resolutions adopted at 3 World Conventions and by participating in community projects. For Dana Day in February, collections are given to needy community groups. For Hosha, we clean the temple, prepare meals, and help in the office.

"For Eshinni Day, designated as 'The Day of Peace,' a special service is held in April and collections are given to youth groups.

"Last year, Hawai'i Federation of Hongwanji Buddhist Women's Association published a book, Hosha: A Pictorial History of Jodo Shinshu Women in Hawaii, which details many community projects. This is the Lei of Aloha of the Present.

"The Lei of Aloha of the Future should represent needs of the broader community. First, we should get involved in current concerns by adopting [the Hawaiian members'] resolutions on AIDS and AGED AND AGING POPULATIONS [proposed to the Convention].

"Second, we should remember people who defended equality for women and minority groups. Third, we should work for safety by supporting Peace Toys and preventing drunk driving. Finally, we should give a Dana Award to acknowledge the Buddhist Woman volunteer.

"This is the Lei of Aloha of the Future. Two thirds are flowers of the past and present. One third is buds. each person doing her share will make them bloom.

"The Aloha spirit of love and friendship is symbolized by the greeting, the lei, and the ukulele:

"which demonstrates harmony with four strings denoting social, mental, emotional, and physical needs, when played together will produce a pleasant chord just as there will be untold happiness when needs are met.

"All of these, I hope, have made you more aware of why and how we can strive to have peace and harmony in our communities. ALOHA."

This short speech exemplifies many aspects of the Jodo Shinshu Buddhist experience of engagement. First, Jodo Shinshu communities are multi-generational, so we find references to youth and elders, with both groups as foci of nurture and concern.

Second, Jodo Shinshu communities are keenly aware of the past as a resource for the present and future. There is reference to the engaged activities of the founding generation nearly 100 years ago (at that point), and the second generation (who created the Dana and Eshinni Days).

Past, present, and future are woven together in the metaphor of the Lei of Aloha, which recalls the origins of the word sutra: a thread that binds things together. The past, present, and future women's activities are a sutra to learn from and a lei to wear with pride and thanks.

Aloha is an Indigenous Hawaiian concept, which has deeply influenced the Japanese-Hawaiian Jodo Shinshu population. They seek to understand and live up to the aloha vision of shared living. This comes about, for example, in the support for AIDS education proposed by the Hawaiians