1727 Pali Highway
Honolulu (enter parking from Lusitana St)
Honpa Hongwanj Hawaii Betsuin
Spring Higan Weekend Talk Story
with Reverend Ronald Kobata
“Seeing the Light of Darkness — A Shin Buddhist Perspective”
(In Dark Times, Dirty Hands Can Still Do Good)
Hawaii Betsuin invites members, friend, and the general public to join us the morning of Saturday, March 16 in our Annex Temple for a Spring Higan Talk Story event with Rev. Ronald Kobata, Resident Minister of the Buddhist Church of San Francisco.
The event goes from 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Free. No registration required.
In Dark Times, ‘Dirty Hands’ Can Still Do Good
To transcend our complicity in the world’s worst crises, we need self-knowledge and humility.
By John Kaag and Clancy Martin
New York Times, Dec. 4, 2017
ABOUT THE EVENT
“Talk Story” is a unique local cultural experience in which people share their life experiences and develop relationships that build and strengthen communities. At Hawaii Betsuin, we invite special Dharma teachers to lead a dialogue that enhances our awareness, understanding and experience of the embrace of wisdom and compassion. And this event is a special opportunity to meet and share some time with this guest Dharma teacher.
ABOUT THE DHARMA TEACHER
Rev. Ron Kobata (a video still from talk to Marin Interfaith Council)
Reverend Ronald Kobata (Shaku KenGu) is no stranger to Sangha members of the Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii. From November 1981 to January 2005, he served as an Associate Minister at Hawaii Betsuin; a Resident Minister at Kahului Hongwanji and Makawao Hongwanji (respectively). In 2005, he returned to the Buddhist Churches of America (BCA) as Executive Assistant in the Office of the Bishop. Since March 2009, Reverend Kobata is the Resident Minister for the Buddhist Church of San Francisco and is currently the Supervisor for Buddhist Temple of Marin and Enmanji Buddhist Temple.
Reverend Kobata is recognized for his open-hearted engagement with the Interfaith Community; involved with Japanese American Religious Federation (Past President), Japanese Community Youth Council (Former Board Member) and San Francisco Interfaith Council (Former Board Member). And he currently serves as Chairperson of the Bay District Ministers Association (BCA).
He was born in Ogden, Utah and grew up in San Francisco. He is a graduate of University of California at Berkeley (Bachelor of Science in Religious Studies); and obtained a Master of Arts in Buddhist Studies from the Institute of Buddhist Studies (IBS). (Jodo Shinshu Hongwanj-ha Credentials: Tokudo 1974; Kyoshi (Teaching) Certification 1974 and Kaikyoshi (Overseas Minister) Certification 1975).
Kobata Sensei is married; he and his wife, Sayoko, have raised three daughters (Tabitha; Mindy; Trina) and have two grandchildren.