Hawaii Betsuin invites members, friend, and the general public to join us the weekend of March 16 & 17 for events with Rev. Ronald Kobata, Resident Minister of the Buddhist Church of San Francisco.
On the morning of Saturday, March 16, Rev. Kobata will be the guest speaker for our Spring Higan Talk Story event. This free event goes from 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. in our Annex Temple. Advance registration is not required. The Talk Story is entitled, “Seeing the Light of Darkness — A Shin Buddhist Perspective.” Rev. Kobata will build on themes explored in a Dec. 4, 2017 New York Times opinion piece by John Kaag and Clancy Martin, “In Dark Times, ‘Dirty Hands’ Can Still Do Good”. Those planning to attend are encouraged to read the article prior to the Talk Story.
Reverend Kobata will also be the guest speaker at our Spring Higan Sunday Service on March 17 at 9:30 a.m. “Higan” means “the other shore.” It is an abbreviation for “to-higan,” meaning “reaching the other shore (of Nirvana).” During the vernal and autumnal equinoxes when days and nights are of equal length, temples conduct Higan services that encourage us to meditate on the harmony of nature and devote ourselves to the realization of this harmony in our inner lives.
Rev. Ron Kobata (a video still from talk to Marin Interfaith Council)
About Our Speaker
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 Hongwanji-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.
About “Talk Story”
“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.