Peace Day 2021 Various Events (Photo contest, fold a crane, Ring Your Bell for Peace)
PEACE DAY 2021
The International Day of Peace was established by the United Nations in 1981, and since 2001, has been celebrated on September 21. That date is also recognized as Peace Day in Hawaii, thanks in large part to members of the Hawaii Federation of Junior Young Buddhist Association who successfully advocated for the legislature to officially recognize Peace Day.
PHOTO CONTEST SUBMIT due by Saturday, September 11, 2021 at 11:59 p.m. (Hawaii time)
Find a photo that depicts what you consider as “Live and Light the World“. It must be a photo personally taken by you. Submit your photo to punahongwanjipeaceday@gmail.com or send it us via our Facebook Messenger. Photos must be submitted by Saturday, September 11, 2021 at 11:59 p.m. (Hawaii time). Any entries received after the date and time will not be eligible. The photo that you share becomes a donation to the Peace Committee and can be utilized the Puna Hongwanji Buddhist Temple for future events. Peace Committee reserves the right to not post entries that may not be appropriate.
On Monday, September 13, 2021 on Facebook Puna Hongwanji will share all the photos entries and those with the most “likes” will be selected to win a prize. Contest voting will run until Friday, September 17, 2021. Winners will be announced during our Sunday service on September 19, 2021 during the announcements. You may enter as many photos, but it will be one winner per person.
Prizes:
1st Place: $25 KTA gift card
2nd Place: $25 KTA gift card
3rd Place: $25 KTA gift card
4th Place: $20 J. Hara Store gift card
5th Place: $10 KTA gift card
We would like to take this time to thank our anonymous donor for all the prizes that we will be distributing. We appreciate your generosity.
Peace Day 2021 Home Project – Two Headed Bird “Gumyocho”
We ask that you take the time to fold a crane and instead of making it one headed like normal, we ask that you fold the tail into another head. Keep this crane as a reminder of the Gumyocho which symbolizes interdependency and the importance of living harmoniously. Currently, we are all sharing this world, but many are divided and fighting each other thinking, “I’m right and you are wrong”. Without knowing we are actually hurting ourselves by being so divided. Let the Gumyocho remind us that we need each other and we should strive to live in harmony.
The two-headed bird in Japanese is “Gumyocho”. Gu – share; myo – life; cho – bird). This bird has two heads and share one body. We human beings are likened to the two-headed bird, the guymyocho, of the well-known Buddhist fable found in Amida Sutra. This bird sings so beautifully and share and praise the Dharma through the singing. One day, “The two heads of the fabled bird fight and finally, in a fit of anger, one head attacks the other and kills it, unaware that they both share the same body. Too late, it realizes that in killing his “enemy”, is has also caused his own death.”
It continues “We humans also fight and hurt each other, blind to the precious life shared, so wanting ‘Mida’s Light. From the Pure Land, the fabled bird sadly observes that our human actions mirror his own”, “Seeing the hurt we have caused, seeing how we’ve wronged, sharing our past, our fabled bird does sing a mournful song.” Thus, in the rousing chorus, we resolve to “live and light the world, see that hatred’s overcome…live and light the world – as one we must become!” We must learn the lessons of past sufferings which show “through the years flow sorrow’s tears.” The ending of this piece is very hopeful as we assert, “Fabled bird, we heard your song. Sing of hope anew! Fly with love, now, in chase of dreams! Tomorrow’s dreams, pursue!” With this hope for tomorrow, we will “all walk hand in hand” so that Amida’s light, which shines through us, can illuminate the world. We will go forward affirming our conviction – “Together in friendship now, let us walk the road to peace”.
Ring Your Bell for Peace Day – September 21, 2021 via Zoom
The Buddhist Temples of Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii, the United Nations Association of Hawaii, and KTUH Radio invite you to the “Ring Your Bell For Peace Day” on Tuesday, September 21, 2021 via Zoom. Pre-celebration starts at 8:30 a.m. and bell ringing will start at 9:01 a.m.
Special guest appearance by Jake Shimabukuro 2021 Ambassador for Peace Day performing Songs of Peace. Melveen Leed will sing “Let There Be Peace on Earth”.
The bell ringing follows a short program beginning at 8:30 a.m. and a minute of silence. All times are HST – Hawaii Standard Time.
8:30 a.m. – Opening Ceremony
9:00 a.m. – Minute of Silence
9:01 a.m. – Bell Ringing
9:06 a.m. – Peace Messages & Jake Shimabukuro
9:30 a.m. – Closing Ceremony
To participate register at: https://forms.gle/2tLDEukCh2a4fzYL7
For additional information visit: https://hongwanjihawaii.com/peaceday2021/
Choralfest 2018: Live and Light the World.
https://youtu.be/WUKDYUnVgB0
