Home > Ekoji Children's Dharma School > FDSTL Communications (Last Updated on 26 Oct 2005)

Halloween: (Posted 26 Oct)

Miyo: The story is far fetched, but it was a way to relate to current events and have the children realize in participate in an interrelated world.

A Week before Halloween Story

Gi (short for Giichi) and Mi (short for Miye) were fraternal twins. When they were born they were so cute that everybody fell in love with them. So, from the very beginning of their lives people gave them lots of things.

As they grew up they got used to being given things that they started to ask people for toys, candies, and things they wanted. But, they really became greedy children. They always asked for things.

Soon people where calling them the Gimmie (Give Me) Twins. Some people would stop giving them things and they would have a tantrum. It was not pleasant.

One day, when they were mad because some people didn’t give them things, they saw a TV program and their were pictures of the suffering boys and girls after the Katrina Hurricane.

They thought, “winter is coming and they really don’t have much.” They were saddened by the tragedy. They asked their parents to buy them clothes so they could give to the suffering children. The parents suggested that they should give what they have.

So, Gi and Mi looked over all the clothes that they had that they had not worn and packed it put and gave it to the Katrina boys and girls.

So the Gimmie Twins became the nice and compassionate Give Twins.

Halloween is next week. It is a fun time for “give me” trick or treating. Before we do the “give me” thing lets do the “give thing.”

The Map Lesson: Gi and Mi were caught up in their selfish world of give men But, they encountered the pictures of boys and girls following Katrina They reflected on the picture and themselves, and they felt the interrelation with the children. So, they did something that was meaningful. They felt a sense of happiness for what they were able to do and thankfulness for what they had.

In a sense, they were expanded to self-reflection within they great compassion of Amida Buddha, so they were able to so some thing of meaning and growth. They experience great joy and gratitude.

Seigen Yamaoka

Dharma Message by Rev Taishi Mukojima of the San Diego Buddhist Temple (Posted 15 Oct 2005)

There were two families, family A and family B; they lived not too far apart. Family A quarreled constantly. Neighbors and passersby could hear things in the house flying, breaking, people crying and moaning. Family A’s husband looked distraught. On the other hand, in family B, everyone always had a big smile; they sat in a family circle and chatted happily. It always sounded pleasant to neighbors and passersby. Family B’s husband looked calm and serene and always exchanged pleasantries with people he met.
One day, family A’s husband and family B’s husband ran into each other on the way home from work. Family A’s husband began talking about his family. My home is like a blood bath. I do not want to go home. I envy your family. I do not understand why my family is like this. As they talked, family B’s husband said your family is full of people who think they are always right. That is why your family quarrels all the time. However, my family is full of people who can admit when they are wrong; therefore, there is no reason to quarrel.
As family B’s husband entered the house he knocked over and broke a flowerpot that was by the front door. His wife heard the noise, and came out quickly and asked him if he was okay. She said, “I took it out this morning for sun.” She bowed repeatedly and apologized. Her husband said, “No, it’s my fault. I should be paying more attention. I broke your favorite flowerpot. I’m so sorry.” Because they apologized to each other, they did not quarrel.
So, now let us apply this to family A’s situation. When we believe we are always right, we only see one side. Let us think about this. No one is perfect all the time. Because we are human, we make mistakes. It is very unlikely that we are right 100%. People who make mistakes are aware that they make mistakes and already blame themselves before others criticize. There is no reason to criticize again.
The world is full of people who are not able to admit when they are wrong. We need to acknowledge our shortcomings and be able to apologize to each other. We need the people of the world who believe they are always right to see their own shortcomings. Is it not ironic that the people who see their mistakes visualize world peace; and the people who believe they are always right, talk about hell?
Amida’s Primal Vow is for us to awaken self-righteous people. Buddhism views self-righteous people as being able to become humble and able to admit when they are wrong.

---

ANOTHER HALLOWEEN STORY (Posted 15 Oct)

A man lived in a battered uncared for house. He was a nice man most of the time, but when it came to Halloween something took over him. He couldn't control the way he acted. He lived alone.

Every Halloween this strange change comes over him. He becomes mean and just yells at the children who would come for trick or treats.

Whenever a child knocks on his door, he opens it and that terrible thing starts to happen.

He would yell and scream at the children calling the "greedy brats who want nothing more than free treats!" He said much more but we can't say the things he said. When the children heard him yelling and screaming, they ran off scared and many of them started to scream and cry.

Every year this happens, and every year new children end up screaming and crying.

This Halloween, it was happening again, but this time, a little girl knocked on the door. The man opened the door and when he saw the little girl he started to yell and scream at her.

The little girls just stood there and waited. Pretty soon the man got tired and stopped. She quietly asked, "Are you finished? Do you feel better? You don't have any treats to give do you?"

The man mumbled and stumbled but the words wouldn't come out. He was stunned!

The little girl said, "May I come in give you some candy?" She had a pillow half full of treats. She went to the table and turned the pillow upside down. All the candy came out.

"There, I will leave all my candy, so please give it to the children who come. Let them have fun. Be kind and gentle to them."

With that she went out the door. The man was stunned. He shut the door, leaned against it, and tears come down his cheeks. From that day on he became a kind a gentle person who never scared the children on Halloween. He was able to change because of the kindness of the little girl.

Kind and gentle words are apart of the Golden Chain.

In Gassho, Rev. Seigen Yamaoka In Gassho, Rev. Seigen Yamaoka

---

A HALLOWEEN STORY (Posted 15 Oct 05)

It was time for trick or treating and Numa was very happy. She looked forward to all the candies and goodies she would collect. Every year she would collect so much candy that it would cover the entire dining room table. Since there is no candy in the house, she would separate all the candies like Twix, M&M's, Snickers, etc., and put them in Ziploc bags and label each one January, February, etc. She would collect goodies for the whole year and hid them in her special place.

Numa dressed as Tinker Bell with a facemask of the Hulk. She had her big pillowcase and one folded up in her pocket just in case.

"Have a good time but be careful," said her Mom.

"I will be back with all of my yearly treasures!"

She went house to house and when someone gave her more than one her "Thank You" was better than when she received one little candy. You could hardly hear her say, "thank you".

Then, she came to this nice house with all the lanterns and pumpkins lining the walkway. "This is going to be good!" she thought. She rang the bell and when the door opened she yelled, "TRICK OR TREAT!"

The lady, who opened the door said, "Oh I am so sorry but I ran out of goodies. I was about to turn off the lights."

"Okay for you here come the Tricks," yelled Numa. She didn't know what kind of trick to play on the lady. After a moment of thought, Numa said, "Here comes the Tricks!"

She saw the empty goody basket nearby and she poured out all the goods in her sack. She said, "there are a lot of kids who will be coming and they will be sad if they did not get anything so give them the goodies."

"But, you don't have any for yourself," said the lady.

"That's okay, I can get some more," said Numa as she walked away.

After making her rounds, Numa returned home. Her mother asked, "How did it go?"

Numa poured what she had in her sack and it did not cover the table. It was much less.

"What happened," asked her mother.

Numa told her what she did. the mother gave her a big hug. Which was the best Treat that she got on this Halloween.

Halloween is known to be the time to Get, but if you have a chance it is important to Share. In sharing you get the best of al treats.

This is known in Buddhism as Dana.

In Gassho, Rev. Seigen Yamaoka