2021-08 Echo August 2021 2021-07-20 R3-FINAL

Page 5Volume 60 Number 8Defining Moments (cont’d)(Continued from page 4)The funny thing about defining moments is that sometimes,you don’t realize that they’rehappening. It’s only when you sitdown and reflect on all of thethings that have shaped your lifePlease join me in Gassho.Namo Amida ButsuNamo Amida ButsuMeganLastly, thank you to theSangha. I’m so thankful for thispositive community that you’vecreated.that you realize that every moment every day you have achance to define who you’regoing to be. So thank you toeveryone here for giving me anopportunity to be the personthat I am today.Nakagawaseniors, “Congratulations!”Ihope we stay in touch and seeeach other often. Maybe we’ll bethe people going up when theycall “Any college students?” during Oshoko.In ConclusionI’m excited for the next chapterof my life. I’ll be attending SanJose State University and studying Nutritional Science. No matter how far I am, or in this case,close, I will always be appreciative of my time at the Temple.Namo Amida Butsu2021 Rev. & Mrs. Sensho Sasaki ScholarshipMegan Nakagawa and Tyler Sato are therecipients of the 36th Annual Rev. and Mrs.Sensho Sasaki Scholarship.Certificate ofScholarship*****2021Rev. & Mrs. SenshoSasaki ScholarshipRecipients****Megan NakagawaandTyler Sato*With the closure of the Temple, we presented them with their scholarships at the virtualGraduation Service that was held on Sunday,June 13. At the service, MVBT President BobMatsumoto announced the 2021 recipients.The Temple congratulates the recipients andwishes them continued success in their collegelife.Each June, the Sasaki scholarship is awardedto a college-bound, high school student(s) in theTemple who apply for the scholarship and meetspecial requirements. The recipient must enrollin a college, express a strong interest in the Buddhist religion, have an excellent attendance record in Dharma School, and have been participating in other Buddhist activities. The scholarshipcommittee also considers YBA participation,Buddhist education activities and an essay.Sometimes the committee awards multiple scholarships, depending on the qualifications of theapplicants.The scholarship is funded by the AnnualSasaki Scholarship Golf Fundraiser usually held atthe end of August. Because of the coronaviruspandemic, the golf tournament was cancelled in2020 and 2021. Hopefully, the golf tournamentcan resume in 2022.To date, the scholarship has given out 64scholarships to deserving Dharma School students.In Gassho,Sasaki Scholarhip Committee andMVBT Golf CommitteeMountain View Buddhist Temple 575 N. Shoreline Blvd Mountain View, CA 94043 (650) 964-9426 www.mvbuddhisttemple.org

Page 6The ECHOLive In the Moment (cont’d)KELLIKOSAKURAMonta Vista High School2021Bound forUniversity of Californiaat Los Angeles(Continued from page 1)when we played Iron Chef. Myfavorite part of the trip waswalking down to the beach.Every year we would take Polaroid pictures and eat sandwiches.And after a long day in the sun,we would eat smores and playcards until curfew. Being aroundeveryone was always really funand, even though we missed outlast year, I am really thankful forthe years we were able to go.DisneylandSummer of 2018, we all went toDisneyland! This was so muchfun. We flew down there whichwas amazing and we met YBAkids from Orange County andwent to LA's Obon with them.The next two days were all spentat Disneyland and CaliforniaAdventure. We spent all daythere so by the time we wereback at the hotel, our feet wereso sore from walking.Onememory I have is going on theIncredicoaster. I think it was thefirst year it opened and we wereall excited to go on it. I remember Chloe wasn't up for it, but,after showing her how much funwe were having, it must havelooked like we were having a lotof fun because she came with usthe next time we went on. Notice how we were camera-readythis time. Disneyland was a trip Iwill never forget.ConferencesI loved conferences because itwas a chance to come togetherwith other chapters. The workshops were always so insightful,and in some cases, delicious, likewhen we made takoyaki in Fresno. I recall the talent show,where we put on fun skits ordances. Although the last timewe lost to San Jose, I still thinkwe deserved to win a prize. Thisyear, the Central Cal Jr. YBAConference looked a lot different than usual. I want to give ahuge shoutout to Tyler for making this conference such a success given the circumstances.Sara, Chloe, Megan, and I wereall workshop leaders, so weworked months before planningwhat we would do in ourBreakout Rooms. As seen here,one of the workshops I helpedplan involved drawing a character. and then later we told themto rip up their masterpiece as alesson of impermanence.YBA MemoriesThese YBA memories are only aglimpse of my experience here atthe Mountain View BuddhistTemple. I am so thankful foreverything the church has givenme. These past four years havetaught me how to be more reflective, present, and grateful.For most of my 18-year life, themain focus was getting into college; committing to my extracurriculars, and becoming involvedwherever I could, both academically and socially. Sure, the activities I participated in were funand I learned a lot from them,but the overarching umbrella hasalways been college. Buddhismhas helped me to realize thatthere is more than just one goal.Before, when I was focused onmy grades and resume, I neglected to do things that I genuinelyenjoyed and think beyond college. The YBA experiences Imentioned earlier, DharmaSchool, taiko, and NakayoshiGakko all helped me learn a littlebit more about myself and taughtme how to live in the moment.With the pandemic this pastyear, I became really honest withmyself and confronted thesesuperficial motives of mine. Weall lost so much because ofCOVID, and I truly understoodthe saying "you don't miss it untilit's gone." What I missed mostof all were my friends. I know Idefinitely took them for grantedpre-pandemic, but now, as senioryear comes to an end and morethings open up, I am prioritizingmy relationships. Yes, I could bestudying for my AP tests rightnow, or preparing for college inthe fall, but Buddhism has taughtme that the people in your lifeare worth more than any "A" Iwill ever get.Please join me in GasshoLive a life full of experiencesrather than accolades and livein the present moment ratherthan for the future.Support Your TempleDonate to Past & Upcoming ServicesKangi-e Obon / Hatsubon / Fall OhiganYour donations go to the General Fund supporting day-to-day operations(1) Use the MVBT online "DONATE" or (2) Send a check to the Temple officeMountain View Buddhist Temple 575 N. Shoreline Blvd Mountain View, CA 94043 (650) 964-9426 www.mvbuddhisttemple.org

Page 7Volume 60 Number 8“Change Happens” (cont’d)(Continued from page 1)A few years ago, I remember that the Temple had to make a handful of changes to theannual Obon, and theysold t-shirts that said“Change Happens.”This expression perfectly encapsulates impermanence and applied toso many other aspectsof my life.It wasn’t until the pan-friends and seeing multiple people to only afew, going out and traveling to being confinedwithin the same 4 wallsevery day for monthson end, and going toCherish Every MomentA year later as business-ever wanted, but withes are starting to openSangha, I actually dis-up and we return tosome kind of normalcyin our lives, I make sureto cherish every mo-the guidance of Buddhist teachings and thecovered what and who Itruly appreciated.ment that I’m out orThank YouI also want to thankhanging out with myReverend Mukojima, allissue). The abrupt tran-friends.my past Dharma Schoolsition from seeing myAfter all, the only thingfriends in person towe can be certain of isonly online took me athat change is bound todemic where I fullywhile to adjust to, andhappen and there’s nounderstood this con-all this time alone reallydenying that. My timecept. I’m sure the sameallowed me to reflectwith the Sangha hasgoes for many people,and appreciate the littletaught me to be flexible,but my life pre-things. By finally recog-Bound forembracing change andpandemic was a starknizing how everything isUniversity of Washingtonmaking the best of acontrast to during thetemporary, it taught megiven situation. Thispandemic. I went fromto never take anythingpast year I thought Iinteracting with myfor granted.would get everything ISARAHOLynbrook High School2021school in person todistance learning (butthat’s a whole otherteachers, my peers, andfinally my family forassisting and supportingme along the way.High School Class of 2021 — Congratulations!Keep Your Golden Link to MVBT Bright & Shining!Congratulations to the Mountain View Buddhist Temple’s graduating High School Seniors. Best wishes for yournext adventure! Always keep your golden link to MVBT.Namo Amida ButsuSeniorYumiko BellonMia FujitaniVanessa HigaSara HoKelli KosakuraChloe LimMegan NakagawaTyler SatoKatie YasudaHigh SchoolHomestead High SchoolBranham High SchoolMountain View High SchoolLynbrook High SchoolMonta Vista High SchoolHomestead High SchoolBranham High SchoolHomestead High SchoolHomestead High SchoolCollege AttendingSonoma StateWest Valley CollegeUniversity of Hawaii at ManoaUniversity of WashingtonUniversity of California at Los AngelesCalifornia State University at ChicoCalifornia State University at San JoseCalifornia State University at FullertonUniversity of California at DavisMountain View Buddhist Temple 575 N. Shoreline Blvd Mountain View, CA 94043 (650) 964-9426 www.mvbuddhisttemple.org

Page 8The ECHOSuper Senior Chuck UyedaWritten by Ricky ChuChuck & Sumi UyedaPhoto from Mountain View BuddhistTemple’s 50th Anniversary Album.October 2012Dedication is a word that truly defines Dr.Charles Tsuneo Uyeda. I came to this conclusion after spending the last two monthsgetting to know the man many know as“Chuck.”Chuck was born on February 20, 1929,to Tsunesuke and Kiyo Maekawa Uyeda inPenryn, California. He grew up on the UyedaFamily Farm in nearby Rocklin with his threesisters (Shizuye, Mitsuye and Etsuko) and twobrothers (James and George). His fatherpassed away in November the year beforeChuck was born due to an infection fromappendectomy surgery. According to Chuck,this event could have been a reason for hisdedication to his career in the microbiologyfield.DEDICATION TO ACADEMICSDuring World War II, Chuck was incarcerated at Arboga Assembly Center, Marysville,CA; then went to Tule Lake Relocation Center, Tule Lake, CA; and finally in Heart Mountain, Wyoming. In Heart Mountain, he wasactive in Boy Scout Troop 333 and was apatrol leader. At the end of the war, hisfamily returned to the farm in Rocklin wherehe graduated from Placer High School in1946. His remarkable academic career in-cluded an Associate of Art Degree from Placer Junior College, Bachelor of Science Degree in Biological Science from San Jose State,Master of Science Degree in Bacteriologyfrom Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, andPhD in Medical Microbiology from StanfordUniversity in 1956.Reverend LaVerne Sasaki, who was aclose family friend to Chuck and his late wifeSumi, recalls, “I still remember visiting Dr.Uyeda as a ‘germ specialist’ at UCSF. Heshowed me his study sample of human feces!I have never seen this as a medical sample.My first reaction? What dedication to advancing medical knowledge and well-being!”DEDICATION TO COUNTRYAfter graduating from Stanford, Chucklearned that he would soon be drafted formilitary service. He decided to accept acommission as a First Lieutenant in the U.S.Army’s Medical Service Corp. His serviceincluded being assigned to be the Chief ofDiagnostic Bacteriology Section at 406thMedical General Laboratory located in CampZama near Tokyo, Japan. Upon the news ofhis pending overseas duty, he and his thenfiancée, Sumi Maeda, married in San Antonio,Texas, and moved to Japan during his twoyear tour. While there they made time tovisit their respective ancestral homes in Wakayama and Hiroshima.Sumi & Chuck Uyeda’sWedding Photo in 1956Upon return from Japan, Chuck wasstationed at Ft. Baker near Sausalito. Theystayed at the Presidio of San Francisco andtheir son Bud was born in 1958. Chuck completed his active duty tour in 1958 and wenton to serve in the Army Reserves for overtwo decades. He achieved the rank of Colonel when he retired in 1986 after 30 years oftotal military service.Chuck also had a very active and longcareer as the Chief of Microbiology at theVeterans Affair Medical Center in Oaklandand in Palo Alto for a total of thirty years. In1963, the couple moved to Mountain Viewwhere their daughter Carol was born a yearlater in 1964.DEDICATION TO MVBT SANGHAChuck and Sumi’s early years in Penrynbrought them close to the Placer BuddhistTemple where they got to know ReverendSensho Sasaki and his wife as well as theirson, Reverend LaVerne Sasaki. ReverendSensho was the resident minister of PlacerBuddhist Temple prior to his service at theMountain View Buddhist Temple.AfterChuck and Sumi moved to the Bay Area, theyjoined the MVBT Sangha in 1963. Whiletheir 58 years as a member of MVBT is monumental, it’s not the number of years that isimpressive, it’s the level of commitment andservice that is special. Chuck still serves asone of the Board of Directors for Zone 8and also previously for Zone 11. He stillremains active in ABA in which he and Sumiwere charter members and he served asRecording Secretary for 15 consecutive yearsat one time.For many years, Chuck and Yosh Tokutomi (and their sons) prepared and ran theparking lot area during the Obon Festival &Bazaar. We reminisced about the timeswhere Chuck and his “Parking Lot Crew”would direct traffic with dirt bikes. Afterbeing “promoted” from parking lot duties, hetook an important role in assisting Sumi withrunning the very successful Bazaar(Continued on page 9)Mountain View Buddhist Temple 575 N. Shoreline Blvd Mountain View, CA 94043 (650) 964-9426 www.mvbuddhisttemple.org

Volume 60 Number 8Page 9Super Senior Chuck Uyeda (cont’d)(Continued from page 8)Bookstore. The bookstore was like a familyaffair with the help of son Bud, daughter-inlaw Libby, daughter Carol, son-in-law Neiland grandchildren.Chuck's daughter were friends in SundaySchool (name prior to being called DharmaSchool) starting when they were in the 4th or5th Grade class. Now they are in their late50s. He was so devoted to his late wife andalways talked with respect which always impressed me. [Chuck] is a very dedicatedperson and he always gets things done without hesitation. A quiet and gentle man. I amfortunate to be his friend.”1998 Bazaar / BCA and Cultural Bookstore(L to R): Sumi Uyeda, Aiko Sugimoto &Chuck UyedaAccording to Reverend LaVerne: “Sumiwas one of the most active leaders of theMVBT Dharma School along with Amy Imai,Frances Sawamura and Esther Bunya. AlsoRev. Bill Briones (current Rimban at the LosAngeles Hompa Hongwanji Buddhist Temple)was a MVBT Dharma School teacher then!”One of Chuck’s crowning achievementsat MVBT was the creation of the Senior Activities Committee along with original members that included Amy Imai, Alan Nara, MiyoTakegami, Richard Endo and Yas Shimoguchiin 2002. Aiko Sugimoto-Miyamoto joined in2005 when she started the craft program.Aiko says “The Senior Activities andCraft Program is focused on Seniors, male orfemales. We have line dancing, card games,including Japanese card game, Sing Along anda light chair exercise. We also provide lightrefreshment with coffee and tea. We providelunch once a month with possibly a guestspeaker or some activity to make it interesting for the day. Craft is another fine featurefor our senior ladies. When we take ourReno trips, we show movies and Chuckwould be the one to handle the movies forme. We worked well together. I haveknown Chuck over 45 years, a wonderfulfriend. How time flies. My daughter andSenior Activities Group CommitteeCirca 2017Standing (L to R): Richard Endo, MukojimaSensei, Alice Ikenaga, Kimi Nishimura &Dennis Tsukagawa.Sitting (L to R) Miyo Takegami, CarolynSakae, Aiko Sugimoto-Miyamoto &Chuck Uyeda.Yas Shimoguchi (left) and Chuck.2009 Senior Activities Group.Handling tickets at Casino DayDEDICATION TO JODO SHINSHUThrough Shinran’s teachings, we learn to liveour lives to the fullest, becoming aware ofboth our potentials and limitations in thisworld. Because we are able to overcome allthe difficulties, we can thus realize true happiness within this life time. Chuck embodiesthese teachings and shows us through hislife’s actions that he truly is a good Buddhist.We recently spoke about an important triphe took with other members of our Templeto the Stupa at the Buddhist Church of SanFrancisco in 2015.Chuck stated, “It was a wonderful opportunity for us to see and be with sacredrelics associated with Buddha and also specialbecause we were able to meet and have lunchwith then Bishop Umezu and recently retiredReverend Kobata. It was a beautiful day to beable to share this special outing with veryclose friends in our MVBT Sangha. JodoShinshu Buddhism or Pure Land Buddhismhas become a significant part of my daily lifeafter the passing of my dear wife Sumi overtwo years ago and I was kindly reminded byReverend Mukojima that ’Sumi-san is alwayswith us as our Buddha.’ With that insight andunderstanding, I have learned to live my lifewith gratitude, humility and compassion!Thus, a visit to the Stupa in San Franciscocontaining the relics of Buddha was a way forme and other members of our Sangha tohonor and express our gratitude to thefounder of our religion.”2015 Visit to the Stupa on the roof ofthe Buddhist Church of San FranciscoDEDICATION TO FAMILY &FRIENDSAfter reaching out to Chuck’s closefamily and friends, it was clear that he is lovedand respected by many.Julie Ushiba remarks, “We shared a(Continued on page 10)Mountain View Buddhist Temple 575 N. Shoreline Blvd Mountain View, CA 94043 (650) 964-9426 www.mvbuddhisttemple.org

Page 10The ECHOSuper Senior Chuck Uyeda (cont’d)(Continued from page 9)common interest in Enka (a type of Japanesesong) and karaoke singing. With his wife,Sumi, we used to get together for karaokeand pot-luck dinners practically every Saturday night for over 35 years. He enjoys singing “Itsudemo Yumeo,” “Dareka KokyooOmowazaru,” and many other songs. Someof his favorite Japanese singers are JunkoIshihara and Ayaka Hirahara. Chuck singswith 100% concentration and has a sexy baritone voice. We love to see his joyful giggling,laughter and humor. He is very proper, honest and enjoys life. He is a real gentleman.”highlights, “I am so proud to be one ofChuck’s many nieces and nephews. He is aninspiration to our family and my role model.My uncle’s life epitomizes the values andcharacteristics we try to instill in our ownkids and grandkids: an emphasis on family,education, integrity, and hard work. Duringthe last several years, my cousins and I haveregularly driven to Sunnyvale for the day tovisit with Uncle Chuck and Auntie Sumi. It isa day filled with much laughter and reminiscing. Uncle Chuck is the last surviving Uyedasibling, so we relish his stories about ourextended family and growing up on his family’s ranch because it makes us feel as if ourown parents are still with us and gives us agreater appreciation of our Uyeda roots.”IN CLOSINGAs a lifelong fan of the San FranciscoGiants and 49ers, he is as dedicated to hisfavorite sports teams as he is to his familyand friends. When I met Chuck at his homein Sunnyvale in June, he showed me an impressive display of sporting memorabilia celebrating many of the sports heroes over theyears. Thinking back to that day, in the presence of Montana, Rice, and Posey, the biggestlegend of them all undoubtedly was ChuckUyeda.Son Bud and Chuck at SF GiantsSpring Training GameChuck and friends gatheredat the Ushiba’s homeMiyo Takegami, a long-time friend, exclaims “I have known Chuck for many years,can’t recall the exact number of years, butour childr

Resumes * 11:00 am Japanese . After a long, long week of Nakayoshi Gakko, it was nice to have a relaxing week-end with my friends. I remember . so this is what it’s supposed to sound like.” I don’t know why I did