I still have to do a bit more research on where this comes from but I have heard that Rennyo
Shonin said to the priests
of his temple that any person who comes to the Hongwanji should be
given the hospitality of cool food and drink in the
summer and warm food and drink in the
winter. The reason for this is that we at the temple should be grateful
for their desire to listen
to the dharma and express our appreciation with welcoming hospitality. Furthermore
this form
of hospitality arrises out of a primal human tendency to gather around the sharing of food
which acts
to reinforce human bonds. Throughout its over 750 years of history the Hongwanji
centered around family and community
and an essential aspect of rebuilding our temple family
in Wahiawa is to rebuild our ability to express our hospitality
in good food and fellowship.
Doesn't this sound good? But as limited human beings we may find
it difficult to provide the
hospitality of food and drink without concerning ourselves with concerns of cost or the
effort it
takes to prepare the food. This is something I have seen the leadership struggle with from time
to time. And during this struggle I have seen a change that makes it more and more possible to
provide the hospitality
of food and drink to those who come to our temple.
What I am referring to are the plans to improve the kitchen
and the involvement of more mem-
bers in the preparation of food. This will result in the ability to economically
prepare good
food without demanding too much of the temple budget and its people. Presently we have got-
ten
into the habit of estimating our food so that there will be no left overs. In order to do this
we take head counts
and at the same time become overly concerned about people showing up
without notice or at the last minute which then
means that we cannot sincerely welcome every-
one because we constantly worry about not having enough food. But
because of what is hap-
pening now we will be able to work towards having leftovers. And what do we do with them?
We provide the further hospitality of having people take that food home, which will be be a
further expression
of gratitude and hospitality extended to those who come to the temple.
The Teachings exhort us to express
our gratitude to, and to unselfishly give to others. What
better way than in The Hospitality of Food and Drink.
In Gassho,
Reverend Kevin
