Spotlight on Karen Nakagiri

Karen and Howard Nakagiri cardboard cut outs from the “Fill the Hondo for Hanamatsuri” fundraiser, 2021.

Did you know Karen met her husband at the bus stop? This week, Karen shares some memories about growing up Buddhist.

My mother was from Raymond, Alberta, Canada.  The Raymond Buddhist Church, a two-story building with worn-out wooden stairs leading up to the Hondo and downstairs to a Kobai, was next door to the red brick LDS Church. Here is a link to the history of the Raymond Buddhist Church:   

Raymond centre of growth of Buddhism in southern Alberta, by John Harding

My grandmother’s house was just behind the temple. My father attended the Salt Lake Buddhist Church.  The church photograph below shows my grandfather with six of their eight children in the 1930’s.

Salt Lake Buddhist Church circa 1930. My grandfather (top row, right side). My father is shown as a little boy wearing a tie (second row, left side).

Growing up in the Salt Lake Buddhist Church, reciting the “Golden Chain of Love” every Sunday has had the greatest impact on my life. It is impossible to not practice it.

Hanamatsuri was celebrated as a performance from each grade, Buddhist Women’s Association, Sonenkai (i.e., adult members association), as well as a talent program. At Obon odori (folk dance) practice, we were served the best ice-cold soda pop in a glass bottle along with a Hostess cupcake and banana for a snack. 

Before my mother had her driver’s license, she took us five children on the bus to attend Sunday school. A young Howard (my future husband) and his sister also waited at the bus stop with their mother. After my mother got her driver’s license, we would pick up Howard and his sister on our way to church. At New Year’s Eve service, we rang the gong outside in the freezing cold and then ate somen (a thin wheat noodle often served with a sauce or soup). Every Sunday, I played the organ. Although I enjoyed the gathas, I was happy to give up the responsibility when I finished high school and stopped going to church. To keep us engaged, my mother continuously supplied us with books on Buddhism.   

Three children later, I came to OCBC. Margaret Abo encouraged me to join the numerous activities at OCBC. That kept us busy every Friday night, Saturday, and Sunday for many years. Now that I’m retired, I spend even more time at OCBC with the OCBC family.

I later found an envelope labeled “SAVE” when cleaning out my mother’s papers. Enclosed were handouts from the 1991 World Buddhist Women’s Association (BWA) Convention in Burlingame, CA on three important women role models in Jodo Shinshu: Eishinnisama, Kukushinninisama, and Lady Takeko Kujo. One of the handouts described the wondrous history of Lady Takeko Kujo’s life accomplishments. Who was Lady Kujo? She was the founder of the BWA and daughter of Abbot Myonyo, 21st Monshu. In 2019, the Orange County BWA held its first annual memorial service to honor Lady Takeko Kujo.

We buried my mom and dad in Temple Hill Cemetery in Raymond. Being in a small town with two paved roads, it’s a small cemetery. I looked around thinking, “Life is short. You are the ones who worked together to build this town. You are the ones who stuck together through difficult times and lean years.” My mother was only 16 years old when her father passed away. She was the second of eight children.  

“Thank you everyone, Buddha’s love will keep us safe until we meet again.” – from the “Farewell” gatha (song).   

Namu Amida Butsu,
Karen Nakagiri