Rev. Shawn Yagi
October 2026
The Power That Sustains Us
After Hurricane Lowell, we experienced a three-day electricity outage. Many power poles were down, and electrical wires were cut. During those three days, I became very aware of how much I depend on electricity in my daily life.
No lights. No air conditioning. No internet. Even keeping our phones charged became a challenge!
I also know that some families and communities were without electricity for five days or even longer. I can only imagine how difficult and exhausting that must have been, especially while dealing with the heat, cleanup, spoiled food, and uncertainty about when the power would return. My heart goes out to everyone who experienced those longer outages. I am also deeply grateful to the people who worked hard to restore our electricity and helped our community recover.
Usually, we do not think about electricity. We simply flip a switch, and the light comes on. We take it for granted because it is normally always there.
Then, on Wednesday night, our power finally returned. I turned on the light, and somehow that simple light looked different to me. I thought, “Wow, I really missed this!”
I began thinking about everything that makes that light possible. Electricity travels through power plants, poles, wires, transformers, and many other connections before reaching our homes. During the hurricane, some of those connections were damaged. When the power returned, people had repaired the system and restored the connection.
This reminded me of a teaching:
“The power that sustains me is given to me by the vow of the Tathagata.”
In Jodo Shinshu, this “power” is not physical strength or energy. Our bodies and feelings change from day to day. Sometimes we feel strong; sometimes we are tired, worried, or discouraged.
The power of the Original Vow is something deeper.
We often think that the power to live must come from ourselves. We tell ourselves, “I need to be strong. I have to keep going. I must handle this on my own.” But Amida Buddha’s Original Vow is not something we create through our own effort. Before we were even aware of it, the compassion of Amida Buddha was already directed toward us.
Sometimes we simply do not notice.
Just as I took electricity for granted until the blackout, we can take the compassion of Amida Buddha for granted. Sometimes it is through an unexpected difficulty, loss, or change in life that we begin to recognize what has always been supporting us.
There is an important difference, however. Electrical wires can be cut, but the connection of Amida’s compassion is never broken. The Original Vow continues to work whether we are having a good day or a difficult one.
Shinran Shonin teaches that Amida Buddha, out of compassion for ordinary beings like us, bestows the treasure of the Dharma. It is not something we earn. It is a gift already given.
The Nembutsu, Namo Amida Butsu, is our expression of awakening to that compassion.
May Hurricane Lowell remind us to appreciate the people who support our daily lives and to remember those who continue to struggle after the storm.
And when life feels dark, may we remember that the light of the Dharma continues to shine.
Namo Amida Butsu.
February, 2026
Seeing the Sentient Beings of the Nembutsu
Seeing the sentient beings of the nembutsu
Throughout the worlds, countless as particles, in the ten quarters,
The Buddha grasps and never abandons them,
And therefore is named “Amida.” (Hymns on the Amida Sutra)
February is a special month for our Lihue Hongwanji Women’s Association as we observe Dana Day. This year, the Women’s Association will be holding a canned food and non-perishable food drive, offering help and care to those in our community who are in need.
In Buddhism, Dana means giving. It is the first of the Six Paramitas, the practices that guide us on the Buddhist path. We give in many ways every day—by supporting our families, helping at the temple, participating in the Women’s Association, and offering our time, energy, and resources for the benefit of others.
At the same time, when we look honestly at ourselves, we may notice that our giving is not always completely selfless. Sometimes we help because it makes us feel good. Sometimes we hope to be thanked, noticed, or appreciated. Sometimes we feel disappointed when our efforts go unseen. This is not something to feel ashamed of. Shinran Shonin reminds us that we are bonbu—ordinary beings filled with blind passions and limitations.
And yet, even with our imperfections, giving still matters.
There are moments when we help quietly—when no one knows what we did, when no one says thank you, when we may never meet the person who benefits from our kindness. A donated can of food, a small act of care, or a thoughtful gesture may seem simple, but for someone else, it can mean comfort, relief, or hope.
The Paramita of Dana is called a “perfection,” not because we do it perfectly, but because it is something we continue to practice throughout our lives. We give, we reflect, we learn, and we try again—slowly becoming less focused on ourselves and more open to others.
Amida Buddha’s giving is different from ours. It is completely selfless and without condition. Through the fulfillment of the Paramita of Dana, Amida Buddha shares even the enlightenment attained through countless kalpas of practice—freely offered to all beings, just as they are. That is why we can entrust ourselves to Amida’s compassion and live our lives supported by it.
As we observe Dana Day this February, I would like to express my deep gratitude to the Lihue Hongwanji Women’s Association. Thank you for your generosity, your dedication, and your continued spirit of caring. Through your actions, the compassion of Amida Buddha is made visible in our community.
May this month be an opportunity for all of us to reflect on giving—not as something we must do perfectly, but as something we are grateful to practice together.
Namo Amida Butsu.