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Honpa Hongwanji Hawaii Betsuin will hold Gotan-E services May 17 and 18 to celebrate the birth of Shinran Shonin, founder of the Jodo Shinshu (also called Shin) Buddhism sect.
Shonin was born some 800 years ago and developed the Nembutsu teaching about attaining salvation or birth into the Pure Land.
His birthday is usually celebrated May 21 around the world. The celebration is called Fujimatsuri, Wisteria Festival Day or Shinran Shonin Day by various temples, a news release said. The Shin sect is the largest Buddhist sect throughout Hawaii.
The celebration at the Hongwanji headquarters, 1727 Pali Highway, will start with a candlelight service at 7 p.m. May 17.
On May 18 a Japanese-language service will be held at 8 a.m., the English combined service at 9:30 a.m. and the Gomanza service at 1 p.m.
The guest speaker at all services will be the Rev. Jay Shingo Okamoto, resident minister at Waipahu Hongwanji Mission, who also serves both the Ewa and Waianae Hongwanji Missions. The title of his message is "Think BIG." For information, call 536-7044.