2023 Dhammcakka Virtual Celebration
“Courtesy of Bukkyo Dendo Kyokai/Society for the Promotion of Buddhism”
The Hawaii Association of International Buddhists (HAIB)
Dhammacakka Celebration
By ZOOM Saturday, November 18, 2023, at 4:00 to 6:00 pm Hawaii Time.
Please check your local time, the Daylight-Saving Time ends on November 5.
"Gratitude: Buddhist Daily Practice to Overcome Challenges While Creating Happiness."
Speaker and moderator - David B. Rich (aka Kawika)
Responses by intergenerational panelists from various schools of Buddhism.
Dhammacakka represents the Wheel of Dhamma when Shakyamuni Buddha delivered his first sermon on the Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold Path. His Setting in Motion the Wheel of Dhamma gave Buddhists and all others a path to follow that can lead them towards achieving enlightenment.
Register for zoom information to be sent to you at
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1BMyfzPiC6MHOTEWzu1bQU3_5_o38eAD0OaWN0lKHW2c/edit
David B. Rich (aka Kawika) has practiced Buddhism for more than 45 years and is a Member of the Soka Gakkai International- USA.
He is the owner and President of B. Rich International. He’s a Motivational Speaker, Leadership Trainer, Speaker’s Coach and Author. He served in the military for over 26 years retiring from the US Air Force as a Lieutenant Colonel. Kawika has served on the Board of the Samaritan Counseling Center Hawaii for over 5 years, currently serving as its Board President.
Intergenerational Responding Panelists
Bhikkhuni Sākya Dhammadinnā is a Theravada Buddhist Nun from India. She was ordained as Bhikkhuni at Buddha Catu Parisa Foundation, Bangkok, Thailand, in 2020. Her Dhamma work is mainly aimed at establishing a well-trained Bhikkhuni Sangha in India for the development of women in society. She also actively brought back the teaching of Abhidhamma, the highest Dhamma of the Buddha to laypeople.
Callista Hansen was raised in a family that practices Nichiren Buddhism, and has been surrounded by the SGI organization and Nichiren Buddhist practice. Currently, she is the Social Media Marketing Manager for a plastic surgeon here in Honolulu, Hawaii. Her goal is to create valuable content by sharing information about the process as well as how plastic surgery can help and improve people’s lives.
Chad “Chihiro” Okawa (they/them) is a Nonbinary Jodo Shinshu Buddhist, President of the Hawaii Federation of Jr. Young Buddhist Associations, and an active member of the Aiea Hongwanji Mission. They are an advocate for LGBTQ+ rights in their organizations. Chihiro is also an avid taiko player. Chihiro currently attends the University of Hawaii at Manoa pursuing a degree in Astrophysics.
Lila Edwards has had affiliations with the Kailua Shambhala Center and Tibetan Buddhism. She considers herself an open and contemplative learner. She works on strategy for an architect and design firm and has been working in consulting and data informed decision making with the Hawaii Department of Education since 2018. She has also worked at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and the Tongass Rainforest of Southeast Alaska.
Min Htun practices Theravada Buddhism and belongs to Sasana Gonyi Kyaung, a Burmese monastery in Sacramento, California, where he is a senior at the high school there. Min ranked among the top 30 high school tennis players in the U.S. as of July 2023. One of his ultimate goals is to become a citizen-scientist who focuses on finding treatments for neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer and Parkinson.
Thao Le currently serves as chair and professor in the Family Consumer Sciences Department at the University of Hawaii Manoa. One of her favorite classes to teach at UHM is Mindfulness and Skillful Living.She is also the author of children’s books, Mindfulness with Aloha Breath and Akahai (kindness). She is affiliated with the Diamond Heart Foundation of the Diamond Heart Meditation Center in Honolulu, Hawaii.
Agenda
4:00 pm Welcome and Vow of Humankind --- President Rev. Eric Matsumoto
4:10 pm Video of Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta Chanting by International Bhikkhunis
(Accompanying text in English will be available.
Courtesy of Ven. Ayya Thataloka Mahatheri of Dhammadarini Monastery, California)
4:20 pm Introduction of David B. Rich and panelists --- President Rev. Eric Matsumoto
4:25 pm Gratitude: “How Our Daily Buddhist Practice Empowers us to Overcome Challenges While Creating Indestructible
Happiness in Our Lives”
4:45 pm Intergenerational panelists respond to the presentation---Moderator--- Kawika
5:15 pm Conclusion--- Kawika
5:25 pm Q&A from audience--- President Rev. Eric Matsumoto
5:50 pm Metta Sutta--- Glenda Paige
6:00 pm Closing
