Please click on the link below to read the article. Before you do so, however, we would like to point out a couple of things. First of all, the tone of the article was made completely at the discretion of the writer. MRCG does not strictly delve in controversy, though we are not afraid to touch on these subjects in our learning and educating. Our belief is that we need to study all aspects of the culture and history to have a better understanding of where we came from and who we are today. After all, it is the positives and negatives that have shaped us and our community. No one can get a clear picture of the truth only by looking at the sugar coating. However, we understand that not all people in our community approach the culture in the same way. We respect that and realize the importance of a balance in our community and welcome open dialog to keep a healthy perpetuation of our issei’s legacy.
Secondly, MRCG does NOT have any religious affiliations. Though many of our activities are held at the Pa`ia Rinzai Zen Mission and a few of our members are members of the temple, our group is open to people of all backgrounds. Though our study may touch upon religious practices and ceremonies in Okinawa, we do not advocate the practice of any one religion to any of our members. For decades, Pa`ia Rinzai Zen Mission has been a gathering place for many Okinawans on Maui and we are proud to celebrate the temple’s role in helping to hold the community together.
