June 2012
Dharma Message
By Rev. Yushi Mukojima, Resident Minister
Dharma Message
By Rev. Yushi Mukojima, Resident Minister
Wishing for a Life with an Encounter of Wonder
Last month, we celebrated Mother’s Day with a Mother’s Day breakfast hosted by the Jr. YBA before the
Sunday Service. The sight of many mothers enjoying breakfast surrounded by their children always makes me
feel warm and at peace.
The Jr. YBA members came to the temple with their parents and teachers the day before Mother’s Day
and worked very hard to prepare the breakfast, set up the tables, decorate the room, and so on.
When I was assigned to this temple seven years ago, these Jr. YBAers were still little Dharma School children.
But now, they are high school students and reliable members who take the lead in supporting the temple
and always make the place lighter and livelier. Somehow some of them even grew taller than me in seven
years, and all of them soon will graduate from high school in a few years.
Although I have seen many graduates off since I came to this temple, I feel really sad that they come less
often to the temple because they are going on to college and finding jobs outside of San Diego. However,
there is the impression that nothing is more precious than the moment we see high school graduates
starting a new phase of their lives. Although just one member of the Jr. YBA graduates this month, I
sincerely hope that he, embarking on a new life, will have a brilliant future.
This month, I would like to share with you some thoughts about an encounter in life.
The span of human life which we were born into is not long. As you know, there is a letter entitled, “On the
White Ashes,” which was written by Rennyo Shonin. As I always share it with those in attendance at
funerals, I think that for our members, it is one of the most familiar letters among Rennyo Shonin’s writings.
In this letter, he describes the impermanence of life as follows: “In silently contemplating the transient
nature of human existence, nothing is more fragile and fleeting in this world than the life of man. Thus, we
have not heard of human life lasting for a thousand years. Life passes swiftly, and who among men can
maintain his form for even one hundred years?”
Although this truth leaves no room for doubt, compared with the period 500 years ago in which Rennyo
Shonin lived, today there seem to be many people who are over 100 years old. Thanks to advances in
medical technology and diet, nowadays everyone lives longer than in the old days. Even my grandmother
turned 102 years old this year. But contrary to the joy of longevity, she recited the Nembutsu at the
Obutsudan (family altar) as if she were feeling sorry for Rennyo Shonin because she had surpassed his
imagination. I will never be able to forget her face at that time.
However, as Rennyo Shonin says, we have never heard of anyone lasting for a thousand years in the history
of mankind. Even Shakyamuni Buddha, who founded Buddhism, passed away at the age of 80. It is said
that no matter how long we might live, the limit of human life is perhaps 100 to 120 years. Individual opinion
regards this as a long life or a short life, but when we compare this life span to the 150 billion year history of
the universe, the 4.5 billion year history of our earth, or the 2 billion year history of the beginning of all life on
earth, 100 years is but a blip of time in the entire scene. It is a transient life precisely. When we look back at
such a comparatively short life, it is really remarkable if one can live in such a way as to be able to say, “Oh,
my life was so brilliant!” But I think that there are not many who can live such a wonderful life.
In this context, when we think about our lives, a certain encounter can have a strong influence on us. Our
lives are made up of encounters. It is a constant string of new interfaces with people, ideas, nature, and so
on. The famous philosopher Martin Buber said, “True life is a series of meetings.” I quite agree with him that
the course of one’s life can be determined by those encounters.
We each meet with various things every day—people, events, situations, words, and so on. Those
encounters influence us, shape the course of our development, and build our lives. I believe that treasuring
each encounter by opening our eyes and hearts to feel the joy and wonder of every meeting is the way of
living that makes it possible to experience a brilliant life.
Last month, we celebrated the Gotan-E Service, the birthday of our founder Shinran Shonin. Shinran lived a
long life of 90 years but if he had died without having had a certain encounter, even his long life might
have felt lonely and in vain. If so, of course, Jodo Shinshu itself would never have existed. It was the
encounter at age 29 with his lifetime teacher, Honen Shonin, which introduced Shinran to the “Primal Vow
of Amida Buddha.”
As you know, for 20 years, Shinran Shonin had striven to do the ascetic practices on Mt. Hiei. In particular, at
the Constant Practice Hall, he accomplished the severe Nembutsu Samadhi practice of devoting oneself
strictly to walking around a statue of Amida Buddha for 90 days straight, reciting “Namo Amida Butsu” and
thinking only of Amida Buddha day and night without sitting or lying down.
This shows that he of course knew about Amida Buddha and that he tried more than anyone else to
accumulate the constant practice of the recitation of the Nembutsu. But despite his devotion, he was not
able to experience the deep world of the Nembutsu. The darkness of his mind was not lifted. However,
Shinran realized the Nembutsu of Other Power and the purpose of the Primal Vow for the first time with his
encounter with Honen. Moreover, he was able to appreciate it more deeply from the writings of the Seven
Pure Land Masters.
If Shinran had never met Honen, his life would have been one in which he suffered from thirst even while
surrounded by water. Honen Shonin not only illumined the darkness of Shinran’s mind but shared with him
the deep relationship of master and pupil. Shinran sincerely respected his teacher Honen as a
Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva.
This is why Shinran declares in the Tannisho: “I have nothing to regret, even if I should have been deceived
by my teacher, Honen Shonin, and, saying the Nembutsu, fall into hell!”
I believe that this statement reflects Shinran’s vivid belief, filled with his joy and emotion, which was gained
by his relationship with Honen. Shinran, who was able to say these startling words with conviction, was a
really lucky person.
I think that while there are many people in this world who experience “the contented life” due to an
encounter with a wonderful teacher like Shinran, such encounters don’t occur by chance. For example, if
Shinran had not spent 20 years practicing asceticism and experiencing distress that his true nature could
not eliminate his blind passions, even if he had the opportunity to listen to the Nembutsu teaching under
Honen, his joy and wonder over the encounter with Nembutsu would not have arisen.
Fortunately, we have parents, great teachers in school, coworkers, neighbors and friends in our community,
and wife, husband, girlfriend, boyfriend, and so on. But have you ever been truly surprised and impressed
enough by an encounter with someone to think, “Wow, that person was born for my sake only!”
Many members, myself included, have known Shinran Shonin from childhood. However, I wonder if those
whose upbringing did not include the Nembutsu teaching are more surprised and impressed by an
encounter with Shinran Shonin than we who are familiar with him are? Is it because the ministers and
members who should be more deeply impressed by our Shinran encounter have had it too easy, being so
dependent on “Other Power” that we don’t reflect upon ourselves? Although we are always busy suffering
from our preoccupation with position, money or personal relationships, we tend to neglect to have an
attitude that suffers from “our own selfish mind.”
There is a famous quote in the Nirvana Sutra: “To be without shame and self-reproach is not to be human; it
is to be a beast. Because one feels shame and self-reproach, one reveres father, mother, and elders.”
Even if we were born into a family of Shin Buddhists, if we don’t have the mind of shame and self-reproach
brought about by becoming aware of our imperfect selves, unfortunately we are just like beasts.
If we have the mind of shame and self-reproach and if we are not beasts, I hope that each of us will try
more than before to listen to the Nembutsu teaching which Shinran Shonin shared. By listening closely to the
Nembutsu teaching, we will surely be able to find surprise and wonder in our encounter with Shinran. The
surprise and wonder, namely “WOW-NESS,” is our light. Through the Nembutsu teaching, each meeting with
countless people and events that we have experienced so far will surely change into wonder and surprise,
like a light of wisdom which shines on our lives and leads us to the way of the truth.
In closing, I sincerely hope that the graduate who embarks on a new life this month will try to do his best to
make his life shine, supported by the Nembutsu teaching. May his future hold in store countless encounters
of surprise and wonder.
In Gassho,
Sunday Service. The sight of many mothers enjoying breakfast surrounded by their children always makes me
feel warm and at peace.
The Jr. YBA members came to the temple with their parents and teachers the day before Mother’s Day
and worked very hard to prepare the breakfast, set up the tables, decorate the room, and so on.
When I was assigned to this temple seven years ago, these Jr. YBAers were still little Dharma School children.
But now, they are high school students and reliable members who take the lead in supporting the temple
and always make the place lighter and livelier. Somehow some of them even grew taller than me in seven
years, and all of them soon will graduate from high school in a few years.
Although I have seen many graduates off since I came to this temple, I feel really sad that they come less
often to the temple because they are going on to college and finding jobs outside of San Diego. However,
there is the impression that nothing is more precious than the moment we see high school graduates
starting a new phase of their lives. Although just one member of the Jr. YBA graduates this month, I
sincerely hope that he, embarking on a new life, will have a brilliant future.
This month, I would like to share with you some thoughts about an encounter in life.
The span of human life which we were born into is not long. As you know, there is a letter entitled, “On the
White Ashes,” which was written by Rennyo Shonin. As I always share it with those in attendance at
funerals, I think that for our members, it is one of the most familiar letters among Rennyo Shonin’s writings.
In this letter, he describes the impermanence of life as follows: “In silently contemplating the transient
nature of human existence, nothing is more fragile and fleeting in this world than the life of man. Thus, we
have not heard of human life lasting for a thousand years. Life passes swiftly, and who among men can
maintain his form for even one hundred years?”
Although this truth leaves no room for doubt, compared with the period 500 years ago in which Rennyo
Shonin lived, today there seem to be many people who are over 100 years old. Thanks to advances in
medical technology and diet, nowadays everyone lives longer than in the old days. Even my grandmother
turned 102 years old this year. But contrary to the joy of longevity, she recited the Nembutsu at the
Obutsudan (family altar) as if she were feeling sorry for Rennyo Shonin because she had surpassed his
imagination. I will never be able to forget her face at that time.
However, as Rennyo Shonin says, we have never heard of anyone lasting for a thousand years in the history
of mankind. Even Shakyamuni Buddha, who founded Buddhism, passed away at the age of 80. It is said
that no matter how long we might live, the limit of human life is perhaps 100 to 120 years. Individual opinion
regards this as a long life or a short life, but when we compare this life span to the 150 billion year history of
the universe, the 4.5 billion year history of our earth, or the 2 billion year history of the beginning of all life on
earth, 100 years is but a blip of time in the entire scene. It is a transient life precisely. When we look back at
such a comparatively short life, it is really remarkable if one can live in such a way as to be able to say, “Oh,
my life was so brilliant!” But I think that there are not many who can live such a wonderful life.
In this context, when we think about our lives, a certain encounter can have a strong influence on us. Our
lives are made up of encounters. It is a constant string of new interfaces with people, ideas, nature, and so
on. The famous philosopher Martin Buber said, “True life is a series of meetings.” I quite agree with him that
the course of one’s life can be determined by those encounters.
We each meet with various things every day—people, events, situations, words, and so on. Those
encounters influence us, shape the course of our development, and build our lives. I believe that treasuring
each encounter by opening our eyes and hearts to feel the joy and wonder of every meeting is the way of
living that makes it possible to experience a brilliant life.
Last month, we celebrated the Gotan-E Service, the birthday of our founder Shinran Shonin. Shinran lived a
long life of 90 years but if he had died without having had a certain encounter, even his long life might
have felt lonely and in vain. If so, of course, Jodo Shinshu itself would never have existed. It was the
encounter at age 29 with his lifetime teacher, Honen Shonin, which introduced Shinran to the “Primal Vow
of Amida Buddha.”
As you know, for 20 years, Shinran Shonin had striven to do the ascetic practices on Mt. Hiei. In particular, at
the Constant Practice Hall, he accomplished the severe Nembutsu Samadhi practice of devoting oneself
strictly to walking around a statue of Amida Buddha for 90 days straight, reciting “Namo Amida Butsu” and
thinking only of Amida Buddha day and night without sitting or lying down.
This shows that he of course knew about Amida Buddha and that he tried more than anyone else to
accumulate the constant practice of the recitation of the Nembutsu. But despite his devotion, he was not
able to experience the deep world of the Nembutsu. The darkness of his mind was not lifted. However,
Shinran realized the Nembutsu of Other Power and the purpose of the Primal Vow for the first time with his
encounter with Honen. Moreover, he was able to appreciate it more deeply from the writings of the Seven
Pure Land Masters.
If Shinran had never met Honen, his life would have been one in which he suffered from thirst even while
surrounded by water. Honen Shonin not only illumined the darkness of Shinran’s mind but shared with him
the deep relationship of master and pupil. Shinran sincerely respected his teacher Honen as a
Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva.
This is why Shinran declares in the Tannisho: “I have nothing to regret, even if I should have been deceived
by my teacher, Honen Shonin, and, saying the Nembutsu, fall into hell!”
I believe that this statement reflects Shinran’s vivid belief, filled with his joy and emotion, which was gained
by his relationship with Honen. Shinran, who was able to say these startling words with conviction, was a
really lucky person.
I think that while there are many people in this world who experience “the contented life” due to an
encounter with a wonderful teacher like Shinran, such encounters don’t occur by chance. For example, if
Shinran had not spent 20 years practicing asceticism and experiencing distress that his true nature could
not eliminate his blind passions, even if he had the opportunity to listen to the Nembutsu teaching under
Honen, his joy and wonder over the encounter with Nembutsu would not have arisen.
Fortunately, we have parents, great teachers in school, coworkers, neighbors and friends in our community,
and wife, husband, girlfriend, boyfriend, and so on. But have you ever been truly surprised and impressed
enough by an encounter with someone to think, “Wow, that person was born for my sake only!”
Many members, myself included, have known Shinran Shonin from childhood. However, I wonder if those
whose upbringing did not include the Nembutsu teaching are more surprised and impressed by an
encounter with Shinran Shonin than we who are familiar with him are? Is it because the ministers and
members who should be more deeply impressed by our Shinran encounter have had it too easy, being so
dependent on “Other Power” that we don’t reflect upon ourselves? Although we are always busy suffering
from our preoccupation with position, money or personal relationships, we tend to neglect to have an
attitude that suffers from “our own selfish mind.”
There is a famous quote in the Nirvana Sutra: “To be without shame and self-reproach is not to be human; it
is to be a beast. Because one feels shame and self-reproach, one reveres father, mother, and elders.”
Even if we were born into a family of Shin Buddhists, if we don’t have the mind of shame and self-reproach
brought about by becoming aware of our imperfect selves, unfortunately we are just like beasts.
If we have the mind of shame and self-reproach and if we are not beasts, I hope that each of us will try
more than before to listen to the Nembutsu teaching which Shinran Shonin shared. By listening closely to the
Nembutsu teaching, we will surely be able to find surprise and wonder in our encounter with Shinran. The
surprise and wonder, namely “WOW-NESS,” is our light. Through the Nembutsu teaching, each meeting with
countless people and events that we have experienced so far will surely change into wonder and surprise,
like a light of wisdom which shines on our lives and leads us to the way of the truth.
In closing, I sincerely hope that the graduate who embarks on a new life this month will try to do his best to
make his life shine, supported by the Nembutsu teaching. May his future hold in store countless encounters
of surprise and wonder.
In Gassho,
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