- February, 2008
MAY THERE BE PEACE IN THE WORLD
By Rev. Yushi Mukojima
Last month, we held a Goshoki Ho-Onko Service at the Buddhist Temple of San Diego. The Ho-
Onko Service is held in remembrance of Shinran Shonin, the founder of Shin Buddhism, who
passed away on January 16, 1262. As we ponder his lifetime efforts and virtues, we too must work
harder to understand the teaching of the Shinjin of Buddha’s Power that has been passed down
from Shinran Shonin to us. Therefore, Ho-Onko is an important observance for us, even more
important than other major services in Shin Buddhism.
It will soon be 750 years since Shinran Shonin passed away. The Honzan (Jodo Shinshu Mother
Temple) is steadily making preparations for the 750th Memorial which will be held in Japan in 2012.
I am planning to take as many members from the Buddhist Temple of San Diego as possible to this
Memorial so let’s save money and get in good shape till that day so we can go together to visit the
Honzan.
Although the theme of the memorial is “Annon,” which means peace and tranquility, I believe that
the words of Shinran Shonin, May peace and tranquility prevail throughout the world, and may the
Buddha’s teaching spread! touches deeply all of us who live in this age of war and death from
conflict.
Have you ever heard the phrase, “An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth?” These bloody words
were those of a nomadic people in the deserts of Israel who had to struggle against nature just to
live. When the enemy gouged out an eye, they gouged out an eye in retaliation; and when they had
a tooth pulled out, they responded by doing the same thing in return. Perhaps this kind of behavior
was necessary in those days in order to survive war with an enemy. But sadly this kind of vengeful
thinking remains today even when the region has developed and become rich economically.
It has already been 6 years since terrorists attacked the Twin Towers in New York City. Right
after this terrible act, the U.S. began a retaliatory bombing in Afghanistan which took many people’s
precious lives. It is said that there were more than 4,000 civilians killed who had nothing at all to do
the terrorist attacks. This was “an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.”
As I looked at photos of the many people killed by the weapon called “Retaliation,” I realized
clearly how deep are man’s folly and fear. At that moment, I remembered Honen Shonin’s life.
Honen was Shinran’s teacher. He was born of samurai stock in Okayama Prefecture in 1133.
Unfortunately, when Honen was only 9 years old, his father was attacked one night right before his
eyes.
On his death bed, struggling for every breath, his father told Honen, “Don’t have a grudge
against the enemy. If you kill my enemy for revenge, his child will surely come to kill you. Revenge
causes more revenge and will never come to the end. So I want you to give up such sorrowful acts
and seek the way in which both enemy and friend will be saved.”
The idea of “an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth” was absent from his father’s last words. The
Buddhist idea of equality—in which both the attacker and the one who is attacked experience the
same suffering—lives in his message. Honen deeply understood his father’s heart-rending thought:
“Simply killing each other doesn’t solve anything and is only the repetition of tragedy.” He became a
priest wishing for world peace.
Honen Shonin then climbed Mt. Hiei and extended his journey as far as Nara as he sought the
Buddhist way. Although it is said that he was really eager to find the way more than anyone, even
after 20 years of trying, he was unable to understand how he alone could be saved, let alone how
both enemy and friend together could be saved. The darkness of his mind remained.
Eventually he encountered the phrase “Kangyosho” written by Zendo Daishi, one of the Seven
Pure Land Masters: “Those who sincerely recite the Buddha’s Name have already settled to
become a Buddha because this conforms to the Buddha’s Vow.”
Honen Shonin was then sure that the only way a person could give up a grudge and be saved
irrespective of how good or bad a person he was, was nothing other than the Nembutsu which was
chosen and promised in Amida Buddha’s Primal Vow. Honen’s conviction led our founder, Shinran
Shonin, to the Nembutsu teaching soon after.
Honen’s life of hardship was full of obstacles such as Nembutsu oppression and persecution by
the powerful. But Honen simply said, “If you are forbidden to recite the Nembutsu, recite it in your
mind. Nobody can control the Nembutsu of your mind.” Thus, he walked the way of the Nembutsu
and practiced the calm way of life till his last moment.
There is a saying in the Dharma-phrase Sutra: “Grudge will never be suppressed by grudge.
Only letting go of grudge will suppress grudge.”
Once again, while tasting deeply those words of Shinran Shonin, I sincerely hope that all of us will
try to make this year brilliant as the smiles of all people. May peace and tranquility prevail
throughout the world, and may the Buddha’s teaching spread! I believe there is a wonderful world in
which all people can respect each other beyond the grudge.
In Gassho,
| Dharma Message |
