- November, 2008
IS HEALTH ONLY IMPORTANT IN LIFE?
By Rev. Yushi Mukojima
Last April, I suffered from pneumonia for the first time in my life. I didn’t pay attention to my
condition because the symptoms were similar to a cold. After one week, the coughing worsened and
I had a high fever. My condition was so bad that I was not able to stand. I finally went to see the
doctor. I was scolded by the doctor for not seeing him earlier.
From that day, I was forced to be isolated so I would not expose the pneumonia to my wife, who
was four months pregnant. I was in bed, alone in the guest room, suffering from a bad cough and
high fever. My wife was constantly caring for me and nursed me devotedly without leaving my sight.
Thanks to her gentle care, I had a speedy recovery and now I am in excellent health. I tend to forget
how gracious of a wife I have.
However, I put the Sangha members and the Buddhist temple to a great deal of trouble due to my
illness. My absence from the temple, Sunday Dharma School/Family Service and memorial services
put a burden on everyone. I wish to express my sincere apology to all of you.
When I look back, it was truly a difficult one week. I never want to suffer from pneumonia again.
However, when I try to think deeply about it, the illness was good because it reminded me once
again of how important it is to stay healthy and how grateful I should be for good health. In that
respect, it was a good experience for me.
Today, it is said that the three most common causes of death are cancer, heart disease and brain
disease. I guess when we consider the role of anxiety in our daily life many people may refer to it as
a form of disease or illness. Whenever we meet our friends, we frequently say, “It is most important
to be healthy.” Each year we pay an enormous fee for health insurance and we pay a lot for medical
treatment to stay healthy.
Lesson from a Pure Land Master
About 1450 years ago in China, there was a priest who came to a realization about the question,
“Is health only important in life?”
Donran (T’an-luan) was the third of the Seven Pure Land Masters in Shin Buddhism. While he
was young, Donran strived to study Buddhism. One day, he was stricken with a serious illness. After
his recovery, Donran deeply realized that if he learned Buddhism completely, he would undoubtedly
live a long and healthy life. He discontinued the study of Buddhism and sought the Taoist way of
longevity that was popular at the time.
After mastering Taoism, Donran met Boddruci, a high Buddhist priest who came to China from
India in order to translate sutras. Donran told Bodhiruci that he mastered in Taoism. He showed the
text of the Taoist secrets in triumph and asked Bodhiruci, “I learned the Taoist way of longevity and
received this text, but do you have such a text in Buddhism that advocates the way of the longevity,
and exceeds my text?”
Bodhiruci spat at the ground and said, “What, are you losing your head? You must seek the real
Dharma of longevity of emancipation from birth and death in the right away. The immortal text that
obtains limitless life is this!” He thundered at Donran and gave him ‘The Meditation on the Buddha
of Infinite Life Sutra.’ When Donran read this Sutra, he realized that he was wrong and burned the
Taoist text and was converted to Pure Land Buddhism, and deeply took refuge in Amida Buddha.
Donran realized that his desire of longevity was nothing but an immediate desire, and it could not
emancipate him from the world of delusion.
Donran thought that he mastered the logic of Buddhism but was not able to accept the disease
which suddenly attacked as a suffering of sickness which Shakyamuni Buddha described as one of
the four sufferings. When the suffering of sickness happened to him in reality, he was confused by it
and sought the Taoist way of longevity and then finally he strayed into an untruthful way. No matter
how much one discusses Buddhism, if the teaching wouldn’t absorb into oneself, one’s belief would
collapse easily. His delusion changed into a deep awareness of man’s foolishness and weakness
afterwards. From experiencing the world of delusion, Donran was able to become a superior
Nembutsu priest.
A Healthy Self
It is natural for us to hope to be healthy. I also try to take care of my health, and I am truly grateful
for being healthy even though I am young and battled pneumonia. To our sorrow, no matter how
healthy we are, it is nothing but health for a short while, and it is going to part from us without fail
someday.
If our wish for longevity is realized what would the world be coming to? Does the wonderful world
really come around? I definitely do not think so. In an unfavorable environment, young people will
increase suddenly due to perennial youth and then food would run short throughout the world. No
matter how much we starve ourselves we cannot die because of eternal life. It is this world that is
filled with the suffering of hell. I feel that a saying known throughout Japan is an example to follow,
“To be able to face the completion of one’s life with a feeling of gratitude and gratefulness, we can
die.”
Shinran Shonin said, “Of those who encounter the power of the Primal Vow, not one passes by in
vain.” No matter how healthy we are, if our life is not linked with Buddha, it is a life that is fading
away like a mere form.” Shinran teaches us clearly that a life that seeks only health is quite a vain
life.
We, as humans, can not avoid the reality of birth, old age, sickness, and death. We should think
deeply about this reality and seek the way of the truth which transcends the cycle of life. Namely,
seek rebirth in the world of enlightenment, the Amida Buddha’s Utmost Bliss of the Pure Land
throughout our life. This is the direction we can reach by only the encounter with Amida Buddha’s
Primal Vow. How grateful we should be.
Accept the reality of birth, old age, sickness, and death just as they are – though it may be our
real intention that we want to continue to be healthy forever. Please remember Shinran Shonin’s
words and let us make our mind and body healthy and live with the Nembutsu which expresses our
gratitude for Buddha’s Primal Vow.
In Gassho,
| Dharma Message |