Last month, I spent my summer vacation in Japan with my family. It was a really wonderful and fruitful
time—to have a good long talk everyday with our parents, teachers, and friends, making up for the long time we
haven’t seen each other.
Our parents especially were really glad to see their granddaughter after a year’s separation. They
celebrated her first birthday splendidly twice, once at my parents’ house and once at my wife’s parents’ house.
We really appreciated our parents’ thoughtfulness in providing a lot of delicious food, big birthday cakes, and
wonderful birthday presents for our daughter.
By the way, last June marked my ten-year anniversary of leaving Japan to begin my ministerial work. I am
constantly surprised how quickly time flies.
In 1999, I went to Brazil to serve at the Sao Paulo Betsuin for about two years. Then in 2002, I came to the U.
S. and was first assigned as resident minister of Seabrook (in New Jersey), then Visalia (in Central California),
and then to my present assignment here at the Buddhist Temple of San Diego.
When I reflect back upon these ten years, I treasure the wonderful opportunity to share all things, joyous and
sad, with all of you through the Nembutsu teaching, especially in the encounters with and separation from so
many Sangha members. That I have been able to live here with my family without any problems is due entirely to
the great support of all of you. I would like to take this opportunity to express our deep gratitude for your
kindness.
And above all, I cannot help realizing that I have been embraced by the loving support of my parents for the
past 10 years.
About seven years ago, I stayed with my parents for six months after I finished my ministry in Brazil. The first
week was especially wonderful because my parents welcomed me back home after a long time so openly and
warmly. My mother cooked my favorite foods and made me comfortable in every way, so I was really happy to
stay with them. However after one week, my presence there was no longer a novelty and my mother started to
criticize me. I think it was because I was not doing anything but staying at home and watching television all day. I
was not helping her at all. So after that first wonderful week, we began to argue often. After this experience, I
came to feel that my stay with my parents should be limited to one week.
But when the time came for me to leave for the United States and we went together to the airport, my mother
didn’t talk much at all on that particular day. But just before I left her, tears formed in her eyes. She squeezed my
hand and said, “If you have a hard time in the USA, come back to us any time.” These were the warmest and
most loving words I have ever received from my mother and my heart felt so happy to hear these words.
Sometimes it is upsetting for me to be with my mother. But I’ve found when there is distance between us,
my gratitude for her grows. I feel especially thankful for the love and affection expressed when she told me that I
would have a home with them anytime. The more I think about it, the more tears come to my eyes. In her simple
words, I was able to see the deep sincerity of a parent’s heart. Even if we turn away from them, they will always
worry about us.
Our relationship with Amida Buddha is comparable to this parent-child relationship. We may not be aware of
Amida Buddha’s compassion and protection in our daily lives. But when we are feeling sad and lonely or having
a hard time, Amida Buddha enlightens us by saying “You are not alone. No matter what might happens, I am
always by your side. You have a place where you can come back to, so don’t worry.” When I am self-absorbed
in my own thoughts, always wishing I could get my way, it is really difficult to be aware of Amida Buddha’s
compassion, just as I don’t always appreciate my mother’s love and concern for me.
I sometimes feel ashamed that when I act selfishly or become angry, I am not living a Nembutsu life of
Gratitude, almost as if I am turning my back to Amida Buddha. But within the Nembutsu is also the calling voice of
Amida Buddha saying to me, “Don’t worry. No matter what you do or where you are, I won’t abandon you.” It is
just like my mother’s words to me at the airport. Through my mother’s love and while deeply reflecting upon
myself, I fully realize how vast the primal vow is and how deep the compassion of Amida Buddha is.
I often compare our lives to a river. As everyone knows, a river’s waters sometimes flow fast, sometimes
slowly. There is a bank of land along each side of the river’s course. Even if the water overflows its banks,
changes direction, or flows through a different place, there are banks on both sides of the flow all the same. In
other words, a river without banks is not possible.
Our lives can be compared to the flow of the river and the banks supporting the river are Amida Buddha’s
Primal Vow. Sometimes life goes in a direction which is unexpected, or flows vigorously or slowly winds down.
Throughout, Amida Buddha never parts from us even for a moment and is always with us anytime and anywhere.
That is the action of Amida Buddha’s Primal Vow.
All rivers eventually return to the ocean. Just as rivers merge into the sea, so we also will enter the sea of
compassion and become the tide of the same taste there. Although each of us will lead a different life, we will
finally be welcomed to the Buddha’s Pure Land and be spiritually awakened like Buddha. Until that moment,
Amida Buddha will always be at our side until we reach the ocean of the Pure Land. Like the embrace of our
parents’ love and affection, so our lives are always guided by Amida Buddha’s great compassion.
We just celebrated the Fall Ohigan Service here at the Buddhist Temple of San Diego. The Other Shore—
the Pure Land—waits to welcome us unconditionally, like our mother’s unconditional love waiting for us whenever
we return home. The teaching of the Nembutsu is the path to The Other Shore, the Pure Land where all of our
deceased beloved family members, friends, and predecessors wait for each one of us.
Once again, when looking back on my ministry work of the past ten years, I deeply appreciate the loving
support of so many sangha members and of my parents which has embraced and protected me and my family.
Because of Amida Buddha’s compassion, I can fervently taste the joy of having our true and real home in Amida’
s Pure Land of Utmost Bliss through my mother’s simple words, filled with love and affection: “Come back to us
anytime.” In Gassho...
2009 OCT.
CELEBRATING 10 YEARS OF MY MINISTRY
By Rev. Yushi Mukojima,
CELEBRATING 10 YEARS OF MY MINISTRY
By Rev. Yushi Mukojima,
| Dharma Message |
