| Dharma Message |
August, 2006
A FIRM AND IMMOVABLE SPIRITUAL SUPPORT
By Rev. Yushi Mukojima
A bad thing happened to me last month. I had a car accident for the first time. The accident
happened on my way home from the temple. My residence is about 10 miles away, so I always use
the freeway. This is how it happened: a car in the lane to my left suddenly came into my lane and
hit the left side of my car. When I thought, “Watch out!” it was too late. The moment I was hit, I lost
control of the car and was also struck by another car from behind.
After I somehow came to a stop, I asked the young driver why she had driven so dangerously.
She said, “I am very sorry, I didn’t see you.” Although I don’t know whether I was in her blind spot
or if she (in her SUV) was not able to see my smaller car, I hope when trying to change lanes, she
checked to make sure it was clear first. Unfortunately, she wasn’t insured, so my insurance
ultimately covered all repair expenses except cost of the rental car while mine was being fixed. I’m
laughing hilariously.
Fortunately, neither of us was injured and I am grateful that we are both all right. I would like you
to please drive safely and sincerely hope that none of you will have such an accident.
Although it was a terrible experience, I thought calmly back on the moment of impact when I
desperately tried to steer my out-of-control car as the tires screamed. With this memory, my wife’s
face came to mind.
As I looked back at the accident, I guess that I was thinking about many things. If I had died, what
would she do? I always try my best to be her reliable husband and I want to support her forever.
However, though I don’t know if she depends on me or not, she must at least be in need of me.
Although I am very glad and grateful to be sincerely needed, if I were to disappear suddenly one
day, what she would do? If she depends solely upon me as her spiritual support, she might lose
her will to live. How sad this makes me feel.
While we are alive, it is most important to tell our loved ones what our true spiritual needs are.
There is the following story among the Buddhist tales:
A rabbit was busily eating food he had gathered. Although he tried to eat everything he found,
there was a lot of it, so he left things half eaten. Looking at all the leftover food, he thought it would
be good to share it with others. But then he thought that it would be a waste to give away to others
what had been such trouble to gather. So he decided to hide the leftover food in the middle of a
green field.
However, after he hid it, he thought about something else. He realized he might forget where he
hid it. He needed something to serve as a landmark. But if the landmark stood out, others might
easily find his food. So he looked around for a suitable landmark that nobody else could find, even
in the middle of a green field.
After all his efforts to find something suitable, he looked up into the sky. There overhead was a
big, white cloud. When the rabbit saw it, he said, “I’ve got it!” He memorized its shape and its place
in reference to the food he had hidden.
“Okay,” he thought. “Nobody will notice that my food is under that cloud.” He felt relieved and
went out to play. After a couple of hours passed, the rabbit got tired of playing and felt hungry. He
went back to the green field where the food was hidden. “If I remember right, I hid the food around
here…,” he said, looking up into the sky. However, the sky had cleared and there wasn’t a cloud in
sight. Needless to say, a cloud will not remain forever. The rabbit was not able to find the place
where he hidden his food and was close to tears. This is how the story ended.
If we think of our own lives, using something that is not permanent as a landmark or standard, we
are like this rabbit. But we often live life like this. To depend on something which is not reliable is
very dangerous. I don’t mean that I am not reliable, but humans exist much like clouds: we move,
change, and finally disappear. If we let our family lean on a pillar of an illusion, when the pillar
disappears, the bereaved family cannot stand up. No matter how fiercely we want to protect our
loved ones, it is reality of life that we cannot protect them forever. Then, what is our real
spiritual support that is firm and immovable?
Yes, we have Amida Buddha, who continues to call to us by saying, “Entrust yourself to me and
rely on me.” Amida Buddha, who never changes no matter what might happen, is our true spiritual
support. When we embrace this spiritual support, we are able to live a fruitful and wonderful life.
Therefore, we should tell our loved ones that the Nembutsu is filled with Amida Buddha’s deep
compassion. Should we fall victim to circumstance, Amida Buddha will never abandon us, but
embraces us forever.
Anyway, I am glad to be alive!
In Gassho,