Orange County Buddhist Church
Orange County Buddhist Church
A WAY OF SEEING
"I take refuge in Buddha. I take refuge in Dharma. I take refuge in Sangha." Every Sunday that we go to church, we say these words or their equivalent. In all likelihood, the only other time we say them is at a church-related conference. How many of us said them or their equivalent on February 15, Nirvana Day, the day set aside to commemorate the death of the Buddha Sakyamuni, as I had suggested we might? How many of us even thought about the Buddha, let alone said the Three Treasures? How many of us say the Nembutsu, Namo Amida Butsu, without waiting for someone else to say it first? How many of us at least say Itadakimasu or its equivalent before eating and Gochisoo-sama afterwards, assuming we are, indeed, grateful for the meal in which we are partaking? Many more questions could be asked of ourselves, but the main question is whether we are, in fact, followers of the Buddha’s teachings or simply Sunday Buddhists.
It is hardly necessary to mention that April is the month in which we commemorate the birth of the Buddha Sakyamuni, which is more often called Hana Matsuri, literally Flower Festival, in reference to the flowers that bloomed in Lumbini Garden upon his birth. However, many of us, including me, will receive this newsletter too late for the Hana Matsuri service, maybe even too late for the festival the following weekend, (we received the March Korin the day after the Ohigan Service,) but I hope that we give thought to the Buddha, his teaching (Dharma), and its practicers (Sangha) at least sometime during the month other than during services.
The Buddha of Immeasurable Light and Life has given us the name, Namo Amida Butsu, in order that we may come to know our true selves and, at the same time, realize that we are the targets of the Compassion that will enable us to realize Enlightenment. Shinran Shonin, the founder of our way of seeing, looked upon the Buddha Sakyamuni as the teacher who made that clear for those of us who would not live during his lifetime. I hope that we will rejoice in that knowledge during this auspicious time.
Gassho,
Donkon Shaku Jaan
