Orange County Buddhist Church
Orange County Buddhist Church
A WAY OF SEEING (Thank you)
This article was originally meant for the November Korin, but I had reason to write on the Hymns of the Pure Land back then, so this is being written for December 2007. Actually, it does not matter what month it is; I should write a note of thanks every month for all the “blessings” I have received, whether material or in the form of words of encouragement or even praise (!) or otherwise (lol), or asking after my health.
Before you ask, “What article in November?” let me simply say that it seems to have been another senior moment. The article was written back in early (too early?) October, and it seems that I did not click “send” on the computer. In any case, it will appear in these pages at some point.
The end of the year is a good time to reflect on what we have been given throughout the year that is ending, although as hinted at above, anytime is a good time. It is especially good simply because much of our attention at this time is focused on giving and, for that matter, receiving.
If you’ve been listening to Dharma talks for a while now, you will have heard the phrase, or something along the line of, true giving, or dāna, the act when there is no thought of a gift, a recipient or a giver, no thought of I am giving this to you. Although there is no real need to do so, some choose to follow this teaching by, for example, giving anonymously. “No real need” means, if no thought of gift, recipient or giver arises, it is already pure, or true, giving, dāna. On the other hand, one may give anonymously in mindfulness of the practice of dāna.
Another way of seeing the act of giving as dāna is as a recognition of our interdependence with others, whether they be individuals or groups. Giving to the BCA Social Welfare Fund, for example, can be an instance of that recognition. Assuming that much of the fund will be going to the training of ministers, giving to Campaign BCA is recognition that temples without ministers can be meaningless, and, of course, temples without members are equally meaningless. The temple is first and foremost the place wherein one may listen to the Buddha Dharma; without that understanding, all is for naught.
Thank you most of all for giving me the opportunity, year after year, to disseminate this way of seeing that is called Jodo Shinshu, the true purport of the Pure Land teachings.
Gassho,
Donkon Jaan
Rev. John Doami
December 2007
