Orange County Buddhist Church

A Way Of  Seeing (Spring Equinox, 2006)

            In the falling of petals
            They see no Buddha
            They see no Dharma
                    --Issa (tr. by Robert Hass)

    One of the things Japanese like to do with the coming of spring is to picnic (with sake, of course) under the oh so beautiful cherry blossoms.  Oddly enough, in the six and a half years I was studying in Japan, I do not recall ever joining in on one of these picnics.  Of course, I cannot recall ever being invited!  Maybe that was all to the good, because, once in awhile, someone will have drunk too much and start swinging or otherwise just become very obnoxious.  However, if you have never seen the cherry blossoms of Japan and are able to, you should.  It is a breath-taking sight.

    As this is being written, the ornamental pear (?) trees on our block are losing their pretty (but not as beautiful as cherry) blossoms.  On the other hand, the haiku above is just as apropos in awaking us to the reality of impermanence.  According to the book from which it is quoted, “they” refers to the animals of the six realms, or ways, viz., those of hellish beings, hungry ghosts, animals, angry spirits, men and heavenly beings.

    These refer to the way we are at any given time; e.g., when we are angry, we are akin to angry spirits, and when we are greedy, we are like hungry ghosts, who are never satiated and are always hungry.  When we are involved in something so deeply that it is as though we are in deep meditation, we are like heavenly beings, who, according to Indian religions, are always in some stage of meditation.  In every moment, we are in one or another of these six realms; we transmigrate from one to another depending on our thoughts, words or actions.  When we harbor a grudge against someone, we might be either a hellish being or an angry ghost.  In either case, we cause our own suffering as well as that of others.

    Shinran Shonin knew from his own experience that it was really impossible to free himself from the six paths on his own power.  Therefore, he had no alternative but to rely completely on Amida’s saving power in order to do so.  Of course, though not impossible, it is very difficult to rely completely on an other, even if that other is Amida.  Shinran said it was the most difficult of all difficulties.

    As we look at flower blossoms, cherry blossom or not, losing their petals, let us see that they are reminding us of the brevity of life and its dependence on the contingency of the moment.

    Please give it some serious thought as we pass through this beautiful season.

                                Gasshō,
                                Donkon Jaan
                                Rev. John Doami

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