Orange County Buddhist Church
Orange County Buddhist Church
The True Story of a Buddhist Mother
Genshin was a great Buddhist Master in the Heian Period and was regarded by Shinran as one of the Seven Masters. The Seven Masters are the great teachers or masters whom Shinran Shonin feels he has received the truth of the Dharma from. Genshin is the sixth of those seven masters.
What I find most remarkable about Genshin, however, is his mother. Genshin had a most remarkable and devout mother, whose influence enabled Genshin to become one of the foremost teachers in the history of Japanese Buddhism.
Genshin had a remarkable father as well, who died when Genshin was just a young boy. Genshin’s father’s dying wish was that his son would become a Buddhist monk someday.
Genshin was an only child, but from an early age he had aspirations of becoming a monk. Around the age of ten, he entered Mt. Hiei and began his study and practice.
After some time, Genshin wanted to return home to visit his mother. Imagine being only ten years old and entering a monastery and not seeing your family or parents. Genshin wrote to his mother and asked if he could return for a visit.
Genshin’s mother wrote back and said, “Don’t come home. Don’t come home until you really understand Buddhism, and then come home and teach me.”
How could any parent say this? Of course she must’ve wanted to see her son desperately. I can remember when our kids first went to LABCC camp for only one week, and how worried we were about how they were doing. That is nothing compared to sending your ten year old son off to become a monk and not see him for two or three years. Then on top of that, when he asks to come home, to say, “Don’t come home!” What a devout Buddhist she must’ve been to have wanted her son to really dedicate himself to his study and to understand deeply, the Dharma. She probably thought, “If I allow him to come home for a visit he might become even more homesick. He might even want to quit his practice and return home for good.” And so Genshin’s mother did not allow him to return for even a visit.
When Genshin was 15, he was given a tremendous honor. He was asked to give a lecture to the Emperor. Already at age 15 he was a scholar of Buddhism and he was requested to give a personal lecture for the Emperor. The Emperor was so pleased with the lecture that he gave Genshin a gift of silk cloth in appreciation.
Genshin was so overjoyed, he wrote his mother about his lecture and he sent the silk cloth to her as a gift.
Genshin’s mother, although she must’ve been proud of him as a parent, scolded Genshin saying, “I didn’t raise you to become a monk that seeks fame and fortune. I am returning this silk cloth to you.”
What a stern scolding this was for Genshin. This experience, however, really propelled Genshin into deep study and practice. His mother was right. He had let it get to his head. He was not a monk for fame or fortune. He was a monk to seek the heart of the Dharma.
This lesson from his mother remained with Genshin throughout his entire life. Years later, Genshin had in his room, two Chinese characters written and hanging on the wall. The two characters were the characters for “fame and fortune.” A monk asked Genshin, why of all characters, did he have those hanging on his wall.
Genshin replied that “These are my weaknesses. I hang them up there as a constant reminder not to become a monk that seeks fame and fortune.”
When Genshin was 41, he could not bear it anymore and wanted desperately to see his mother. He had not seen her in over thirty years, since he became a monk at age ten. He thought to himself, “Even if she scolds me, I am going home to see her.” Genshin then set off for his home in Nara Prefecture.
On the way, Genshin ran into a servant or messenger from his home. This messenger was carrying a letter for Genshin from his mother. The letter said, “I hear that you have become a true monk of deep understanding. I don’t know if I will live much longer. Please come home to see me.”
Genshin then rushed home to see his mother, who was on her deathbed. Genshin’s mother did not look at him as her son, however. She looked at him as her good teacher of the Dharma (zenjishiki) who had come to teach him the depth of the Dharma in her last moments of life. Genshin talked to her about the Nembutsu, and faithfully reciting the Nembutsu, Genshin’s mother died.
This true story is so unbelievable for us. How could any parent go thirty years without seeing their child? How could a parent say to them, “Don’t come home until you really understand Buddhism.” How could any parent not feel so proud if your child was asked to speak to the Emperor or President of the United States.
Genshin’s mother, although she asked her son to study and understand Buddhism and then come home and “teach me”, she must’ve been a woman of deep conviction and understanding already. Otherwise, how could she guide her son in the way she did? How could she scold him with such wisdom, knowing that was the best thing for him at that time? She was undoubtedly a woman of deep wisdom and understanding to have guided Genshin in the manner that she did.
Sometimes we receive harsh and severe teachings in life, like the way Genshin’s mother taught him. But those harsh and severe teachings are quite often the most significant and unforgettable teachings of our life.
Genshin became a great master and teacher of Buddhism who later influenced Honen Shonin, and subsequently, Shinran Shonin. Without the wisdom and guidance of his mother, Genshin might not have emerged as a great master and teacher of Buddhism in Japan.
Namuamidabutsu,
Rev. Marvin Harada
February 2007
