It is impossible for us, who are possessed of blind passions, to free ourselves from birth-and-death through any practice whatever. Sorrowing at this, Amida made the Vow, the essential intent of which is the evil person’s attainment of Buddhahood. Hence, evil persons who entrust themselves to Other Power are precisely the ones who possess the true cause of birth.
Accordingly he said, “Even the good person is born in the Pure Land, so without question is the person who is evil”
Tannisho
A few weeks ago, Bishop Umezu and I were discussing some of the problems that we see in our BCA temples. As though a light bulb went off in his head he said, “They think they are all good people?!” He was referring to the fact that some of our temples have become like Christian churches or even spiritual gymnasiums. Christian churches have the underlying view that although they may be sinners, at their base, they are all good people, “God’s Children” the chosen people. They go to their churches on the sabbath, to work out their spiritual goodness. They are good people at heart. That is why one of the inherent defining qualities of a Christian church is its social welfare and social justice activities.
Within Jodo Shinshu, the underlying fact is that in looking at myself and asking the question, “Who am I?” We must make the realization that I am evil. My inherent self, the essence of my being is “GAS” (Greed, Anger, Stupidity). However, when we make this deep realization, the awareness simultaneously arises, “Yet, I am alright.” This is the moment when I realize my powerlessness, at that exact moment, I understand that I am embraced in a wonderful compassion, that accepts this foolish being (Bombu) just as I am. This is the essential teaching of Jodo Shinshu. It is not that I am good and just need a little polish. This might be contrary to what most people think of what Buddhism is about.
When we first learn about Buddhism, we often hear the term Buddha nature. The common view of this Buddha nature is that we all have Buddha Nature, we just have to polish it up to shine or to become enlightened. It is as though we are going to a gym for our spiritual well being, “Club Budh”. The Budh, from the word Buddha, means “awakened”. That is why a person who is enlightened or awakened is called “Buddha” (awakened one). The view that our Jodo Shinshu Temples are spiritual gymnasiums to polish our Buddha nature is not what they were originally intended. Jodo Shinshu views Buddha nature in a fundamentally different way. We are beings who do not have Buddha Nature, however, at the moment when we realize I do not have Buddha nature, we are embraced and the mind of Buddha becomes a part of us. Our Buddha nature is in our GAS being changed into the Buddha mind. In Jodo Shinshu this is called Shinjin. We all have Buddha nature because Amida Buddha is for all beings.
When Taylor was in High School, she came home complaining that the people at school just didn't understand what it is to be Buddhist. At first, I thought she was feeling bad because they were negative about her being Buddhist. On further discussion, her friends did not ostracize her for being Buddhist, to the contrary they thought it was really “cool” to be Buddhist. I asked her, “What’s wrong with that?” She explained that she just wished her friends realized that Buddhists were only human beings, not “cool” etc. I realized that to some extent, there is this stereotype for Buddhists, just as there were stereotypes for Japanese and Japanese American. I remember how many of my teachers in school would often tell me, “Jerry why aren't you more like the other Japanese kids. They don’t talk back or speak out in class.” as acompanied me to sit in the hallway or principal’s office for talking back. This was the so-called model Japanese American stereotype, “The quiet American”, the minority who is able to pull themselves up by their bootstraps. I definitely was not the quiet Japanese American boy, good in math and science.
In fact, as I have moved on into my senior years, I realize, it is because of my faults that I have been able to become who I am. For example, if I were smart in science or mathematics, I probably would not have become a Buddhist priest. If I were smart, when I was college, computers were just coming into the forefront of our world. In fact, the University of Utah was quite central to the world of computer graphics. I may have become the founder of a huge computer graphics world conglomerate. If I were handsome, I would not have been able to marry the perfect woman for me or have two wonderful children. If I were handsome, I would have messed around a lot more, probably partied a lot more and would have probably died from drugs, drink and too much playing around. If I were rich, I wouldn’t have been able to appreciate all my toys, because I would probably always want bigger and better toys. What I am trying to say is, to be successful in this world, is not about being the best, the smartest, the most beautiful or rich. It isn’t necessary to have Buddha nature. However, it is essential to have a place that allows you to be who you are.
Shinran Shonin writing the preface to his magnum opus Kyogyoshinsho, never said, “This then is the true teaching easy to practice for the big, smart and beautiful.” He said, “This then is the true teaching easy to practice for small foolish, beings; it is the straight way easy to traverse for the dull and ignorant. Among all teaching s the Great Sage preached in his life-time, none surpasses this ocean of virtues. Let the one who seeks to abandon the defiled and aspire for the pure; who is confused in practice and vacillating in faith; whose mind is dark and whose understanding deficient; whose evils are heavy and whose karmic obstuctions manifold-let such persons embrace above all the Tathagata’s exhortations, take refuge without fail in the most excellent direct path, devote themselves solely to this practice, and revere only this shinjin.”
CWS
Our temple is not a club for the elite of the world. I don’t think of the temple as “Club Budh” where we can shine our Buddha Nature. Our temple is more like a “GAS” station. You know the kind where you just want to hang out with your friends. Grab a cup of coffee, talk and tell stories. Which would you rather hang out at. Namo Amida Butsu.
~J.K. Hirano