Recently, people have been dying in great numbers, reportedly from an epidemic. It is not that they die primarily because of the epidemic. It is (because of) determinate karma that has been settled from the first moment of our birth. We should not be so deeply surprised by this. And yet when people die at this time, everyone thinks it strange. It is really quite reasonable.
Amida Tathagata has declared that he will unfailingly save those sentient beings who single-heartedly rely on him -- ordinary beings in the last age and people like ourselves, burdened with evil karma, however deep the evil may be. At such a time as this, we should entrust ourselves to Amida Buddha all the more deeply and, realizing that we will be born in the land of utmost bliss, relinquish every bit of doubt, steadfastly and single-heartedly acknowledging how gracious Amida is. Once we have understood this, our saying “Namo amida butsu, Namo amida butsu”-- sleeping or waking -- is an expression of gratitude conveying our joy and thankfulness (that Amida) readily saves us in this way. This, in other words, is the nenbutsu of gratitude for Buddha’s benevolence.
Respectfully,
Entoku 4 (1492)Rennyo: The second founder of Shin Buddhism
Minor L. Rogers and Ann T. Rogers
I know that we are all feeling confused, fearful, anxious, angry, grieving, etc. during this time of the Covid-19 pandemic. If you are like me, there are days when I wake up feeling pretty good thinking, “What will I do today? Wonder what the weather is like? I don’t have to really do anything, it’s a free day!” Then I decide not to turn on the radio, and just brush my teeth, wash my face, and get ready to go outside and enjoy the spring morning. Once outside, I see it’s a beautiful morning, the birds are singing arias; I take a deep breath and smell the air, so clean and fresh. I watch Koge and Musubi chase one another around the yard. And then my eyes begin to itch a little. My nose starts to run, which causes me to begin to forget about the beauty of the spring moment. My mind begins to race, “Could I be coming down with Covid?” I touch my head, “Do I have a fever?” I take a few deep breaths. “Hmm…I think I sense a little wheeziness?” My mind races to the conclusion, “I don’t want to die!” I begin to tear up a little, about how sad the girls will be when I die. I hope Carmela will be alright when I’m dead. During this requiem for my premature death I realize, “Jerry, you are a really good husband, worrying about Carmela when you are dying from Covid. My mind continues, “When I’m dead from Covid, Carmela will be even more upset with Trump!” Then I start to think of Trump and I start to think about all the things I hate about our President. “I’m not going to die before he does!” From there I go on to the people who support his ignorance. How can seemingly normal people support so much ill-willed, selfish, morally repugnant behavior. All this hatred has made me begin to feel a little hungry. I do wish there were restaurants open. Then my thinking takes another leap, “What did eat this morning? I’m feeling a little hungry. Maybe I should go inside and see what I can find to eat?”
This is a typical morning in my mind. The actual thoughts or order of the thoughts might vary, but my mind playing these games with me is quite common. I believe this is the natural reaction to facing the reality of the unknown. As Rennyo says in this letter I began with, “It is really quite reasonable.” The question is, “Is my life of waking, sleeping, eating, thinking, etc., really that different now than it was before the Covid-19 pandemic? I did get to see more people and travel around, but what about my getting up in the morning, seeing the wonder of nature, enjoying my dogs, complaining, getting hungry? The only thing that is really different is my imaginings that I may have Covid. Other than that, I’ve always worried about dying; I am a hypochondriac. Somewhere in my mind, I know that logically I don’t have Covid. I haven’t really been out of the house for four weeks and the three times I have, I was masked and had taken the safety precautions.
However, my mind, my ego, my ignorance doesn’t care about logic; it prefers to worry about things. It is the nature of being a human being. I really doubt that Koge, Musubi or Miso worry about dying from Covid. They’ve started to like watching TV, but they really don’t care about CNN or the news. No matter how much I try to make my dogs think as I do, they aren’t human. Just as they are not human, I cannot think like a dog and ignore this corona virus threat. Although I do wander around the house wondering what to eat. I may be more like them than I think. However, my human DNA is designed to be full of greed, anger and ignorance (bonno). Therefore, yes, it is quite reasonable to be afraid and worried.
Now, should that fear and worry take over my life? This letter of Rennyo (1415-1499), the eighth head of our Jodo Shinshu sect of Buddhism teaches me that pandemics are nothing new. As an aside, I found it interesting that this letter was written in 1492, the same year Christopher Columbus set out to discover America, as stated in this old children’s poem, “In 1492, Columbus sailed the ocean blue.” Isn’t that amazing? Over 500 years ago, Rennyo was describing a situation that we in 2020 still find ourselves in. It’s kind of like the earthquakes we have been recently experiencing in Utah. Nothing new; they have been happening for as long as there has been an Earth to quake. What does Rennyo say to do about it?
“At such a time as this, we should entrust ourselves to Amida Buddha all the more deeply and, realizing that we will be born in the land of utmost bliss, relinquish every bit of doubt, steadfastly and single-heartedly acknowledging how gracious Amida is. Once we have understood this, our saying “Namo amida butsu, Namo amida butsu”- sleeping or waking-is an expression of gratitude conveying our joy and thankfulness (that Amida) readily saves us in this way. This, in other words, is the nenbutsu of gratitude for Buddha’s benevolence.”
At a recent CBE seminar I attended on Zoom, someone commented on Rennyo’s letters as being rather harsh. I don’t think he was harsh, just realistic. Almost like in the movies, when someone goes hysterical and their friend slaps them in the face saying, “Snap out of it!” Rennyo is saying that he understands how during this time of crisis, such as the pandemic 500 years ago or today, because of our human nature, it is quite natural to worry. Then again, because of all this worry and fear, we have been made to see our humanity much more clearly. We should just as clearly realize all that we have to be grateful for. Amida Buddha has specifically vowed to save those of us who are afraid or worried, that we are constantly, anytime and place, always embraced in Amida Buddha’s compassionate embrace. Then we can say, “Namo Amida Butsu….Itadakimasu, I better wash my hands, before I find something to eat?” This is the way of being human. I hope you are well and safe, I look forward to the time we can be together again at the temple, until then, “Namo Amida Butsu… Wash your hands.”
~J.K. Hirano