“How joyous I am, Gutoku Shinran, disciple of Sakyamuni! Rare is it to come upon the sacred scriptures from the westward land of India and the commentaries of the masters of China and Japan, but now I have been able to encounter them. Rare is it to hear them, but already I have been able to hear. Reverently entrusting myself to the teaching, practice and realization that are the true essence of the Pure Land way, I am especially aware of the profundity of the Tathagata’s benevolence. Here I rejoice in what I have heard and extol what I have attained.”
School has begun for many students. When I was young it was a very exciting time for me. I loved picking out my new clothes, shoes and school supplies. I wondered who my teachers would be and if I would get to sit next to any cute girls. My sister, who is a schoolteacher, told me that the teachers usually know who the not very bright kids are and that’s why I usually got the mean teachers. But you know, I have been fortunate to have many amazing teachers in my life. The older I get; I realize how our teachers set the foundation for our lives.
This year, since school was starting, I took advantage to go to California to see Kacie and Taylor and go to Disneyland, hoping it wouldn’t be too crowded. The new Star Wars rides were amazing, but I found a new ride, Luigi’s dancing cars. I can still hear and see Kacie singing and dancing to “Mambo Italiano” as the car dances and sings. I know it will be one of my favorite memories of Disney. I had a very nice few days visiting Kacie and Taylor in California. It was a little tiring driving there, only a few days after driving to Ontario, Oregon for a funeral. Although as many people know, I love to drive.
I was accompanied on the drive to California by Dave and Callahan (Cali) Black. My friend Gail Ida from Denver, Colorado also joined us in California. On the road, Dave, Cali and I had such nice conversations, I didn’t even listen to any books on tape. I love eating in Las Vegas, but I didn’t want to risk it. My friend Pam Yamane, as usual, got me into Disney. In California, for the most part, we ate at restaurants with outdoor seating. However, one night Kacie, Taylor, Gail and I ate at my favorite Korean Fried Chicken restaurant. I have been speaking about the Covid delta variant and I now know at least seven people that have been vaccinated and come down with Covid-19. It's a very scary feeling to know that there is something so dangerous and invisible that can really hurt you. Please stay masked, socially distanced and safe.
While I was on my trip, I received news that one of my favorite teachers in Japan, Rev. Yamamoto Horin had entered the Pure Land on September 15. I last saw Yamamoto Sensei in 2014 when Carmela, Taylor and I went to Japan for Carmela’s Tokudo ordination. After her ordination some of my friends held a dinner for me and Yamamoto Sensei and his son Makoto joined us. He was looking a little frail, but his son said he was still going to temples speaking. Yamamoto Sensei was a well-known speaker in Japan. I was lucky to have accompanied him on some of his speaking engagements.
I think Yamamoto Sensei was fascinated by my curiosity. I constantly asked him questions. I had heard from some American students that well after I had left Japan, Yamamoto Sensei would talk about me. He seemed fascinated by how my completely American way of thinking viewed Japanese tradition. I had once asked him, “If Jodo Shinshu is all about a life of gratitude for every day, on New Year’s Day, shouldn’t Jodo Shinshu Japanese say, “Congratulations on the opening of today, instead of Congratulations on the opening of a New Year?” He also had a couple of my Dharma talks published in Japanese books on collections of dharma talks. Since Yamamoto Sensei was an influential speaker, I guess he told the publishers he wanted my talks included, so they were.
The last time I saw Yamamoto Sensei was when he met Carmela; he was so happy that she had received ordination. He grabbed her hands and spoke to her in English (although he didn’t really speak English, but managed to say,) “Amida Buddha’s nembutsu is Shinran’s nembutsu. Shinran’s nembutsu is same as mine and now you too!” He was such a man of faith. In a conversation with his son Makoto, I said, “It must be frustrating to be Yamamoto Sensei’s son because he always talks about Jodo Shinshu.” It seemed as though, no matter what the subject we were speaking was, Yamamoto Sensei could turn it into a Dharma talk. Makoto agreed that there were times, it would be difficult, but that was his Father.
In Buddhist society, our teachers and the passing down of the dharma are extremely important. Shinran’s writing of the Kyogyoshinsho was to defend his teacher Honen’s teachings. Shinran had written that one of his greatest honors was that Honen had allowed him to copy his writings. I bet Honen would be shocked that his disciple Shinran would spread the Nembutsu teachings to the entire world. The other day in our CBE seminar about Shinjin, Rev. Dr. David Matsumoto spoke about his translations of his teacher Rev. Dr. Takamaro Shigaraki. I think that Shigaraki Sensei would be honored and proud to be the teacher of Rev. Dr. Matsumoto. I feel like I am a disappointment to my teachers such as Rev. Yamamoto Horin or Rev. Inagi Sene and Rev. Kusada Haruyoshi. However, as Yamamoto Sensei told Carmela, my teachers’ nembutsu are one and the same as mine.
The quote I began this article with is Shinran’s preface in his magnum opus Kyogyoshinsho, about his great appreciation for the countless people who have allowed him to hear the Dharma. In this same preface, Shinran also expresses his gratitude to Devadatta, Ajatasatru (Ajase) and Vaidehi. Devadatta and Ajase are considered the villains in the traditional stories of Shakyamuni Buddha. They are also from the sutras, so these are individuals who were in a separate era from Shinran by over a thousan years. As each of us have experienced in our lives, it is often our enemies that prove to be our greatest teachers. Some of the most horrendous experiences of life, such as the death of a loved one or a life-threatening illness, can teach us the most about life. However, when a teacher sees us for who we really are and nurtures us into becoming our true selves, we blossom as human beings. Rev. Horin Yamamoto was a teacher like that for me.
Of all the relationships we have in our lives, that of teacher and student are so special. I have written about other teachers of mine. Mr. Vernon Bird, my music teacher was the first person outside of my family who gave me the confidence to move out into the world. Until I met Mr. Bird, I never felt like anyone really saw me. Rev. Haruyoshi Kusada didn’t say a lot, but just being with him, expressed to me what Jodo Shinshu was about and not just some words in a book. Then there was Rev. Russell Hamada who encouraged me to be a Hongawanji-ha minister. Not just to study Jodo Shinshu for myself, but as a way to eventually give back to the Sangha that had given so much to me. If you feel you have had a good and blessed life, I’m sure there were teachers behind your success.
There is a saying written in a guidebook for ministers, it says,
““Our life is filled with warmth in sharing life with others. It is a simple truth to learn, but a difficult practice to fully realize. In personal life, it means to act by placing ourselves in the position of another, and in community life, it means to give service with joy and gratitude for the betterment of all. The practice of making yourself and others happy is based upon the clear understanding of life, which is oneness. In deep gratitude, let us realize this Oneness of all life, the heart of which is Compassion.” ”
I realize that the Summer of my life has ended, and I am well into the Autumn and Winter. However, so much of the warmth from the Summer of my life, is directly through my teachers. Thank you, thank you, thank you, to all the teachers in the World. Your life has truly made this world a better place.
Namo Amida Butsu!
~ Rev. J.K. Hirano