Cherry Blossom

Sensei Koho Takata

 I took a vacation for about 10 days from the end of March and went back to Japan.  Most of you know that the cherry blossom is very famous in Japan during the spring season.  Usually, people can enjoy the cherry blossom from the end of March till the beginning of April.  However, unlike the previous year, Japan was really cold.  A day before when I came back to Hawaii, I finally could see the cherry blossom.  However, it was not in full bloom yet.

When I was walking under the cherry blossom, I recalled the Japanese poem written by Shinran Shonin. 

          “This vain to wait until tomorrow;

          Life is like the glorious cherry blossom

          Which ere morn might all be gone

          Night winds as soon might blow them off.”

It is said that Shinran Shonin was ordained when he was nine years old.  When Matsuwakamaro (Shinran Shonin’s name before ordination) determined to become a monk, he visited the Master Jichin of Shorenin Temple.  However, Master Jichin told Matsuwakamaro the following, “Today, it’s already late at night.  We shall have the ordination rite tomorrow.”  Then, Matsuwakamaro shared the above poem with Master Jichin.  “There are beautiful cherry blossoms in the garden.  They are now living gloriously.  However, they might all be gone by tonight through rain or storm .  My life is the same as those cherry blossoms.  I also might die by tomorrow.”  Master Jichin was really impressed by Matsuwakamaro’s earnest and serious attitude toward entering the monkhood by listening to the above poem and conducted the ordination rite on that night.  Thus, cherry blossoms always remind me of the beginner’s mind.  I always need to keep holding in my mind the beginner’s mind on why I became a minister; why I came to Hawaii; etc.    

Cherry blossom also reminds me of impermanence.  Everything changes at each moment.  Live today as today and not as tomorrow or yesterday.  I always tend to think that it is tomorrow for me.  However, as cherry blossoms remind me, I really do not know whether I will  still be alive tomorrow or not.  I have to fully live each moment of my life. 

Living fully at each moment means living in the Dharma.  Living in the Dharma means listening to the Dharma.  Listening to the Dharma means embodiment of the Dharma.   Without Dharma I cannot say I am fully living.  Dharma is not only listening to the Dharma messages at the temple.  Dharma is everything and everywhere.  Sometimes you are my Dharma teacher.  Sometimes cherry blossom is my Dharma teacher.  Sometimes ocean is my Dharma teacher.  Dharma is everything and everywhere.          

Next month, we celebrate the birthday of Shinran Shonin by observing Gotan-e services.  Why do we celebrate his birthday every year?  If Shinran Shonin was not born, I would not listen to the Dharma at this present moment.  I am truly grateful to receive the Dharma handed down by Shinran Shonin.  I always would like to embody the Dharma propagated by Shinran Shonin and his spirit toward the propagation that is central to my life.  If Shinran Shonin was alive, how would he do things, how would he think about, and do many things.  I always would like to have this image of Shinran Shonin in my mind.  Let us all fully blossom the Dharma at each moment of our lives.