I welcomed 4th year anniversary at Kapaa Hongwanji Mission as of June 1. It was very fast for me. I would like to thank everyone for your supports and helps. As I reflect upon these 4 years staying at Kapaa Hongwanji Mission, I am drawing lots of things in my minds as memories, both good and bad. Although I sometime think that I wish to erase bad memories such as mistakes, arguments with members, etc., but I cannot erase it. I can reflect upon the event and learn from it, but I cannot erase those memories. It is the ineradicable fact. How about you? Do you have some bad memories you would like to erase?

My daughter, Mai likes drawing. If she has a pen, she draws something wherever it is available. As you know, walls of our personage are all white. She draws on the white walls, tables, my books, etc. So, I bought a big drawing paper book and erasable crayons for her. However, she still likes drawing on the walls, tables, and my books. She is walking around with crayons in her both hands. My wife & I are busy erasing her drawings.

About 5 years ago, the Japan Sea was polluted by leaking crude oil from a Russian ship that broke into half. Many people were desperately collecting the spilled oil from the ocean and beaches. The crude oil which could be seen with their eyes could be removed and gathered. However, the pollution which could not be seen with their eyes could not be removed and gathered. Those undetected pollution could not be removed. Therefore, it might remain forever.

Likewise, we human beings also have desires of various kinds that cannot be completely removed. If we can remove our passions like my daughter’s drawing on the walls, we will not grumble, complain, and fight others in our daily lives. However, since the moment we are born and until the day we die, we will not be able to get rid of it.

    "Through the benefit of the unhindered light,

    We realize shinjin of vast, majestic virtues,

    And the ice of our blind passions necessarily melts,

    Immediately becoming water of enlightenment."

    "Obstructions of karmic evil turn into virtues;

    It is like the relation of ice and water:

    The more the ice, the more the water;

    The more the obstructions, the more the virtues."

(The Collected Works of Shinran, P. 371)

Amida Buddha vowed to save all beings at all times and in all places without any discrimination. Although Amida Buddha knows we are always blinded by passions, he vowed to save all beings. This is why the object of Amida Buddha’s Wisdom and Compassion is for us, who suffered with various passions. If one is awaken to Amida’s Wisdom and Compassion, blind passions will be transformed into enlightenment. However, if one does not awaken to Amids’s Wisdom and Compassion and cling to the passions, it will be remaining as blind passions. The essence is not different. They are same in basic nature.

For example, water and ice are not different in essence. According to the temperature, it changes water to ice. They are same in basic nature. The same as this relationship, our blind passions and enlightenment are not different in essence. Depending your true entrusting minds and hearts, it is blind passion or enlightenment. Let us reflect upon and rededicate ourselves, and realize the wonderful virtues of Amida Buddha by listening the voiceless voice of Amida Buddha in our daily lives. 

Namo-Amidabutsu