General
Clean-up
Reverend
Koho Takata
First
of all, I would like to share with you what had happened.
Compared to the previous year, less people came to help at the last
general clean-up. There could be
various reasons for low numbers of participation.
Some could have been exhausted from many projects for our Triple
Celebration in the last year and others could have had previous engagements
In
any rate, most of the Dharma School & Jr. YBA members and their parents
unfortunately could not make the general clean-up. Then, some of members started to complain about them,
"Why
our youth members did not show up. They
requested only money to the Kyodan and they did not help.
If they want the support from Kyodan, they should help us." Then, this small complain developed to a big discussion.
It was a very sad thing for me.
I
shared the complaints with the Dharma school teachers, and we had very
meaningful discussions during the Dharma School Teachers' meeting.
The reason why they could not make it was that most of the young parents
were working on Saturdays. Also,
they were busy with taking care of their families, especially the time of
Christmas and the end of the year. Also,
they strongly expressed that the Kyodan members should look at all of their
contributions to the Kyodan such as helping fund-raisings, bon dance, Sunday
services, etc. and should not look at only one event which most of them happened
to be not able to make it.
As
I observed this event and reflected upon both side of opinions, I think that
both side is correct and also wrong. I
think that all of you need to calm down and reflect upon yourselves and the
event, and properly understand the meaning of having the general clean-up at the
end of the year.
I
think that the cleaning is one of the basic practices as a Buddhist.
Especially, cleaning the temple is the most important thing for a
Buddhist. The main purpose of
having a temple is listening to the teachings of the Buddha.
The temple is the most sacred place for the followers.
This is why, as you know, we clean the temple for expressing our
gratitude and appreciation to the Buddha and the teaching with a mind of respect
and gratefulness. At the same time,
by cleaning the temple, we also clean our deluded minds and prepare ourselves
for listening to the teachings. This
practice comes natural for me. I
have never thought deeply about it, but, this incident gave me a precious
opportunity to re-think about it. For
this, I am grateful.
We
have a temple clean-up on every Saturdays.
However, you can come to clean the temple every day.
Because you are all busy, so we have a clean-up on only Saturdays.
The
year-end general clean-up is different from the Saturday's regular clean-up.
We especially express our gratitude and appreciation to the Buddha and
the teachings at the end of the year for sustaining and guiding us throughout
the year, and also rededicate ourselves to live in the Nembutsu teachings and
appreciate the unchanging Amida Buddha's embrace and guidance for the coming
year. The general clean-up has its
own unique significance.
I
understand that everybody is busy during the holiday season.
However, if you have a mind of truly entrusting and respecting the Buddha
and the teachings, you come to the general clean-up.
Those who are not able to come to the clean-up can do so in other time,
like a day before or a day after like some of members are doing.
You may create your own general clean-up at the end of the year.
Even 10 or 15 minutes, you will be able to make a time for your Buddha
and the teachings.
"Whether you take up and accept the nembutsu or whether you abandon it is for each of you to determine."
(The
Collected Works of Shinran, P. 662)
Like
Shinran Shonin's saying, it is up to you whether you accept the nembutsu or
not. If you truly appreciate the
nembutsu teachings, it will reflect in your action.
Shinjin (true entrusting mind to Amida Buddha) emerges from your attitude
towards listening to the teachings. I
cannot force you to come to the temple clean-up and general clean-up as well as
fund-raisings, Sunday services, etc. What
I can do is just encourage you to help your temple, because this is your temple
and not someone else's.
Also,
your contributions and dedications to the temple should be free of any judgments
and calculations. I truly
appreciate as a resident minister that Dharma school teachers and parents spend
lots of times for the students, that Jr. YBA advisors spend lots of times for
supporting and guiding their members, that youth groups always come to help the
Kyodan fund-raisings and the bon dance, that Kyodan officers and directors spend
lots of times for the betterment of our temple, etc.
Each member has unique contributions to the temple.
However, if members start to think, "I always help the temple, so let
others do it at this time," then I feel such attitude will bring deterioration
of the temple.
The
Kapaa Hongwanji Mission exists for you,
not for someone else. The sushi
& chicken sale and the bon dance are for you to raise fund for your temple.
Sunday services are for you to listen to the teachings of the Buddha.
Teaching the Dharma School students is for you to further develop your
understanding of the teachings. Also,
it is for you to develop the students' understanding of the teachings for the
future of your temple. Helping the facility jobs are for you to keep good
maintenance for your temple. Coming
to the clean-ups is for you to express your gratitude to your Buddha and the
teachings. Please think about you
as a center of the temple and the teachings.
You do not need to care about others whether they come to help or not.
It is solely your matter. Let us
reflect upon ourselves and follow the Buddhist way of life as Buddhists and kick
your negative and wrong thoughts out and keep a harmony with a mind of oneness.
This
is my conclusion and sincere comments to the problem and discussions.
If you would like to further discuss about this matter, please do not
hesitate to tell me. I always welcome your opinions.
Although I am not fond of complaints, I would gladly listen to you.
If you do not have any complaints and opinions, it means you are not
interested in the temple and you do not have any concerns about your temple.
So, please feel free to tell me anything.
Lastly, I would like to express my appreciation to all of you for your
untiring efforts and countless dedications and giving me the precious
opportunity to express my opinions, and Amida Buddha for giving me the guidance
and showing me the Buddhist way of life in the Nembutsu teachings.
I
humbly ask for your continued support and help.
"The faults of others are easily seen. The faults of one's own one does not realize. If we realize anything wrong with us, this means it is so much wrong that it becomes known to us. We should take things this way and mend our minds. Only trust wells in what others say. We are prone to overlook our own faults."
Namo-Amidabutsu