Going and Returning
Reverend Koho Takata
Since coming to Hawaii, I had some opportunities to go back to Japan by air plane. It took about seven hours from Honolulu to Japan. I heard that people in the old days came to Hawaii by only ships and it took them a week or more. So, I am feeling that the old days and the present are really different due to the development of science and technology which have shortened the traveling time. Like this, we can travel easily nowadays.
When we go on a trip, we enjoy the trip mainly because we have a home to return to. For if we do not have a home to return to, would we enjoy the trip from the bottom of our hearts? So, after going on a trip, we return to our home. Then, we can relax. It is truly wonderful.
Now, let’s think about the road. We often use the road by driving a car or walking. To get to our destination, we use the road. Then, to return from the destination, we use the road again. You may use the same road or different one. That is, the road has two lanes for going and returning. However, if the road has one lane or there is no road back, we cannot return to our home. We become lost forever. Because there is the retuning, going is meaningful. Therefore, it can say that the road links the starting point with the finishing point. So, the person who uses the road is covered the links between the starting point and the finishing one.
According to our Teachings, when the person pass away, the person will become a buddha equal to Amida Buddha. Then, the person will return as a buddha to guide us.
"Reverently contemplating the true essence of the Pure Land Way, I see that Amida’s directing of virtue to sentient beings has two aspects: the aspect for our going forth to the Pure Land and the aspect for our return to this world."
(The Collected Works of Shinran, page 7)
Like Shinran Shonin’s words, there are two aspects of "Birth in the Pure Land." It can say that this world is connecting with the other world. That is, we are always embraced by Amida Buddha’s Boundless Compassion even after we die. That is Oneness.
Now, we do not think all buddhas of retuning as physical thing, soul, spirit, and so forth. We think about all buddhas in the Nembutsu, or true entrusting minds or hearts. I had many opportunities to appreciate the Teachings through various occasions. As you know, I was born in the temple family. So, I could have these opportunities from childhood. However, if I was not born in the temple family, I would not have these opportunities. My ancestors, my parents, and Amida Buddha gave me the opportunities. It is interdependence. For example, all of us have ancestors. So, you may have a memorial service. If the person is still alive, you will not have the service for him or her. However, since your beloved one passed away, you would have the service. That is, your beloved one is always guiding you to hear the Buddha’s Teachings as a buddha by having the service or in your daily life. This is why we always express our gratitude to the Buddha. So let us appreciate to the Buddha by reciting the Nembutsu in our daily life.
Namo-Amidabutsu