Humbleness

Reverend Koho Takata

Shinran Shonin deeply reflected upon his human nature throughout his life.  He was always humble in his Nembutsu way of life.  Jodo Shinshu or the teachings of Shinran Shonin teaches us the importance of humility.  Many people think that one of the important goals in every day of human life is to being good.  When we talk about good, it is different between moral and religious point of views.  As I reflect upon Shinran Shonin's teachings, he did not emphasize being good because it would always change by situations and conditions through humans' self-centered nature. He considered that if Amida Buddha knew what good was, then, he would know what good was.  For Shinran Shonin, Amida Buddha and the teachings were always central to his life.

Being good is not good enough.  We must become humble persons to see the truth.  We must know our evilness, the existence of our ineradicable egoism.  We must know our ignorance, the limitations of our capacities.  Most of religions limit our deeds.  For example, some faith says "if you do this, you will be punished."  However, our teaching does not speak of such limitations.  In other words, we have to realize our own limitations by reflecting ourselves through the guidance of Amida Buddha.  Without Amida's guidance, we will not be able to realize it.

For example, when I was at Honpa, main temple, about 5 years ago, I was invited to a dinner by one of members.  Her age was almost same as me.  She had a husband.  When her husband was studying in Japan, they met, got married, and came to Hawaii. 

During the dinner, she told me that she was thinking of divorcing her husband.  I asked her the reason why she was thinking of divorce.  She replied that they were always fighting in the home.  She was crying. 

About 5 months later, she told me, "I now do not need to divorce my husband.  I can now say 'thank you' to my husband with putting my hands together in Gassho."  According to her, she realized her limitations by listening to the teachings through the guidance of Amida Buddha.  "I always saw my husband’s fault very well.  However, I realized the importance of reflection by listening to the teachings.  I can now realize that my husband showed me my evilness and egoism through fighting.  I was realized my self-centeredness through my husband and Amida Buddha."  Then, she could say "thank you" to her husband in Gassho.

We always complain and grumble about others and things.  If everybody becomes little bit more humble, we will not complain and grumble about others.  We will not be fighting in the family, temple, community, country, and the world.  We will be able to respect others and keep harmony.  I firmly believe that my understanding of Shinran Shonin's way of Nembutsu life is to become humble and practice the humility in our daily lives like the wife in above story.  Without a mind of humility or humbleness, we will not be able to express our appreciation and gratitude to our family, friends, Buddha, teachings, and so forth.  We will not be able to fully appreciate the foods which sacrifice their lives to sustain our lives.  We will not be able to keep harmony. 

Also, without a mind of humility or humbleness, you will not be able to hear the teachings, too.  To hear the teachings is not just listening to the teachings but also practice in your daily life. For example, can you practice Eightfold Path or Shinshu Pledge in your daily life without a mind of humility?  Right Speech - Can you be truthful and kind in all you say?  Right Conduct - Can you try to behave yourselves at all times?  Right Endeavor - Can you constantly try to improve yourselves?  Right Thought - Can you always try to have good and pure thoughts?  Can you pay respect and help others?

We, Buddhists, have precious opportunities to share with our Sangha the true meaning of humility as experienced in the practice of the Nembutsu teachings.  We can emphasize the humility means that you humble yourself to others and do the very best that you can.  With humility, the meaning of responsibility is harmoniously developed with willingness to serve others.  We can show it in our daily lives, not outwardly to blame others, but inwardly to review our own responsibilities with humility.  It certainly could be a cause that could change our self-centered society of disharmony to happy, harmonious, and peaceful world.  If each of us will realize the way of Nembutsu life by practicing the humility in our daily lives, the quality of our lives, Kyodan, community, country, and world will be better.  Let us practice the humility in our daily lives and realize our ignorance on the Jodo Shinshu Way of Life.

"Each of us, in outward bearing,  

Makes a show of being wise, good, and dedicated;

But so great are our greed, anger, perversity, and deceit, 

That we are filled with all forms of malice and cunning."

"Extremely difficult is it to put an end to our evil nature;

The mind is like a venomous snake or scorpion,

Our performance of good acts is also poisoned;

Hence, it is called false and empty practice."

                                         (The Collected Works of Shinran, P. 421)

Namo-Amidabutsu