Luck
Reverend Koho Takata
The other day, a woman visited our temple. She asked me to conduct a service. Because I had the time, I decided to conduct the service for her. However, she did not tell me what kind of service she wanted to have, I asked her whose service she wanted to have. She replied to me that she wanted to have a service for herself, not for her ancestors. Although most people have services for their beloved ones, this woman was different from others. I thought she must come to hear the Teachings. I felt she was wonderful. However, it was my misunderstanding.
Before the service, she showed me a ticket to Las Vegas. She told me that she was planning to go there the next day. So she asked me to pray for her to have the good luck. Although we do not pray for the good luck, I had the service to have an opportunity to share the Teachings with her. During the service, I shared the Buddha’s Teachings with her. I hope she understood our Teachings.
Even though I pray for her to win at Las Vegas, it does not give any effect at all. It depends on her luck. I cannot bring her any good luck by conducting the service. If the service would really bring good luck for her, I would have the service for myself first. Also, there are many persons that hang rosaries or good luck charms in their cars or homes. If the rosaries or good luck charms give a great effect for me, I would also put them in my car, home, and so forth. However, even if we do believe in such things as that, everything does not go as we wish.
"The Great Sage Sakyamuni teaches
That Amida’s land is easy to reach,
And calls the sentient being who doubts the Pure Land path
A person lacking eyes, or lacking ears."
(The Collected Works of Shinran, page 350)
Shinran Shonin mentioned that a person who believes in such superstitions and doubts Amida’s Primal Vow is a person who does not have real eyes to see and ears to listen. We need to entrust ourselves to Amida Buddha. Amida Buddha has vowed to save all beings at all times and in all places without any discriminations. The person who doubts Amida’s Vow will not hear His Teachings because he does not hear the voiceless voice.
We happened to have been born as human being and thus we have the chance to listen to the Teachings of Amida Buddha. Also, fortunately, we have two eyes to see and two ears to listen. So we can see and hear Amida Buddha calling with our inner eyes and ears. Let us listen to the voiceless voice of Amida Buddha and see the formless form of Amida Buddha in our heart of hearts.
Namo-Amidabutsu