About 2 months ago, our Dharma School visited Koloa Jodo Mission and observed a combined Sunday service. They enjoyed playing with Rev. Ishikawa, a fellowship with their members, observing a different style of the service, and so forth. Thank you very much, Rev. & Mrs. Ishikawa and members of Koloa Jodo Mission for your hospitality.

As you know, the founder of Jodo Shinshu is Shinran Shonin. Do you know who is his master? It is Honen Shonin, the founder of Jodo Mission. This is why the teachings of Shinran Shonin and Honen Shonin, Hongwanji and Jodo Mission, are very similar except the recitation of the Nembutsu.

During the combined service, Rev. Ishikawa gave us the opportunity to hit the "Mokugyo". It was also first experience for me. Do you know what is the "Mokugyo"? It is a wooden instrument. We hit a small handheld "Mokugyo" for the recitation of the Nembutsu. However, as the recitation became faster and faster, I guess our Dharma School children could not follow to hit the "Mokugyo" to the speed of recitations. They panicked. As the result, they started to laugh among themselves. I knew we should not laugh during the service, however, I also could not stop laughing. Finally, I could not recite the Nembutsu as I was hitting the "Mokugyo". Through this first experience of hitting the "Mokugyo", I realized how difficult it is to concentrate on reciting the Nembutsu and meditate for even a minute.

There is a story. Once upon a time, there were four monks sitting down around a lighted candle. They were meditating. They opened their eyes slightly, and closed their mouth tightly. During meditation, they supposed to empty their minds. Of course, they were not supposed to talk. Suddenly, a wind blew out the candle. Then, the first monk said, "Say looks! A wind blew out the candle light." Then, the second one shouted, "Keep your mouth shut. We are meditating now." Hearing this, the third one said, "You are talking, too." The last one whispered, "I am the only one who kept mouth shut." Like this story, it is very difficult for us to practice the meditation.

Yuka & I have a family service every evening. Recently, Mai joined the service. Although she cannot recite the Nembutsu perfectly yet, she is saying something. I can hear it as if she is reciting the Nembutsu like "Namu, Namu, Namu." At any rate, there are different kinds of recitation of the Nembutsu. One is to recite the Nembutsu by your own power to be born into the Amida’s Pure Land (Honen Shonin’s teaching). The other is to recite the Nembutsu by totally relying on Amida Buddha without any self calculations (Shinran Shonin’s teaching). Which is your way of recitation? If you are a member of Hongwanji or a follower of Shinran Shonin, your recitation of the Nembutsu is not coming from you. It should be free of your self-reliant thoughts, calculations, and power.

Shinran Shonin wrote this hymn in order for people to be aware of futility of doubting the Amida Buddha’s Primal Vow. Amida’s Primal Vow is to save all beings at all times and in all places without any discrimination. If you doubt the Primal Vow, your recitation will not be coming from Amida Buddha. However, if you truly put your faith in Amida’s Primal Vow, you will be able to be one with Amida Buddha. It is oneness. We are always together with Amida Buddha. You will realize it when you recite the Nembutsu, Namo-Amidabutsu.