Nembutsu Life
Reverend Koho Takata
One of members often tells me, "Show the way of life in accord with Jodo Shinshu Teachings. It is difficult for me to understand the teachings of Shinran Shonin." I also think so. It is difficult to understand the teachings of Jodo Shinshu and Buddhism. Although I received "Tokudo" ordination at 15 years old over 15 years ago, and have been practicing the ministry since then, I am still learning the teachings through my everyday life experiences. I will be learning Jodo Shinshu Teachings throughout my life as one of followers of Shinran Shonin.
He mentions, "because the Teachings of Jodo Shinshu lacks in clarity and difficult to understand, this is contributing the decline of membership. In other words, they do not have any interest in our religion. New members do not join our religion. If our membership does not increase, we will not be able to maintain our temple and religion in the future."
Last month, members of Senior Buddhist Association watched some videos of Rennyo Shonin. Do you remember his teaching? "We say that Shinjin prospers. But it does not mean that it prospers just because men gather in large numbers and because there are pomp and power. When people, be it even a single person, obtain Shinjin, only then can we say that it prospers. The flourishing of Jodo Shinshu, which teaches single-minded Shinjin, depends upon deepening of Shinjin in the individual." As I think myself as one of followers, it is unimportant to be concerned the numbers of membership as an indicator of prosperity. I feel that it is nothing but egoistic satisfaction to display the way of life in order to appeal to others and hence increase interest and numbers of membership. It is more important for me to reflect upon myself as a Nembutsu follower. In other words, the substance is the most important. Because the temple is not a company. Jodo Shinshu is not business. It is my religion and teachings. I cannot control their Shinjin by merely appealing our teachings. I did not come to Hawaii as a minister just to increase numbers of membership. It is totally depend on you whether you accept Nembutsu or not. Before you think about others, you should reflect upon yourself on the Dharma.
Now, what is the way of life in accord with the teachings? It is solely the Nembutsu life for me. It means that it is to realize my evilness (the existence of my ineradicable egoism) and ignorance (the limitations of my capacities) through the guidance of Amida’s teachings. At the same time, it is to realize Amida’s greatness, without any doubt or apprehension, which is Primal Vow (to save all beings at all times and all places without any discriminations). Shinran Shonin taught us the importance of listening the teachings for realizing our ignorance and Amida’s greatness.
"The word hear in the passage from the [Larger] Sutra means that sentient beings, having heard how the Buddha’s Vow arose - its origin and fulfillment - are altogether free of doubt. This is to hear."
(The Collected Works of Shinran, P. 112)
Are you hearing the teachings in your daily life? Although you may say that I cannot attend services regularly because of my business is busy, I cannot understand Rev. Takata’s Dharma message because of his lack of English ability. However, you can hear or listen to the Buddha’s teachings everywhere and every time. The places which you receive the teachings is not only at the Kapaa Hongwanji. Without listening, how you can understand your religion and how you can realize the way of life on the teachings?
It is a great opportunity for us, as Buddhists, to share with our sangha the true meaning of Nembutsu life on the teachings. We can realize our evilness and ignorance through the Dharma. With this humility, our social relationship takes on a new glow of harmony and thoughtfulness. We can show it in our daily lives. It certainly could be a noble cause that could change our self-centered society of disharmony to happy, harmonious, and peaceful group of mankind. If each of us will realize the way of Nembutsu life to produce a fulfilling quality of our lives, our Kyodan, community, and the world will be better. This is my understanding of our teachings for each of us to realize our evilness, ignorance, and Amida’s Primal Vow on the Jodo Shinshu Way of Life.
Namo-Amidabutsu