Respect
Reverend Koho Takata
About one month ago, about 30 members went to Kokee to clean the Hongwanji camp and stayed overnight. Next day, we had a youth retreat at Kokee. About 100 members gathered there including Lihue & West Kauai Hongwanji members. We had a very good time. However, during the stay at Kokee and after coming back from Kokee, I heard some complaints or comments from adults and children. Both sides had different opinions. So, I would like to share with you about my opinions through the Teachings.
It was the first opportunity for adults and children of our members to stay overnight together since I came to Kapaa. I think we had a very good experience and we could learn through this. If it was one’s fault, he or she can change the attitude for next time. So we had an evaluation meeting with children & some of adults. The main point which we discussed was a luck of respect. We should respect others regardless of age, sex, color, and so forth.
In general, children respect adults. Because adults are living longer than children and they had more experience than children. So we usually express our respect to parents and adults. However, how do you think about adults? Do they need to respect children or not? I think they also should respect children. Because all humans are equally respectable existence whether they are young or old, rich or poor, male or female, and so forth. We do not discriminate anyone. From Buddha’s Compassionate eyes, all beings are equally. However, we always compare with others. From our eyes, all beings are not equally. We say, "because you are young, you should do this; because you are female, you cannot do this; and so forth." We always assess others through our discriminative eyes. We should follow our Teachings more, not our own ways.
Every Sunday morning, we recite the Shinshu Pledge in the services. Let us remember the Shinshu Pledge.
"I take my refuge in the Vow of the Buddha. Reciting his sacred Name, I will live through life with strength and serenity.
I adore the Light of the Buddha. I will put my effort in my work with self-reflection and gratitude.
I follow the Teachings of the Buddha. Discerning the Right Path, I will spread the True Dharma.
I rejoice in the Compassion of the Buddha. I will respect and help others and do my best for the welfare of mankind."
One day, one of our members told me, "our recitation of Shinshu Pledge or other recitations is very fast. I want to recite more slowly. Then, I will be able to think what I am reciting in my mind." Like this member, we should recite not only with our mouth but also in our minds and hearts. We always need to keep this pledge in our minds and hearts.
Now, do you remember last year’s Hongwanji slogan? It was "live the Dharma Ohana - in the spirit of Rennyo Shonin." Ohana means family. Rennyo Shonin expanded the importance of ‘companions and fellow Nembutsu practicers (On-Dobo, On-Dogyo).’ He was critical of such discriminatory ideas as "I am old and you are young; I am male and you are female; I am a member who always donates and you are not; and so forth." He believed we are all fellow Nembutsu practicers walking in Shinran Shonin’s True Nembutsu way. So our membership is like family. For me, Dharma School & Jr. YBA members are like my brothers and sisters. Sr. YBA members are like my parents and grandparents. Fujinkai ladies are like my grandmothers. Like this, we are all family members.
Now, do you know this year’s slogan. I hope all of you know the slogan. It is "home - talk story together." The brochure mentioned; "A home is a place where the families relate each other with love and care. Unlike a house which is meant to be a structure or building, a home is a domicile of family ties and domestic comfort."
Each one of you has a home and a family. Because there is a home and a family, we can live at ease. However, do you know where is your spiritual home and spiritual family? I think that a home is a place where we hear and learn the Teachings of the Buddha. It is not only at the temple but also at your home, school, community, on the beach, and so forth. Also, one of the collections of sutra mentioned, "A family is a place where minds come in contact with one another, the home will be as beautiful as a flower garden. But if these minds get out of harmony with one another, it is like a storm that plays havoc with the garden. If discord arises within one’s family, one should not blame others but should examine one’s own mind and follow a Right Path." How about our family and home of Kapaa Hongwanji? Is our Kapaa Hongwanji’s home like beautiful garden or storm?
Through staying at Kokee, I think we had a very good experience to think about ourselves and learn about Teachings. If you think it was your fault, you can correct your fault. You do not need to be ashamed of yourself. Everybody makes mistakes including myself. Let us keep the mind of ‘oneness’ in our minds and hearts at all times and grow and work together through the Teachings in our daily lives.
In closing my sharing, I would like to share the words of Rennyo Shonin. "The faults of others are easily seen. The faults of one’s own one do not realize. If we realize anything wrong with us, this means it is so much wrong that it becomes known to us. We should take things this way and mend our minds. Only trust wells in what others say. We are prone to overlook our own faults."
Namo-Amidabutsu