Tradition
Sensei Koho Takata
“The Honpa Hongwanji is a community of people joined together by the gladness of a common faith in Amida Buddha. As Jodo Shin Buddhists, we shall seek to be humble and sincere in words and in deeds, to be responsible citizens of our society and to share with others the teachings of Jodo Shinshu. Understanding fully the principle of causality, we shall not practice petitionary prayer and magic, and do not depend on astrology and superstitions.” (From the Essentials of Jodo Shinshu)
This is the Tradition of Honpa Hongwanji. Those who listen to the Dharma and rejoice the Dharma at each moment regardless of nationality, sex, wealth, ethics, and so forth follow this Tradition as a Jodo Shin Buddhist. Do you follow this Tradition in your daily life?
After staying in Hawaii for about 10 years, it is my general impression that there are some misunderstood customs and practices in our teachings. I do not know the reason as to whether you are influenced by Christianity or various customs, practices, and teachings intermingled in the course of Japanese immigrants’ history. As a result, today, many people are practicing misunderstood practices. However, Shinran Shonin clearly negated those misunderstood customs and practices.
“Take refuge in the Buddha yourself, take refuge in the Dharma, and take refuge in the Sangha. Do not serve other teachings, do not worship devas, do not enshrine spirits, do not heed days considered lucky.” (CWS, P.255)
Many people believes that “Bachi” (punishments from the deceased or Buddha) will fall on the family or relatives if memorial service is not held before the actual memorial day; If you do not observe a bed side service, the deceased cannot be born into the Pure Land; If you do not put the mochi at each room, car, etc. in the new year, you do not have good luck for the year; If you do not have a good luck charm in your car, you have accident; When you build a grave, house, office, etc., the entrance, headstone, desks in the office, and so forth needs to be certain direction; etc. How about you? Do you believe and practice those things?
When we fill our satisfaction with a desire, the next desire comes up to us one after another. I live healthy this year so that I also want to be healthy the next year. I made this much money so that I want to make money more than the last time. Like this, we always observe the state of the present and desire to abide in a better state. However, do you really believe that you have good luck, health, fame, etc. by having good luck charms, and practicing superstitions or petitionary prayer?
You can make the effort to maintain good health all the time. You can be careful in your driving to avoid any accidents. You can work hard in making money. Like this, we can accomplish our desires by putting forth the effort. However, as you know, we humans are imperfect and limited. Even though we make the effort, if the situation and condition arises with us, we become sick, bankrupt, injury, etc.
There is a saying “a drowning man will grasp even at a straw.” You fully know that you cannot keep from drowning by merely holding onto at a mere straw. However, you try anything to survive in this world. Similarly, when we want something such as a better state, we depend on anything such as Buddha or god by believing superstition and practicing petitionary prayer. This is our weakness. Because of our weakness, we cannot see the truth. This is why we lose in following the wrong path such as believing superstitions.
“I follow the Teachings of the Buddha. Discerning the Right Path, I will spread the True Dharma.” (Shinshu Pledge)
Jodo Shinshu’s “Shin” means true. Shinran Shonin shows the True Path. It is Amida Buddha’s teachings. Although we are always blinded by many desires and passions, Amida Buddha always embraces us and never abandons us. Although we are imperfect beings, we are grasped by the hands of Amida Buddha as we are. Let us all be aware of what is the True and Right Path, and embody and rejoice the True Dharma in our daily lives.
“People of the world, being weak in virtue, engage in strife over matters which are not urgent….. they painstakingly toil for their living. Whether noble or corrupt, rich or poor, young or old, male or female, all people worry about wealth and property….. they run wildly in all directions and thus have no time for peace and rest. (The Three Pure Land Sutras, translated by H Inagaki, P. 282)