Sunday, January 9, 2005

Coordinator: Sensei

I now ring the bell. Let us listen to the sound. Let us feel the impermanence with our whole body and senses. Let us prepare ourselves to listen to the Dharma and practice the Dharma.

    AMy eyes being hindered by blind passions,

        I cannot perceive the light that grasps me;

        Yet the great compassion, without tiring,

        Illuminates me always.@

Good morning everyone. Welcome to the Dharma Practice Service. This morning, I would like to focus on Life and Death. As you all know by reading newspaper, watching TV, and listening to the radio, there were Indian Ocean earthquake and Tsunami. Many people lost their lives. Many people are missing and their families are looking for them. Many people are suffering on this disaster. This morning, as we observe a memorial service for the Tsunami victims, let us reflect upon ourselves and appreciate this life which is sustained by many other beings and things. Let us now begin the Dharma Practice Service with the opening reading.

(Sensei) Hard it is to be born into human life; now we are living in it. Difficult it is to hear the Teachings of the Buddha; now we hear them. If we do not gain emancipation in this present life, we may not be free from ill-faring in the ocean of births and deaths for kalpas. Let us reverently take refuge in the Three Treasures.

(All) We go to the Sangha for guidance. May we always walk in the way that leads to Enlgihtenment.

We go to the Dharma for guidance. May we be submerged in the depth of the Teachings and gain Wisdom as deep as the ocean.

We go to the Sangha for guidance. May we all with one accord live the life of harmony in the spirit of brotherhood, free from the bondage of selfishness.

(Sensei) Even though myriads of kalpas, hard it is to hear such excellent and profound teachings. Now we are able to hear and receive them. Let us try to understand the Tathagata=s Teachings.

Today=s collection will be going to Indian Tsunami Relief Fund collected by Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii.

    Bell (four times)

    Meditation

    Bell (one time)

(All) Concerning compassion, there is a difference between the Path of Sages and the Path of Pure Land.

Compassion in the Path of Sages is to pity, sympathy, and care for all beings. It is extremely difficult, however, to accomplish the saving of others just as one wishes.

Compassion in the Pure Land Path should be understood as first attaining Buddhahood quickly through saying the nembutsu and, with the mind of great love and great compassion, freely benefitting sentient beings as one wishes.

However much love and pity we may feel in our present lives, it is hard to save others as we wish; hence, such compassion remains unfulfilled. Only the saying of the nembutsu, then, is the mind of great compassion that is thoroughgoing.

(All) In silently contemplating the transient nature of human existence, nothing is more fragile and fleeting in this world than the life of man. Thus, we have not heard of human life lasting for a thousand years. Life swiftly passes and who among men can maintain his form for even a hundred years?

Whether I go before others, or others go before me; whether it be today, or it be tomorrow, who is to know? Those who leave before us are as countless as the drops of dew. Though in the morning we may have radiant health, in the evening we may return to white ashes. When the winds of impermanence blow, our eyes are closed forever; and when the last breath leaves us, our face loses its color.

Though loved ones gather and lament, everything is to no avail. The body is then sent into an open field and vanishes from this world with the smoke of cremation, leaving only the white ashes.

There is nothing more real than this truth of life. The fragile nature of human existence underlies both the young and old, and therefore we must, one and all, turn to the teachings of the Buddha and awaken to the ultimate source of life.

By so understanding the meaning of death, we shall come to fully appreciate the meaning of this life which is unrepeatable and thus to be treasured above all else. By virtue of true compassion, let us realize the irreplaceable value of human life, and let us together live with the Nembutsu in our hearts.

With reverence, I remain

    Bell (four times)

    Meditation

    Bell (one time)

I am a link in Amida Buddha=s Golden Chain of Love that stretches around the world. I must keep my link bright and strong.

I will try to be kind and gentle to every living thing and protect all who are weaker than myself.

I will try to think pure and beautiful thoughts, to say pure and beautiful words, and to do pure and beautiful deeds, knowing that on what I do now depends not only my happiness or unhappiness, but also those of others.

May every link in Amida Buddha=s Golden Chain of Love become bright and strong, and may we all attain perfect peace.

(All) With a foolish being full of blind passions, in this fleeting world-this burning house-all matters without exception are empty and false, totally truth and sincerity. The nembutsu alone is true and real.