Article 49: “How many of you have attained faith? ”
It was my father’s sudden death in 1974 that prompted me to visit Shogyoji for the first time and join its Summer Training Assembly. It was on this occasion I was taught the depth of parental love.
After graduating from university I went to Toyota in Aichi Prefecture, to take up a new post, and then later moved to Tokyo. I began my career living away from my family and fellow believers for the first time in my life. This experience made me realize how immature I was and I suffered great loneliness. During this period I derived great comfort from reading “Go-on”, Shogyojis’ monthly publication, which was sent to my dormitory. It uplifted my spirit and made me feel as if I were back home in Kyushu.
My work was later transferred to Kyushu Office and I moved back home to my wife and two children. This change has given me an opportunity to express my innermost repentance and heartfelt gratitude to my parents in the M Family who brought me up with such self-sacrificing efforts, to my parents in the Y Family who accepted such an unworthy person as me to be their son, to my elder brother who brought me up as if he were my father, to my younger brother who despite my weaknesses accepted me as his elder brother and to my wife who has always been supportive.
With joined palms.
N.Y.
My appreciation of Rennyo
Shonin's words compiled in The Record of Rennyo Shonin's Sayings and Doings
(Rennyo-Shonin-Goichidai-ki- kikigaki)
Article 48: “Respecting one’s past karma.”
Shin Buddhists long ago established a “Toka-ko*”, one of four regular
faith meetings (Shi-ko), in present day Ishikawa Prefecture. As such the
K family, of Yamauchi-Go has been receiving Rennyo Shonin’s teachings,
either directly or indirectly, down many generations. The 27th of Rennyo
Shonin’s Uncollected Letters was addressed to his followers in those Shi-ko.
In my early school days, despite their busy lives, my parents never failed
to read out loud Rennyo’s Letters (Ofumi), in regular order, at their
daily morning and evening services. My mother, in an air of profound respect,
would hold up bowls of boiled rice, which my father would then offer to
our family Buddhist altar. This image is still very much alive in my mind
surpassing the limit of time and space.
In 1959 my self-centered arrogance brought my family to the deepest point
of ruination. Whilst I was laid up in this condition of being totally
lost and empty, my mother came to my bedside and said to me “I have no
intention of blaming you for what has happened. You were only receiving
the working of the evil karma of arrogance that stems from the K family’s
undeserved status.” I realize now I was too “immature” at that time to
understand the depth of my mother’s heartrending sorrow.
I have been suffering from karmic illness for the last several years and
my 80-year-old body is getting weak. During the last days of my life,
which don’t seem to be long, I would like to appreciate my parents’ love
that, I feel, still continues to be bestowed on me in a radiating light.
In Gassho.
E. K.
*A faith meeting held on the 10th of every month.
My
appreciation of Rennyo Shonin's words compiled in The Record of Rennyo
Shonin's Sayings and Doings (Rennyo-Shonin-Goichidai-ki- kikigaki)
Article 47: “There is never enough listening”
After having seen my father, the prop of my
family, depart for the Pure Land, I was certain to be left wandering in
difficult circumstances with no place to go. Consequently I now accept
this article to be a manifestation of the Great Compassion which embraces
me and encourages me to “listen to the Buddhist teachings without losing
the correct attitude of listening”. It admonishes me to stop thinking
“there is nothing else to be done”.
As my husband had been brought up in the atmosphere of Shogyoji’s Training
Assemblies, he used to pay frequent visits to the temple and drew the
greatest joy from Gagaku music lessons. In 1987 he was involved in a fatal
road accident and was suddenly gone from my sight forever. At that time,
late Dharma Mother Ekai-sama said to me gently “There is a world where
one doesn’t feel lonely even if left alone.”
On the 13th anniversary of my husband’s death I was led to a new life,
on being allowed to join the temple community. Just after joining, on
February 14, my father fell ill with a brain infarction and was hospitalized.
Eventually he passed away.
The head priest of Shogyoji compared my father to a prince in a folklore
*tale in which he sacrificed himself to save hungry tigers. Indeed my
father’s life was exactly like that of the prince. Since my husband passed
away, my father’s warm hands were always there to embrace me. I still
feel them.
J.T.
My appreciation of Rennyo
Shonin's words compiled in The Record of Rennyo Shonin's Sayings and Doings
(Rennyo-Shonin-Goichidai-ki- kikigaki)
Article 46: “Taking comfort in faith”
One month after being diagnosed with terminal cancer my husband
peacefully left Shogyoji’s Enokidera Taya for the Pure Land
After that we had to face various troubles. However, my eldest son, his wife, my grandson and myself were allowed to settle down in Rensei Dojo and are now living lives filled with joy and peace every day. We participate in the morning and evening services, and cleaning of the Buddha Hall, embraced by the blessings of heartwarming compassion filling the Samgha.
There was a period when I used to say; “I am ashamed of myself” and lamented
about my karma so much that my mind became clogged up with Buddhism. However,
after receiving the gift of faith, and being liberated from the bottom
of my heart, there is nothing for me to do but to pronounce nembutsu to
express my happiness and gratitude at obtaining comfort through faith.
I.Y.
My
appreciation of Rennyo Shonin's words compiled in The Record of Rennyo
Shonin's Sayings and Doings (Rennyo-Shonin-Goichidai-ki- kikigaki)
Article 45 "Doshu of Akao."
The late Dhama-Mother Ekai-sama called me
"Y-chan, Y-chan" and was very affectionate towards me. Once
she said to me, "All you need to do is just be here. You don't need
to understand any thing. Just say 'yes,' dear."
Twenty-four years have passed since that encounter. Whenever the going
has been tough I've heard Ekai-sama's voice in my heart telling me, "Just
say 'yes', dear." The head priest taught us that 'Unimpeded Light'
meant that light which pierces through the utter dark without changing
anything and without leaving us any place in which to hide. Now I understand
that such a place in which I have nowhere to hide has already been given
me.
"As a matter of daily concern, you should never neglect the morning
service at the family altar, you should make monthly visits to the nearest
temple to worship the School's Founder, Shinran Shonin; and each year
you should make a pilgrimage to the Head Temple [in Kyoto]." These
are the words of Doshu of Akao, one of Rennyo Shonin's disciples. Throughout
his whole life he strove to observe these three resolutions. Although
my way of seeking after truth cannot be compared to that of Doshu-sama,
I will never forget to continue to meet the Buddha of Infinite Light and
I will keep listening to the teachings of my master and predecessors.
I also want to go on appreciating the nembutsu, bequeathed wholeheartedly
by my grandfather, as well as continuing to encounter my parents. ".
Y. T.
My appreciation of Rennyo
Shonin's words compiled in The Record of Rennyo Shonin's Sayings and Doings
(Rennyo-Shonin-Goichidai-ki- kikigaki)
Article 44: “Look back at the old”
Being truly new means to live the present moment whilst at the
same time looking back at the old. There is a saying "It is by looking
back at the old that one comes to understand the new." At my father's
funeral service we received Dharma words from the head priest of Shogyoji,
"Your father lived for the last thirty years with a deep understanding
of the teaching that tells us that becoming a Buddha through the nembutsu
is the very essence of Shin Buddhism. He passed away with right mindfulness,
bequeathing the nembutsu as an invaluable legacy"
It was the expression "an invaluable legacy" used by the head
priest that led me to encounter the true love of my parents. "Stories
transmitted by word of mouth will surely disappear. What is written down
should last." Since the words of the head priest are true, it is
a very important task for me to pass them on to the next generation.
When I think of my parents I am able to appreciate all the favours that
I have received from the Buddha. The joy of this warms my heart.
T. F.
My appreciation of Rennyo
Shonin's words compiled in The Record of Rennyo Shonin's Sayings and Doings
(Rennyo-Shonin-Goichidai-ki- kikigaki)
Article 43: “If there is any person who has
attained faith I would like to invite that person to meet me.”
My husband died of cancer in 1982. He was always saying, “I consider
myself very lucky because I was able to meet the late Dhama Mother Ekai-sama
as well as one of my precursors, Mr M. I. I have no regrets regarding
my life.” When I watched him pass away whilst reciting the nembutsu, it
completely transformed my attitude. Thirteen years have already passed
since I first started life in the Rensei Dojo (Training Centre) following
my husband’s death. The morning and evening services are my whole life.
Now my only wish is to pass the joy of faith on to my children and grand
children.
T. Y.
Article 42: “Hoonko under the severe social conditions prevailing in the 6th year of Meio (1497)”
My father’s company having connections with Shogyoji Temple, my father underwent a course of introspection there at the age of sixty-nine, as a result of which his appraisal of his own self changed dramatically. Up until then, he declared, he had always thought of himself as a good person and believed others also saw him as such. His confidence was broken, however, at the moment his true nature came to light and he saw himself instead as someone extremely evil. Entrusting himself just as he was to Amida Buddha, he was saved by the nembutsu that sprang from deep within himself. My father used to describe the joy of his conversion with all the honesty and exuberance of a youth and would constantly express his undying gratitude for everything that had been given him during that session at Shogyoji.
Afterwards my father moved into a house adjacent to Shogyoji and lived there until his death at the age of 85 on 21st of May 1991. His days in that house were filled with joy. For my father that happy time was worth more than anything in the world. “All is empty, I’d say.” “There is only the nembutsu, isn’t there?” Those were the words spoken by my father just two hours before his passing away. On hearing those words I made up my mind to continue to listen to the True Teaching, which had been the basis of my late father’s great joy, and to follow the path my father had chosen for the rest of my life.
J. T.
Article 41: “Before you see your visitors off, let them know about ‘one thought [of faith]’.”
By a strange coincidence, today is the anniversary of the death of my late husband, K. T, a naval officer and chief engineer with the submarine I-Goh.
Now at last I have come to understand that it was just for me that my husband laid down his young life far away in the deep, dark ocean. If it had not been for his suffering, for his death by drowning far out at the sea, I would not be here as I am today. Nevertheless, I have been going on unconcernedly with my life, justifying my understanding of his "death in battle" as an inevitable consequence of war and using it as a sort of breakwater to protect myself. When finally my true portrait came to light, when I saw myself as someone who had been living without the slightest sense of shame or compunction , I could find not a single word to excuse. There was nothing to be done but be penitent. The great compassion of Ekai-sama and of the head priest, Chimyo-sama, was beyond description. Their unconditional love embraced my karma, even though it had seen my husband die in action and kept making me hurt others, and their kindness allowed me to join in this warm temple community. Their great love also permitted me to have so many pieces of Uchishiki (formal Buddhist table cloth) embroidered, and they even bestowed on me a Dharma name "Zuie" or Auspicious Cloth. I don't know how to express my gratitude toward them for all they have done for me.
H.T.
My appreciation of Rennyo
Shonin's words compiled in The Record of Rennyo Shonin's Sayings and Doings
(Rennyo-Shonin-Goichidai-ki- kikigaki)
Article 40: "Attempting to deal with the
self is a part of sundry practice."
My grandparents revered the head priest of their family temple
as their master and humbly followed his teaching.
Because of the transformation of my father’s karma into merit, our Dharma
Mother, Ekai-sama, kindly consented to convert our family house into an
accommodation to the East of the temple, “Higashi Tsumesho,” in 1953,
in accordance with my grandparents’ wishes. In Japan there is a saying:
"In front of temples dwell hungry ghosts." Be that as it may,
a large number of followers were able to attain birth in the Pure Land
in nembutsu following introspective sessions at the Tsumesho. Thanks to
the merits thus accrued, the members of our family, despite being rather
a hopeless bunch of people, were similarly led to follow the great path
of Amida Buddha, feeling grateful for all that was done for us and at
the same time enjoying the great love and compassion that even fire cannot
destroy. Indeed my grandmother was moved to tears by Ekai-sama's great
compassion and, as her final wish in life, had a small bridge built within
the temple precincts as a donation to Shogyoji, known as the "Kankibashi"
or Bridge of Joy. Whenever I pass by that bridge it reminds me of my grandmother
and of all that she did for me.
N. H.