July 20, 2002
My appreciation of the utterance of Rennyo Shonin compiled in The Record
of Rennyo Shoninfs Sayings and Doings (Rennyo-Shonin-Goichidai-ki- kikigaki)
T. U.
Article 59 : Preparing for the day when I depart this
world.
My father first met Dharma Master Jokan Chikazumi
through our family temple and this in turn later led to his encounter
with Daigyoin-sama. From 1914 Daigyoin-sama selflessly taught my father
for twenty-six years and under our reverend masterfs guidance my father
became a priest in 1939.
In 1940, however, my father died suddenly of a stroke.
When I think of his anguish at leaving behind his children, including
my three young sisters, I can do nothing but pronounce the nembutsu. After
my fatherfs death, my mother bought a house in front of the gates of Shogyoji
Temple and moved in together with her younger children. Since then forty-five
years have passed as if in a dream. Now my three grandchildren are all
under the care of the Head Priest in the Shogyoji Samgha. I too live in
a corner of the temple precincts and since 1989 Ifve been a member of
the group responsible for cleaning the Buddha Shrine. All the elder people
I used to work with have already left for the Pure Land. My wish is to
keep going on along this path, preparing for the day ? not so far away
now ? that I too shall depart this world.
With palms together.
July 20, 2002
My appreciation of the utterance of Rennyo Shonin compiled in The Record
of Rennyo Shoninfs Sayings and Doings (Rennyo-Shonin-Goichidai-ki- kikigaki)
Y. K.
Article 58 : gTo know the deepest dimensions
of Buddha-dharma.h
In 1988, I decided to settle near Shogyoji temple in the hope that
the young married couple in my family could obtain inner peace. When I
visited the temple to inform them of the move, Bomori-sama (the wife of
the head priest) spoke to me as I left. I was touched by the great compassion
she showed to my own child, greater even than that of true parents, and
the word gYesh sprang out of my mouth. At the same time, I felt as though
a heavy burden had been lifted from my shoulders.
Without being aware of the fact that I was evil, how much I had been hurting
my own family members. By virtue of a session of introspection, my heart
is now filled with penitence and gratitude toward those around me, expressed
by the words gI really have no excuseh, gI am so sorryh and gThank you
very muchh.
The things that were most painful to me - my most disgusting evil karma
- have been transformed into good karmic conditions and have become my
treasures. Now I understand that the words, gTo know the deepest dimensions
of Buddha-dharmah means to receive those treasures with thanks.
With palms together.
July
11, 2002
My appreciation of Rennyo Shoninfs words compiled in The Record of Rennyo
Shoninfs Sayings and Doings (Rennyo-Shonin-Goichidai-ki- kikigaki) K.
E.
Article 57 : gDevout Buddhists are born amongst
the descendants of those
who liked to decorate and cherish Buddhist
scriptures.h
On encountering the fire at our temple, Kofukuji Temple, in 1962 my mother-in-law
experienced an awakening and started visiting Shogyoji Temple on a regular
basis. She was on good terms with my own mother, likewise a regular participant
at the Dharma meetings of Shogyoji, and communicated with her as a true
Dharma friend.
My mother-in-law was rarely self-assertive. In her latter days, however,
she went ahead and spoke with quiet confidence with the head priest of
a different temple whose connection with Kofukuji Temple meant that he
was expected to conduct her funeral: gI hope you wonft mind if I ask Shogyoji-sama
to conduct my funeral,h she said, gbecause it was there I was saved by
the nembutsu whilst still living in this world.h The other priest accepted
her request and her funeral service was indeed conducted by the Head Priest
of Shogyoji.
Embraced by the great compassion of our late Dharma-mother Ekai-sama,
each of my three sons had the honour of being ordained as Shin Buddhist
priest by the late Sennyo Shonin, the then Supreme Primate of Higashi
Hongannji. Most especially my third son was allowed to live in the Shogyoji
Samgha and has been receiving a thorough-going education entirely beyond
the capability of his own parents.
Through preparatory study for this Dharma meeting, I became fully awakened
to the reality of my irredeemable self and the infinite compassion of
the Buddha that has saved even such a hopeless person as me. I would like
to express my gratitude by making a resolution to dedicate myself to Amida
Buddha for the rest of my life.
With palms together.
July 11, 2002
My appreciation of the utterances of Rennyo Shonin compiled in The Record
of Rennyo Shoninfs Sayings and Doings (Rennyo-Shonin-Goichidai-ki- kikigaki)
K. M
Article 56 : gDeal with matters according to
the Buddha-dharma.h
When I underwent my first session of introspection I found there
was still a strong desire in me to build up my own self-confidence. In
other words I had nothing in mind but the desire to use the Buddha-dharma
as a way of backing up and supporting my actions.
In spite of studying the Buddha-dharma, I was still only able to understand it from a worldly viewpoint, priotising the realities of this world. Because of the karmic conditions of my family at the time I was unable to make my daughter happy at home.
It was, therefore, a great joy for our family to have our daughter marry
a Buddhist priest. The marriage brought light and salvation to our family.
I would like to go forward now together with my daughter, vowing to devote
ourselves wholeheartedly to the Buddha in total harmony with the Samgha.
With palms together.
My
appreciation of the utterances of Rennyo Shonin compiled in The Record
of Rennyo Shoninfs Sayings and Doings (Rennyo-Shonin-Goichidai-ki- kikigaki)K.
N.
Article 55 : gThere are few, if any, truly able to
listen.h
When I was 17 years old my elder sister got
married. Just before the wedding ceremony, the truth about my family was
revealed to me. I will never forget what happened that night. My sister
said to me with tears in her eyes, gT, you are actually only my half-brother.
I was born of a different mother.h I was speechless with astonishment.
After a time she asked me in an almost inaudible voice whether I would
still accept her as my sister. I replied that ever since I had come into
being she had always been my sister and that nothing would change. With
tears streaming down our faces, we truly became brother and sister on
that day.
Thanks to the opportunity I have been given to speak to
you of my appreciation of Article 55, I have found myself looking back
over the past, recalling people and events that should never be forgotten:
the path I myself have followed right up to the present day, for example,
the many favours I received from all of you, the personal story of my
parents, how my family started first and of course every family member.
With palms together.
My appreciation of the
utterances of Rennyo Shonin compiled in The Record of Rennyo Shoninfs
Sayings and Doings (Rennyo-Shonin-Goichidai-ki- kigaki)
Article 53 : [Hokyo said to Rennyo Shonin,]
gThe problem is my mind does not work as you have taught me.h
The gulf between my words and my actions mirrored the so-called
split between tatemae (official stance) and honne (real intention) and
my mind remained cast in doubt. Consequently I often found myselfcompletely
estranged from the teachings I had learned from my parents or mentors.
Whilst advocating the importance of gJapanese hearth and gAncestral virtueh my words did not accord with my actions or thoughts. In effect I coveted luxury, status and fame just as much as the next man. My actions, words and intentions were completely odds with one another even as Hokyo describes it when he confessed, gThe problem is my mind does not work as you have taught me.h Now I feel very ashamed of the state I was in.
My connection with Shogyoji Temple is the ultimate encounter that has
enabled me to live my life in the best way possible. I am learning ghow
to face deathh and ghow to live this present momenth.
With palms together.
In Gassho
Y. F.
Article 52 : gIt is not really possible for anyone to misread my lettersh
After her attainment of faith my grandmother was content simply to revere her master for the rest of her life. She had her head shaved and adopted the shape of a nun in accordance with her masterfs instructions.
My late Dharma-mother, Ekai-sama, reproached me fiercely when she learned of my grandmotherfs death, demanding, gEven in a period of wartime deprivation how could you have let your grandma die of malnutrition!h This fierce reprimand proved the turning point in my life, bringing about as it did my conversion to Shin Buddhism.
My father at the time was living near the temple. Engraved in his mind were the words gMasterfs instructions are more important even than the Royal Commandh and he led a spiritual life in the firm conviction that elistening to the Buddha Dharmaf should be the centre of his daily life. In order to support his family during the aftermath of the Second World War, however, he felt compelled to move to Tagawa with his wife and children. He agonized over his inability to follow his masterfs instructions and the image of this anguished father of mine is still vivid in my memory. I was helpless to alleviate his pain, however, and on the contrary simply took for granted that I was totally dependent on him. Such an attitude on my part clearly shows that I was guilty of patricide.
The path of a tranquil life in the Samgha, just pronouncing the nembutsu on its own was the one and only treasure for me, a person without any good past karma. With palms together
In Gassho
M.O. @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
Article 51 : gPronouncing the Name is nembutsu with great willingness.h
@At the Spring Assembly of 1980 the Head Priest brushed the Japanese words gTo Be Born in the House of Tathagata" on the front page of The Shin Buddhist Sacred Book h was given during the same assembly by the temple and said "You will understand the meaning of these words in due course." Twenty-two years have passed since then. In time I came to learn that the "House of Tathagata" means the "House in which dwells the Tathagata" and also the "House wherein Tathagatas are born". I understand now that the "house" is a place filled with the joy of nembutsu that wells from the hearts of devotees like myself who have taken refuge in Amida Tathagata and been embraced by the light that never abandons anyone who recites the nembutsu and whose birth in the Pure Land has already been assured.
@Pronouncing the nembutsu with great willingness, I feel myself renewed
in both body and mind. I would like to live a life of nembutsu every day
as an expression of my gratitude for all that has been done for me.
In Gassho
M.O.
Article 50 : gIf you have the chance to listen, listen to the point." said my master.
@This instruction tells us to listen to Rennyo Shonin's Dharma talk with great care so that we do not miss the point of what Rennyo Shonin is saying.
@My husband firmly believed that Shogyoji Temple was the only place where he could be saved and entrusted himself completely to the benevolence of the late Dharma Mother, Ekai-sama, and of the present Head Priest. After collapsing due to multiple cerebral infarctions he was confined to bed. Although he had lived a life devoted to Buddhism, it must have been agony for him because of worries about his family and that in turn must have made it difficult for him to leave for the Pure Land. Eventually all the members of our family one after another underwent a session of introspection which enabled them to free themselves of their delusions. It was only then that my husband felt sufficiently relieved to be able to take his leave of us for the Pure Land.
@Ever since the session of introspection he underwent five years ago, my eldest son has been going to the temple once a week to listen to the teaching and stay overnight. Although formerly I had little to do with Buddhism, the fact of marrying into the M family has meant that for more than forty years now I have been constantly supported and protected by Amida Buddha. I would like to express my deepest gratitude for this gift of faith.
In Gassho
J. M.