For the past few months, I have been focusing upon the theme: “Everything that has a beginning has an end.” This is one of the fundamental realizations that the historical Sakyamuni Buddha came to understand as a truth of human life. It is a reality that at times, we seem to forget or we put in the back of our minds.
Last month, I wrote my article just prior to going to Japan to attend the 750th Memorial Service at the Ohtani Hombyo, Shinran’s mausoleum. It was a very grand affair with a total of 16,000 people attending the weeklong services. The service began at 1 PM with a special lecture followed by a selection of songs from an area chorus. At 1:40 came a procession of Ochigo children and the entry of at least 100 priests dressed in richly multicolored robes. The actual rituals for the service began at 2 followed by words from the Gomonshu, Koshin Ohtani the 24th Generational descendant of Shinran Shonin. The service finally concluded around 3:30 PM.
As part of the ceremony, the first ministers to enter were the last to leave. This meant that these poor individuals had to sit Japanese style on their knees for about 2 hours. As much as I am sure that it is an honor to participate in the ceremony as one of the participating priests for this once-in-a-lifetime event, I was so glad just to be a spectator minister sitting comfortably in a chair. I could imagine the pain and suffering of these priests as they had to endure sitting without fidgeting, then after 2 hours, to be able to pop up and walk out as part of the recessional. I remember having to do something similar for only an hour or so during my ordinations. But I was a lot younger and skinnier then. There would be no way that I could do it now.
While these ministers were sitting in seiza, perhaps they focused upon “Everything that has a beginning has an end,” to help them cope with their pain and suffering. Knowing that there is an end to the service could have helped them to endure the pins and needles especially as they stood up. However, If I were to put myself in their shoes (or knees), I think that I would have focused upon a more vulgar version of this elegant teaching: “When is this @#$% service going to end?”
Again, I felt lucky that I did not have to endure such physical agony. I did, however, have to deal with a suffering of a different kind during the seminar that brought me to Japan.
It was at our first meeting during the orientation session of the Hongwanji Overseas Seminar that I received the shocking news. As I was flipping the pages of our orientation book I came to see the schedule for our various activities. Right after our orientation we were to head over to the Hongwanji Administration building for Opening service with the Go-monshu. As I looked over the contents of that service, I noticed that representing the Overseas districts participants for words of greeting was, my friend Rev. Eric Matsumoto of Hawaii. I gave a huge sigh of relief, “I am so glad that it wasn’t me!!!” Rev. Matsumoto is fluent in both English and Japanese. He would have no problems. But then I looked further down in the program and found that a banquet had been scheduled for the following evening at a 5 star hotel. After the formal dinner, an address was to be delivered by one of the Overseas seminar participants. Who was assigned to give that address? Rev. Dean Koyama. I let our a huge groan, “Why ME??!!!” I had to give a message in front of the Gomonshu in a very formal banquet setting.
I became so nervous. It didn’t help to find out that Rev. Matsumoto had been given a weeks notice to prepare for his message. I had been given just one day to prepare. It didn’t help knowing that I choose not to bring a suit for this occasion thinking that if I had to wear a tie, I would be wearing my robes. And it was later compounded when I found out that not only did I have to give a talk in front of the Gomonshu, but I also had to sit at the same dinner table with him as well. I couldn’t enjoy the wonderful dinner that had been prepared at the hotel.
Don’t get me wrong, it is not that I dislike the Gomonshu. It is just that he is like royalty. He is like the Pope, Dalai Lama, or President Obama. I am just not accustomed to be in the presence of such esteem people. I have spoken at a conference in front of 500 people before. The gathering with the Gomonshu was only 20 people at the most, but I had never felt my stomach so tied up in knots before.
All during the dinner, I was tense, anxious, sweating, and uptight. I didn’t say much in terms of conversation at the dinner table. I kept thinking, “When is this @#$% banquet going to end?” Then I heard my name. It was time for my talk and when it was over, I felt a great relief lifted off of my shoulders. “Everything that has a beginning has an end.” The Gomonshu left the room and the banquet was over.
While we are in the midst of suffering and hardship, it is difficult to see an end in sight and time seems to come to a complete stop. However, as the Buddha realized, even sufferings and pain has an end. They are temporary. When we are caught up in the busyness of the year, we feel as if it will last forever and wonder when it will all end. And yet, the year never fails to end and a new one begins. In the same way does our lives begin and end with each breath we take in and let go. Because we can inhale and exhale, we are fortunate to live another moment, another day, another year.
This past year the MVBT has been the location for many activities and events. It was a full year. We hosted the Coast District Young Buddhist League conference with people attending not only from our home district but also Northern, Central and Southern California as well. We hosted a national Dharma School Teachers conference with close to 300 teachers in attendance. In addition we were hosts for a Coast District youth retreat in the summer, a Reunion Dance benefiting the BCA Jodo Shinshu Center’s Center for Buddhist Education and at the end of the year we will host another CD youth retreat. It has been an extremely busy year for me. While I was in the midst of all these activities, I probably (really did) complained and bickered. While in the midst of all these activities, I failed to express my appreciation and gratitude. And all the more so do I need to take this time right here and now, to thank everyone for their support, energy and willingness to help make all of these activities great successes. We truly have a unique temple where we can accomplish all these activities and events and continue to keep a smile on our faces. It is because of you that we can do all that we can do. Once again, thank you for a wonderful, purposeful, and meaningful 2009 year.
May 2010 be filled with happiness and gratitude.
May it be filled with Nembutsu.
Gassho, Rev. Dean, Linda, Justin, Curtis, and Tommy – January 2010
Copyright 2010 - Mountain View Buddhist Temple