Lost Lives

Posted on July 6, 2022 Updated on July 6, 2022

May all beings find comfort and peace of mind in the midst of tragedy and loss.  We send forth loving thoughts to those in sorrow and pain.  We share in the tragedy of loss.  We have all experienced loss, tragedy and separation.  When we do, we cry out in sorrow.  When we cry and shed tears of pain and loss we join a chorus of thousands of others who have suffered loss.  At that moment no one is alone, we are all one as we cry out in sorrow.  We are one with those who have cried in the past, with those who cry today and with those who cry tomorrow.

When the tears dry, the sadness and loneliness is replaced with a deeper appreciation and gratitude for the lives lost.  Like the sun that turns tasteless bitter fruit into sweetness, the truth of life transforms our tears of sorrow into the sweet appreciation for having touched the lives of others.

The Buddha promises that lives lost are embraced and they will achieve the birth of going to the Pure Land of the Buddha where they will completely awaken to Buddha-hood.  As we mourn the loss of lives over that past months and remember and honor their lives, it becomes the condition where they having become Buddhas are helping us to meet and hear the truth of life.

They are helping us understand that no life is lived in vain and that death cannot simply destroy or erase a life. Their lives have meaning that is eternal and has no ending and their lives continue to touch ours.

Lives lost are helping us hear the turning of the wheel of the Dharma (Truth of Life), and because that wheel is continually turning and we are hearing it today, we don’t have to worry about wandering about in darkness or blindness.  Instead our continued act of remembering, honoring, cherishing and celebrating the lives lost, is helping us to see how we are connected to and part of their eternal lives.

Gassho,

Rev. Hosei Shinseki

Buddhist Churches of America Satement on Russian Invasion of Ukraine

Posted on March 12, 2022

The Search for Truth is Found Within

Posted on March 5, 2022

In a time of uncertainty when we become starkly aware of the frailty of life and the ever present prospect of losing all that we treasure and hold dear to us we may find ourselves asking the question, “What is true and what is real?”

The Buddha said that in the search for truth there are some questions that are unimportant.  For example, what is the universe made of?  Are there limits or not to the universe? How is this world and those who live in it created or put together?  What is the ideal form of government or organization for human society?

If we were to postpone our search for Enlightenment until all these questions were answered our life would have run its course and we would die.

The Buddha used the following analogy.  A man is in the thick forest hunting for deer.  He carries with him a bow and arrows dipped in poison.  As he ventures into the forest he sees a deer and draws his bow and shoots.  He runs to claim his quarry and to his dismay discovers that what he shot was not a deer but a man.

The hunter frantically tries to help the wounded man, telling him that he will extract the arrow and suck out the poison.  The wounded man objects and says, “Wait, before you pull out the arrow I want to know your name, I want to know what village you came from, I want to know about your wife and children, I want to know what type of bow you used and what is this arrow made of?  And lastly I need to know what type of string you used to make your bow and what type of feathers these are on the arrow?”

Before all these questions can be answered surely the wounded man will have perished from the poison seeping within his body.  Any logical person would know that the first thing to do is to remove the arrow and prevent the poison from spreading.

We find ourselves in a world on fire both literally and figuratively.  The fires of passion and anger endanger the world just as much as the wildfires.  And the questions of the universe matter little.  The Buddhist teachings contains answers to the most pressing issues of how to alleviate the suffering and agony of humankind.

The poisons which the Buddha referred to in his analogy are the poisons of greed, anger and ignorance.  Greed and anger are easily understood and both emanate from our self-centered desires and self-centered views.  Ignorance does not mean that we are not intelligent, but means that we ignore the world as it truly is. We ignore the truth that all things are interdependent and all things are impermanent.  These are indisputable truths and ignoring them causes pain and suffering.

It is these three poisons that cause the “death” of the true and real self and prevent us from seeing the truths of life.  Like the wounded man we should attend the most pressing issues of our poisons of greed anger and ignorance.

What the Buddha called True and Real is the person who sees all aspects of life and is receptive to all that it offers and throws at us.  It means to not resist life, not to resist the changes that life brings.  The teachings of the Buddha are a foundation upon which we can live our lives true and real.

Namoamidabutsu,

Rev. Shinseki

Nirvana Day

Posted on January 18, 2022 Updated on January 18, 2022

Buddhist throughout the world will commemorate February 15, 2022 as the 2,405-year memorial for the Buddha Shakyamuni.  As the Buddha was approaching death at the age of 80 years he told his disciples not to lament, “because life is ever changing; no one can escape the dissolution of the body.  This I am now to show by my own death, my body falling apart like a dilapidated cart.”[1]  He went on to say that death is only the end of the physical body and the true Buddha is not the body, but the Wisdom of Enlightenment and the Truth of the Dharma will exist forever.

The past year we have faced unprecedented events and many challenging situations.  I don’t need to list them here we all know all the events that have upset our peaceful lives.  The fear of uncertainty has make many feel anxious and depressed.  Some have lost their tolerance and are unable to accept other views and actions.

The Buddha constantly and consistently wanted his disciples to control their minds, to keep their minds from greed, he wanted them to keep their minds pure with words and actions.  On his death bed he reminded them to all think on the transiency of your lives and you will be able to resist greed and anger.  He wanted us all to be masters of our own mind. He reminded his disciples with his last breath to respect each other and to refrain from disputes.  By studying his teachings, he said you will all together enjoy the blossoms of Enlightenment.

Without a doubt we will all encounter moments of anger, greed and intolerance. These are the moments when we truly need to look deeply at the self as the Buddha encouraged us to do. We will also encounter Truths in our life that encourage us to be in control and stop the anger, control the greed and be tolerant of others.

Many people were anxious for the end of 2021 and looked forward to a better year in 2022.  I too wish for that, but it begins with me.  It begins with me embracing the Truths taught by Shakyamuni Buddha.  There is much in the  world that we cannot control, but  we can begin to control the mind, and our lives will be become shining examples of the wisdom and compassion taught by the Buddha.

Gassho,

Rev. Hosei Shinseki

[1] Teachings of  the Buddha, Kosaido Publications, 1966

It’s Obon Time

Posted on June 11, 2020

In a few weeks we will be in what we call Obon season.  Temples throughout the world celebrate and commemorate Obon.  Sadly, this year, temples all over the world have been canceling the Obon celebration.  This may be the first time since WWII that Obon has been canceled in many temples in the United States.

This is a time when we can take a moment to read about the significance and history of Obon.  The tradition dates back to the time of the Buddha.  The story of Obon comes from the Ullambana Sutra.  A talented and wonderful disciple of the Buddha named Mogallana was well known for his ability to deeply meditate.  He was this able to see worlds beyond the human realm.  He was able to see Jigoku (Hell), Gaki (Hungry Ghosts), Chikusho (Animal Realm), Ashura (Fighting Spirits), and Tenjin (Heavenly Beings).

One particular time while viewing the world of Gaki he was seeing all the many beings suffering in this realm.  He was shocked and saddened to see his mother in this realm.  She was hanging upside down and begging for water and food.  Mogallana attempted to give her something to eat and when it reached her mouth it burst into flames, doubling her agony.

Mogallana, came out of his meditative state and immediately went to the Buddha and asked what he could do to help his mother.  The Buddha informed Mogallana that his mother in her previous life had been selfish and therefore resides in the realm of the hungry ghosts.  If he wants to help his mother, Mogallana was instructed that he must perform a selfless act of Dana (Selfless Sharing).

Mogallana then went to his fellow monks and presented them with clothing and food.  This act of Dana released his mother from the realm of Gaki and when Mogallana saw this he danced for joy.  This was the beginning of Bon Odori or the Bon Dance.  The word Bon comes from the Sanskrit Ullambana.

The story of Obon is filled with symbolism and teachings that are very relevant to our lives today. Mogallana honors his mother with the practice of Dana.  Each Obon we gather and honor our family members and make donations in their memory.  We dance to celebrate our lives which are gifts given to us by our parents.  We celebrate life with food dance and drink.

This year we cannot gather together to do this, but each of us can celebrate Obon in our own way.  We can ring a bell, burn some incense and make a donation in memory of our loved ones. We can take a moment to remember our family members and vow to celebrate their lives by living our lives with gratitude, compassion and love.  Happy Obon everyone.

Namoamidabutsu,

Rev. Hosei Shinseki

The Air Outside is Fine

Posted on March 20, 2020

Hi Everyone,

I hope you are  all well and staying healthy.  At a time when being isolated in our homes it can be stressful for our minds  and bodies.  Each  day I try to go out for a walk and get some fresh air.  Although  the  governor has asked  us to stay in our homes, we can go outside in our backyards and get some fresh air.  It will do us  good to breath in the  air and feel  the  sun on our bodies.

Yesterday I went for a walk to the grocery store and noticed something very interesting.  First  there  weren’t many people walking around or  driving their  cars.  While I was walking, I  did encounter a few people and each one of them kept their 6′ distance from me.  But that  wasn’t what was interesting.  What was interesting is that every single person I ran into said, “Hello”  or  “Good Afternoon”.  In my prior walks  around the neighborhood, most  people were walking  and  rarely  would  they  say hello.  Many were wearing headphones  or earplugs listening to  music.

Could this be a result of a  shared  experience?   Could it be that people are sensing that  we  are  all in  this  difficult situation together and  understand what we  are all going through?  I like  to think that difficult situations like this bring us closer together.  Perhaps there is an understanding of the interrelationship of all things and sentient beings.

“You may say  I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one.”  Thank you John Lennon.  Sadly, sometimes it takes a dilemma or shared suffering to bring us together.

Please think of your neighbors and friends during this difficult time.

Gassho,

Rev. Shinseki

Ohigan 2020

Posted on March 15, 2020

World Buddhist Women’s Conference

Posted on October 8, 2019 Updated on October 8, 2019

On August 30, 31 and September 1, twelve members of the Watsonville Buddhist Temple attended the World Buddhist Women’s Conference in San Francisco.  Attendees came from Europe, South America, Hawaii, Canada and Japan.  The current Gomonshu his Eminence Monshu Kojun the 25^th generation descendant of Shinran Shonin to head the Hongwanji was also in attendance.

Everyone who attended were very pleased with the two keynote speakers Dr. Tono of Japan and Rev. Yukiko Motoyoshi of the Stockton Buddhist Temple.   Most of the workshops were fun, educational and interesting for the attendees.

On Sunday after the conference many of the 1700 attendees participated in Bon Odori at the Yerba Buena Park near the hotel.

Thank you to all who attended from Watsonville.

Gotan-e Shinran’s Birthday

Posted on April 11, 2019

Nirvana Day & Valentine’s Day

Posted on February 4, 2019

“The embracing Spiritual Light eternally shines upon us protectively; Although the darkness of ignorance has already been rent, the cloudy mists of greediness, desire, anger, and hate always blanket the heaven of True Faith.  It is as though the sun is obscured by misty clouds, But below them it is light and there is no darkness”[1]

The month of February brings to us two holidays, one more well-known than the other.  Nirvana Day or Nehan-e falls on February 15 each year.  This is the day that the historical Buddha Shakyamuni lay down between two sala trees and died at the age of 80 years.  It is said that he then entered into perfect and complete Nirvana.  Below are the final words of the Buddha to his disciples.

“My disciples, my last moment has come, but do not forget that death is only the end of the physical body.  The body was born from parents and was nourished by food; just as inevitable are sickness and death.  But the true Buddha is not a human body: – it is Enlightenment.  A human body must die, but the Wisdom of Enlightenment will exist forever in the truth of the Dharma, and in the practice of the Dharma. He who sees merely my body does not truly see me.  Only he who accepts my teaching truly sees me”.[2]

When the Buddha died, he made it very clear that for you and I in this present age must look to the Dharma to truly see and understand the Buddha.  Some 1800 years after the Buddha died Shinran Shonin (1173-1263) spent a good portion of his life studying the Dharma.  What is significant for us is that Shinran found that the Buddha had left us a path to enlightenment despite the thousands of years that have gone by.  This is a path for us living in an age when we don’t even listen or accept the teachings of the Buddha.

This month many of us will celebrate Valentine’s Day and ignore Nirvana Day.  It will be our priority to make certain our significant other is recognized and show our love through flowers and gifts.  It is a commercialized reminder to us to express our love and devotion.  I may sound cynical, however I too will make sure flowers and dinner are part of February 14^th.  It is a wonderful thing for us to do, however the difficulty is maintaining the “love” 24-7.  And many times the love we express or feel may be conditional.  It is difficult if not impossible to love someone unconditionally and consistently.  No matter what the relationship, parent, children, husbands, wives or significant others there will be times when our patience is tried and our desires unfulfilled.

Singer Pink says it best in her song: True Love:

Why do you rub me up the wrong way?
Why do you say the things that you say?
Sometimes I wonder how we ever came to be
But without you I’m incomplete[3]

Our lives are complete because of our relationships, but sometimes our own greediness, anger and desires get the best of us and we blame others.  This is the dilemma that Shinran understood and wrote in his Shoshinge or Hymn of True Faith.  There Shinran reminds us that despite our poisons that blind us to the reality of life and the self we are embraced in the infinite compassion that is Amida Buddha.

As we celebrate Valentine’s Day this year, let’s not forget Nirvana Day and express our gratitude to Shakyamuni Buddha for the Nembutsu and Shinran for clarifying for us the intent of the Buddha.

Namoamidabutsu,

Rev. Hosei Shinseki

[1] Shoshin Ge, Ryukoku Translation Series, page 24

[2] Teachings of the Buddha, Bukkyo Dendo Kyokai, pg. 15

[3] True Love, written by: Pink; Greg Kurstin; Lily Allen