Dharma Message from Rev. Fumiaki Usuki

Taken from the November 2006 Issue of the
Official Newsletter of
West Los Angeles Buddhist Temple

“Novelty of Buddhism ”

“My disciples, the teachings that I have given you are never to be forgotten or abandoned. They are always to be treasured, they are to be thought about, and they are to be practiced. If you follow these teachings you will always be happy”.

Teaching of the Buddha

If you have been paying attention to the Buddhist movement here in America over the past 10 or so years, you’ll find that it has grown in many unimaginable ways. After all, this is America. Buddhism has grown especially interesting outside of our temples, with those people who are seeking Asian culture that some translate as being Buddhist. You can even find Buddhist statues and figures in restaurants to convey a peaceful theme and ambiance, especially in sushi restaurants. I found one in a new restaurant in Oxnard where a sitting Buddha has been placed under a waterfall in a small pond where people offer or throw money. In Santa Monica there are actual statues behind the bar with lights and a tranquil décor. I’m sure new sushi creations are named after certain Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. This may be a new take on the laughing Buddha of many years ago that was associated with good luck. Major discount stores such as Target, Pier 1 and others offer Buddhist fountains and statues for as little as $10.00. Consumers with more serious tastes opt to pay up to six figures for authentic statues. They have become part of the latest furniture décor craze that incorporates an Asian ideal but more importantly compliments today’s architecture, landscaping and furnishings.

Recent issues of a very popular Buddhist magazine, Tricycle , allow such advertisements as “Dharma Match – Where spiritual singles meet”, or “Intimacy & Awakening – A Retreat for Couples.” Even bolder is a Zen center in Florida that offers: “Nuddhism – Do you find it hard to get into the full lotus position while wearing constricting pants? Well… (we) have a solution for you: bare bottomed Buddhism! A nudist Zen group who meets Wednesdays for sitting and walking meditation in the raw.” Nuddhist Buddhist? With such a novel approach, are they being disrespectful of Buddhist tradition? What does this mean to rest of us who take Buddhism seriously as a true religion?

Certainly, it is difficult for me to walk down the aisle of these stores or read new magazines and not be irritated or frustrated with what I see. At this time I do not wish to patronize those “Buddhist” sushi restaurants. I also can’t imagine what shoppers who look at these items for the first time think about Buddhism or the Buddha without knowing its real purpose. No one is immune to commercialism but Buddhism is now the victim being mined and we may not be able to do anything about it except continue to pursue our own personal paths while educating those who are succumbing to this developing craze.

We can also take a positive approach and possibly look at it as a blessing in disguise. While we have not been able to successfully propagate Buddhism in America over the past one hundred years, we may now be able to ride on the coattails of Wal-Mart, Target, Costco and the like. You can’t stop what sells. Perhaps we can hope that those who buy Buddhist items for art or décor’s sake may eventually see a deeper value and become interested in Buddhism. Let’s hope so. I’m sure we’ll hear more about this issue so let’s keep our eyes peeled and ears open.

 

SHINSHU CORNER

The Logic of Prajna (Wisdom)

In Mahayana Buddhism, the focus is on Prajna, (which is a synonym for Satori – enlightenment,) and also on prajna’s inseparable companion and component, karuna – compassion. It can be said that karuna has two aspects: to mourn and to cry – not the cry that comes from a child but the cry of anguish that comes out of the activity of deep sorrow. Buddhist wisdom has this aspect of the ability to see things as they are in this world, and at the same time to feel great sorrow for our human condition – a sorrow expressed with Great Compassion of Amida Buddha.

In Shin Buddhism, the Pure Land (Jodo) is the realm from which the workings of this compassion are manifested. The ceaseless activity of Great Compassion working throughout my life is a process like the maturing of pearls in an oyster shell. Just as the oyster is taking in the piece of the shell that is part of him and yet not part of him, so karuna (Great Compassion) is taking my life into its sorrowing embrace. We can say that as the oyster in its own dynamism “cries” because it is painful to take in foreign substance, so, as I am taken in and transformed by Great Compassion, great sorrow is expressed at my human condition. In other words, the Buddha is always sensitive, crying, moving to embrace me in the world of samsara, taking in and transforming me from a being of delusion into a being enlightenment.

The Buddhist World of Awakening – Takamaro Shigaraki

 

 

Gassho,

Rev. Usuki

Rev. Usuki is the head Minister at the West Los Angeles Buddhist Temple

 

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