Dharma Message from Rev. Gerald Sakamoto

Taken from the Official Newsletter of
San Jose Betsuin

 

“Life of Gratitude ”

“The master constantly said, ‘When I ponder on the compassionate vow of Amida, established through five kalpas of profound thought, it was for myself, Shinran, alone. Because I am a being burdened so heavily with karma, I feel even more deeply grateful to the Primal Vow which is decisively made to save me.’” Tannisho, Epilogue, Trans. T. Unno.

Events occur in our lives that disturb the comfortable flow of our experiences. Some of us have lived for a long time in that turbulence, others have yet to be caught up in its currents. How do we respond to the challenges that we encounter? How do we understand what we experience?

Shinran was highly regarded and respected by many people during his life. There were perhaps many thousands in the Kanto region that listened intently to his appreciation of the Buddhadharma. And yet he continued to examine the causes and conditions of his life and to illuminate the bedrock of his existence. Shinran recognized how deep his own ambitions and attachments ran. His statement, “I am a being burdened so heavily with karma,” was based on an uncompromising examination of his life. His response to his condition was very specific: Amida Buddha’s Vow saves me. The character of his life was profound gratitude.

With our whole being we try to understand and make real in our own life Shinran’s life of gratitude. Some of us spend hours and perhaps years reading, studying and discussing the dharma. We know from the history of Jodo Shinshu the process may help or hinder our experience of the transformation of my inconsistencies and limitations into infinite wisdom and compassion. It does not matter whether we are scholarly or illiterate, it is not my understanding or accomplishments but enlightenment, Amida that transforms me.

The outcome of Amida’s vow is not changed by my awareness. My awareness, however, can affect how I experience the vow. That awareness begins with seeing my limitations and inadequacies. This is very difficult to do since so much of our self is caught up in what we can do. To acknowledge inadequacies acknowledges faults and failings, especially when concerned with something important. As a minister I should be kind and understanding. It is embarrassing when someone recognizes that my ears turn red when I am angry. No matter how calm I may wish to present myself my ears betray me. At all of my anger is so benign, sometimes I hold on to anger for a long time, sometimes years. Then I argue about not being that way. That is foolish.

Recognizing my foolishness is not that hard, for one thing examples of it happen all the time. To speak about inadequacies can even be reassuring. We are praised when we acknowledge limitations. What can be difficult is beginning to recognize how deep and pervasive my foolishness is. Beginning to recognize that I may not have a clue as to the extent and profound affects my foolishness. Others are affected by what I do.

Whether we are viewed as selfish or selfless is just a matter of circumstances. We value selfless action. Yet our reason for selfless behavior may be selfish. Our awareness of the cycles we can get caught up in may push us to want something different. Something more substantive, genuine, real. Free of discord and uncertainty. This too is not that uncommon. Almost everyone wishes at sometime for things to be better. Shakyamuni, Ehud Olmert, Sakamoto Ryoma, John Kennedy, Genghis Khan, Bill Gates, you, me we all wish for something better. Dharmakara also wished for something better and put it into vows.

Shinran recognized how intractable his foolishness was. The more he did the more attachments he uncovered. But his wish for things to be better is the same wish as Dharmakara. Dharmakara’s wish, however, for all being to be free of difficulties comes from enlightenment, boundless wisdom and compassion. Shinran relied on that. His life of gratitude was the result of the profound depth of his foolishness and the Vow of Amida to transform that foolishness into enlightenment.

 

Gassho,

Rev. Gerald Sakamoto

Rev. Sakamoto a Minister at the San Jose Betsuin

 

More Dharma Messages