Dharma Message from Rev. Hiroshi Abiko

Taken from the Official Newsletter of the
Buddhist Temple of San Francisco

 

“Buddha's Children”

I, Shinran, have never even once uttered the Nembutsu for the sake of my father and mother. The reason is that all beings have been fathers and mothers, brothers and sisters, in the timeless process of birth-and-death. When I attain Buddhahood in the next birth, each and everyone will be saved.

Chapter V, TANNISHO

 

The idea that we are all Buddha’s children is important in Buddhism. In a Sutra, we read, “Now this triple world/All is my domain; /The living beings in it/All are my children.” But even for those who read scripture daily, it is very difficult to understand what it really means to be a “child of the Buddha.”

It is most unfortunate that too many of us fail to realize that preciousness of our own existence. We are mostly concerned with immediate desires and are fated to wander in the turbulent cycle of greed-anger-foolishness. This is well illustrated by a parable in a Sutra where a poor son leaves his father (the Buddha) to lead a wandering life of poverty until he turns fifty. Then, at last, he returns to his father’s house. The father does not tell his son that he is the father, but employs him on his estate for twenty years, giving him every greater roles and responsibilities until he is finally ready to take his place as his father’s son.

This short parable tells us something important. Even if one finds difficulty in accepting new ways, stay right in and make oneself last. As with the poor son in the parable, the important thing was to remain in the Buddha’s house and within the Buddha’s way.

Unless one undertakes the necessary practice and training, trying to understand that you are the Buddha’s child will be like trying to carry water in a sieve. It is very arduous and time consuming. What is needed to be done is to keep the sieve immersed in water. Only then will it stay full. So it is with the Buddha’s Way; immerse everything about the self in the Way, give up your whole being to the Buddha, and from that point on, you will know that you are the Buddha’s child. Once you accept yourself as the Buddha’s child, as all children watch and emulate their parents, you will watch and emulate Buddha every day.

We take our parents for granted. The foundation of filial ties is a clear understanding of the parent-child relationship. An old proverb goes, “There is nothing greater than being a comfort to you parent.” Because parents’ profound wish is that their children will be happy, a child needs to reassure the parents always. We are all the Buddha’s children. If we are not a comfort to our parents, how can we even emulate or treasure Buddha?

That we are the Buddha’s children also means we owe our lives to Buddha. In appreciation of Buddha, all filial devotions are met and expressed. And for those who hear Buddha’s immediate words, they work to help all beings from the process of suffering to Buddhahood.

We must ever hold the model of the Buddha before us and let us emulate at least one-millionth of Buddha’s Compassionate Light.

Gassho,

Rev. Hiroshi Abiko

Rev. Abiko is the Head Minister at the Buddhist Church of San Francisco

 

More Dharma Messages