Dharma Message from Rev. Yushi Mukojima

 

Rivers and Seas: Amida's Primal Vow

 

San Diego is a very beautiful city which faces the Pacific Ocean. Every year about this time, many people go to the beach. Those who surf, sprawl on the white sands reading books, or ride a bicycle along the coast have a very fruitful time in their own way. I always admire American people when I watch such a scene because you know how to spend your personal time very well.

My wife used to go to Malibu and Huntington Beach to surf while visiting from Japan when she was in her twenties. If possible, I want to try water sports and learn them from my wife. But now, my wife, who used to be really active, seems to not move as she used to in the past. I wonder if she has gotten old at a stretch since she married me!

My home town, Fukui, is also a beautiful city which faces the Sea of Japan. I grew up there and it is embraced by nature that offers ocean, mountains, and rivers. Therefore I know that it is very important to live very close to nature. We can learn the value of life and the impermanence of life from nature’s changes and learn many precious things to live our lives by, from nature’s expression. Above all, the ocean and rivers are especially meaningful to me because the distant, wide expanse of sea symbolizes the Pure Land which welcomes us. And the river, which flows into the ocean, symbolized life itself.

River water sometimes flows fast or slow or winds down. And there are banks along the river. Even if the water overflows its banks, changes direction, or flows through a different place, there are banks on both sides of the flow all the same. That is to say that there are banks on both sides along the flow of the river regardless of how it flows. A river without banks is not possible.

I am sure that our life is comparable to the river’s flow. And the banks supporting the river are the very thing that Amida Buddha’s Primal vow exemplifies. Our life also flows vigorously or winds down in a big arc slowly, like a river’s flow. However, Amida Buddha never parts from us even for a moment and is always with us anytime and anywhere, like the banks snuggling up to the river.

Sometimes our life goes in a direction which is unexpected. However, no matter what happen, Amida Buddha will never part from us and will always be beside us, just like the banks along the river. It is the action of Amida Buddha’s Primal Vow.

Long rivers, short rivers, beautiful rivers, dirty rivers, big rivers and small rivers – all rivers finally flow in the big world called the ocean. Everything will enter the sea of compassion and become the tide of the same taste there, just as rivers merge into the sea. Although each of us lives his or her individual life, we will all be welcomed to the Buddha’s Land and be spiritually awakened like Buddha.

Even though our lives are pushed along like river water, Amida Buddha will always be at our side until we reach the ocean of the Pure Land. I realized again that our life is always guided and is wished for by Amida Buddha. Now, I gaze upon the distant sea of San Diego as I appreciate Amida Buddha’s deep compassion.

Gassho.

Rev. Mukojima is the reisdent Minister at the Buddhist Temple of San Diego

 

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