What does it mean to be a Buddhist?? What does it mean to be a Shin Buddhist??
Basic questions, and we all wonder from time to time….
To be a Buddhist is to understand this world as it really is. The historical Buddha observed the world and saw the world as it really is…not the way he wanted it to be, not because someone told him, and not the way I want it to be.
Enlightenment is to observe the world as it is….
- that means to understand that nothing is permanent…everything changes.
- That everything is inter-related and inter-connected…causes, conditions and effects…Karma, is everywhere.
- That human life is limited and temporary…
- And so much more….
Shin Buddhism is that way that Shinran Shonin understood the depth of human limitations and found a way for everyone to be assured of Enlightenment.
This is so profound and so fundamental….everyone will assuredly become a Buddha. This is so different than other schools of Buddhism and other religions in general.
Other religions and other schools of Buddhism tries to mold people into a certain way of thinking so that only a few can become the chosen few…some sort of elite that can enter Heaven or become Enlightened.
Shinran saw that the boundless, inexhaustible, the infinite Storehouse of Merit accumulated by Dharmakara Bodhisattva in fulfilling his Vows becomes Amida Buddha…and this infinite Storehouse of Merit overcomes all human limitations, thus everyone becomes a Buddha….not just a few. There are no exceptions….we all are assured of becoming a Buddha. This teaching was so radical and even Shinran knew it could easily be mis-understood and easily distorted that it was almost a secret teaching.
But today, it is much more open and we are free to express the Joy of Shin Buddhism.
We call this the Vow Power or Other Power. We can receive the benefit from this infinite Storehouse of Merit when we die and enter the spiritual realm of the Pure Land or when we are awakened in this life at the moment of Shinjin…that moment of Awakening.
As Shin Buddhists, we have to realize our limitations and at the same time we have to prepare ourselves to receive the Wisdom and Compassion that is Amida Buddha. Of course, this seems counter-intuitive because we all think I am a good person and can earn or work towards Enlightenment. Shinran is the one who saw that humans are just too limited and so ego-driven that Enlightenment by my own efforts are useless.
That is why as Shin Buddhists, we come just as we are…we can only hope that my ego-self does not get in the way of receiving Wisdom and Compassion from Amida Buddha.
We come as we are and stay awhile…to Listen to the Dharma and to be around other Shin Buddhists. We only have to be human, with all our own limitations and ego-driven desires…..and then, we have to be able to laugh at our folly and limitations….we can’t let our limitations get us down.
We have to be able laugh at ourselves as we let go of our ego-self.
We have to understand how limited I am, we have to realize that my ego-driven self will only lead to a dead end. We have to rely on the Wisdom and Compassion of Amida Buddha.
This is why we do not have any requirements to be a Shin Buddhists because it would be useless anyway. We don’t have any dogma that one has to follow. We just do the best we can.
As we go thru life, we have to take responsibility for our thoughts, our words and our actions. We just do the best we can.
I hope the Dharma has helped us get thru the Pandemic and it has guided us away from the extremes…it has kept us away from serious and deep depression, it has kept us away from great sadness and sorrow….
The Dharma reminds us of the Middle Way, or the Middle Path….as a guide to keep us from avoiding extremes. This is the human way, to stay grounded and to rely on the Buddhist guidelines to get thru each day.
- The Dharma tells us that everything in this world changes,
- the Dharma guides us and reminds us that everything is inter-related and inter-connected;
- the Dharma shows us to be grateful for what we already have and to appreciate each and every day;
- the Dharma expresses the kindness and Compassion that allows us to live life fully,
- and the Dharma teaches us that saying Namo Amida Butsu brings us peace and comfort.
Let us allow the Buddha-Dharma to enter our lives…..to let go of the Ego-self and to let our spiritual self be embraced with Wisdom and Compassion that is Amida Buddha.
Namo Amida Butsu …. With gratitude and kindness beyond words.
Rev. Ron Miyamura
|