Time flies so fast

December 2023 Issue

When I look back on this year, it was a year of many sad incidents and accidents. There are on-going wars in some countries.
Also, the changes to our living conditions such as global warming and price hikes of various things are making the hardship of life even bigger.
There is a proverb that says, "Time flies like an arrow."Rennyo Shonin said “Life goes quickly”.Literally, they mean that times pass quickly and people’s lives pass quickly.
While I have been sharing this feeling of how quickly time passes with many people, I had this conversation with a follower of Fukujyuji Temple.
In the Buddhist writing, there is a sentence that goes “Life goes quickly”.Meaning that our lives pass quickly. The follower said “Then we must do something."
I said “Please visit the temple as often as possible and listen to the Teaching of Amida Buddha.Rennyo Shonin, the 8th head priest of Hongwanji said “We do not know when our lives end. Do not assume you will see tomorrow."More than anything else, hurry to listen to the Teaching of Amida Buddha.
Lives are limited and we live self centeredly and suffer with our narrow minds. Let us listen to the eternally wide, deep and sacred teachings of Amida Buddha and visit the temple.Our lives that we sadly think end when we die, will lead us to the great Jodo (the Land of Amida Buddha).

November 2023 Issue

Wishes that reach us every year, at Eitai Sutra memorial service (Eitaikyo Hoya time), I think of loved ones who have passed and their wishes for us.
Eitaikyo in Jodo Shinshu Denomination is sutra reciting which is conducted on shotsuki-meinichi (the anniversaries of one’s death after the first anniversary) and at Higan-e in spring and autumn and its purpose is to thank the ancestors.
The other day, a follower of the Fukujyuji Temple told me this story.
When my mother was alive, I used to be fed up with her whenever she asked me to go pay respect at (temple/family tomb) at each religious service. I used to make excuses like, “I have to work and can’t find time to go.” She used to counter that with “If you come with me, I’ll pay you 5000 yen.” She once demanded “When I die, will you recite nembutsu?” I found her diary after her death and all she ever wrote about was how she was worried about me.
Feeling sad and remorseful, I started to visit the temple. It is only now that 14 years have passed that my mother is cajoling me who never used to put my hands together in nembutsu to visit the temple and is looking out for me. This follower experienced a sad farewell with his parent, but through nembutsu, is acknowledging his mother’s wish and continuing to meet it.
Our loved ones who have become buddha in the land of Buddha, is using all kinds of ways to send their caring heart to us. By listening to the teaching of Amida Buddha, we are taught the way to meet with our loved ones who have passed on.
What do you think of this column? Did you find something you can relate to?
When you are young and healthy, you might consider temple visits and Buddhist ceremonies something irrelevant. It is when you lose loved ones, as well as feeling the loss, you realise that you were raised and looked after by them, how they taught you many things.
This month, we conduct Eitaikyo Service. Eitaikyo was began to ensure that nembutsu is passed on from generation to generation.
Let us all attend Eitaikyo Hoya to show our gratitude to Buddha, to our ancestors who have passed on the teachings of Buddha and taught us to put our hands together to Buddha.

“NAMU” has reached 400th issue

June 2023 Issue

NAMU (the monthly newsletter of Fukujyuji) was first issued in November 1990 and has reached 400th this month.
As the resident priest and the monthly editor of this blog, I thank the Fukujyuji followers who have been reading this blog.
For 33 years, I have been explaining Teaching of Amida Buddha, writing notices of Fukujyuji events, and my personal views on the society.
Teaching of Amida Buddha contains Amida Buddha's philosophy.
The words of Amida Buddha, who was born in 624BC, can guide us who live in the modern age in our daily lives.
As a priest, I would like to continue to spread what can been seen through the eyes of Amida Buddha.
As of the 8th of May 2023, the classification of Covid19 virus has been lowered to 5th grade, same as the seasonable influenza.
The recommendation to wearing masks when we go out and sanitation of our hands has stopped.
However, most people in the city of Sapporo are still wearing masks and it feels as though those who are without masks will be reprimanded.
In Sapporo city with the population of 2 million people, even without the official restriction, people are watching each other and can not go out without the masks they have been wearing for 3 years.

Turkey/Syria Earthquake

March 2023 Issue

The Magnitude 7.8 earthquake that shook Southern Turkey on the 6th February 2023 killed 35,418 people in Turkey and 5814 in Syria. Over 41,000 dead.
（15th February NHK Web News）
Caused by energy 15 times greater than that of Hanshin Awaji Earthquake, countless houses crumbled leaving mountains of rubbles.
Unfortunately, many precious lives were lost.
We pay our respect and offer our nembutsu.
For those who have lost everything and living in the freezing conditions, we wish you quick recovery.
With several million people affected, who are in deep despair, there is a fear the public safety is at risk such as robbery.
We can not sit back and think it doesn't apply to us.
Depending on how circumstances change, we humans have weakness in our hearts that makes our behavior unpredictable.
Light of Amida Buddha illuminate the darkness in our hearts, makes us see how self centred and obsessed on trivia we are, and help us restrain ourselves.
Let us be grateful for how we are helped to realise what is really important, and think what each of us can do as we await for Spring Equinox.

Namo Ami Da Butsu

February 2023 Issue

Amida Buddha calls "Leave it
My bonno and Buddha's enlightenment is one and same
As Buddha calls "I will save you as you are"
Receive with gratitude
Surrender myself, as I am
Saved to Jodo
Nembutsu of our gratitude to Buddha
This is thanks to the our founder Shinran Shonin and the subsequent head priests who passed on the Teachings
To become one who live with
Gradually let go of our fixati
Be grateful for the lives we are given
Don't let greed and anger carr
Placid face, gentle words
Share joys and sadness
And live each day fully

On the 16th May 2023, at the Memorial Service for the anniversary of Shinran Shonin's death, the head priest of Kyoto West Hongwanji, the headquarters of Jodo Shinshu Honganji-ha, gave a service called Goshosoku.
In the Goshosoku, the new interpretation of the vital Teaching of Buddha that should be passed down through the generations was released.
Let us all read it.

Hope the New Year will be happy and wonderful for your family

January 2023 Issue

Buddha discovered the truth of the world and in order to save and enlighten the people suffering in this world, he taught that all things are related to each other (engi), everything is constantly changing (mujo), and we must not be hung up on anything (muga).
Mujo: 　impermanence: Everything in the world is constantly changing and nothing stays the same.
Muga: 　Non self: There is no such thing as an unchanging solitary being that exists on its own .
Engi:　　All things affect each other, live and die, and constantly change.

We have been taught these three basic principles of Buddhism, but are caught up with ourselves, have unnecessary confrontations with others, and can not escape from worries and suffering.
Buddha teaches us that in our human world, so many things do not go according to our plan.
As stated before, the starting point of Buddhism is "Everything is pain"to know that things do not go according to plan.
Why are there sufferings?
In Buddhism, we think it is because all things are impermanent and that all things lack inherent identity.
If we take the world having correctly understood these concepts, we do not have to react happily or unhappily to every phenomenon and can be at peace.
Buddha said if we can understand these, we can be released from the heavy suffering.
This is the nirvana serenity that we aim for. The state of satori to be a Buddha.
We Buddhists are taught the joys of being supported in our lives, the benevolent heart of Buddha who took our joys and sadness as his own and to spread the teachings.
Covid 19 pandemic is still going. We are made to live with numerous worries in our lives.
Let us value Buddha's heart and to do what we can to create a peaceful society for all.

Midnight Coming of Age Ceremony on New Years Eve

December 2022 Issue

Looking back on the year at this time of the year end, there were many sad events and accidents within and outside of the country.
The stampede of the people celebrating the Halloween in the popular area of Itaewon in Seoul, Korea was a devastating incident that killed 154 young people. The loss of so many young lives who were to be the members of the future society was a huge loss. When I think of the suffering of their families and friends, I feel torn apart. I would like to express my deepest condolences. In April this year, the legal age of youth turning adult was lowered to 18. Legal Adult Age means that the person has physically and mentally matured enough to act as a sole legal entity.
Inside and outside of the country, and in our homes, there are all kinds of incidents, accidents, and battles constantly. If only we could mutually give in a little, we should be able to avoid serious consequences. Even when we reach the age of adulthood, can we say we have sufficiently matured mentally? There are so many ways we should do better.
At Fukujyuji Temple, we recite scriptures to mark the end of the year and to give out a little memento at the Midnight coming of age ceremony. This year only, we invite 18 to 20 year olds people for this ceremony. If you know applicable young people, let us know. We extend our invitations to them and their family.
Teaching of Amida Buddha will nurture our heart and mind.

With gentle face and nice word“Wagen Aigo”

August 2022 Issue

These words are discussed in Buddhist Sutra of Infinite Life, the most important scripture.“Wagen” means a gentle facial expression and “Aigo” means loving words. It means to talk to another with a smile on our face and with loving and caring words.

Due to Covid-19, we interact with other people less.Especially because of this condition in the world, it is even more important to talk with gentle face and nice words.When we talk with another, let us consider how they feel.In all circumstances, being a good listener is the important point in building good relationships.When talking with your neighbor, how you respond is important.

Wow!
I didn't know that.
Amazing!
You've got great taste.
Is that right?
I'm grateful. Thank you.
No, no!
That's bad luck.
It's meant to be.
Feel gratitude. I owe you.

These words are not flattery, but necessary to conduct conversations smoothly. It has become a norm to wear masks which makes it difficult to see each other's facial expressions, let us be mindful of "With gentle face and nice words.".

All things are not permanent

June 2022 Issue

Shakamuni Buddha said “All things are not permanent” and “Things in the world affected each other and nothing exists on its own.”In any era, the cause disturbing the world’s unity and harmony is human’s self-centered attachment, blindness, prejudice, self-interest and desire.We, who can not understand this truth suffer daily.

The four main things we suffer from are "Birth, Ageing, Illness and Death".We are burdened with "kleshas" such as greed, anger and stupidity which we can not escape from the moment our lives end.“Klesha” in Buddhism, are mental states that cloud the mind and manifest in unwholesome actions. Kleshas include states of mind such as anxiety, fear, anger, jealousy, desire, depression, etc. Contemporary translators use a variety of English words to translate the term kleshas, such as: afflictions, defilements, destructive emotions, disturbing emotions, negative emotions, mind poisons, neurosis etc.

Shinran Shonin said that humans who can not accept the truth possess worldly desires and passion.Amida Buddha wishes to save human beings. Amida Buddha recites nembutsu and continues to work to save us.In Jodo Shinshu, we trust in Amida Buddha's primal vow "Depend on me, I will save you the way you are."When we come to feel Amida Buddha's warm benevolence, we create a world where we can honour and support each other.Shinran Shonin walked the path of gratitude of Buddha. Let us learn from Shinran's life and appreciate his teachings so that we can pass them on.In addition , the Jodo-shinshu emphasized only faith and taught that if a person believed it , his Ojo would be promised and that nembutsu was the practice of the gratitude for the graces of Amida Budd.

Equality of lives

June 2022 Issue

Amongst many Buddhist tales, there is a story about how all lives are equal.
There was a gentle hearted king called Sibka in a country.
A pigeon injured by an eagle flew into him and asked for his life to be saved.
"I'll take a look at your injury."
King Sibka began to treat the pigeon.
The eagle flew in and pleaded "I haven't eaten anything for several days and am starving.
If I don't eat this pigeon, I will die. Give me that pigeon."
He asked the king a difficult question, "Which life do you think is more valuable, a pigeon's or an eagle's?"
The king said, "I'll give you as much of my own flesh as the pigeon's."
He tried to save both lives and brought in a scale.
He put the injured pigeon on one side and cut off the same amount of his own flesh on the other.
No matter how much of his flesh he cut off to place on the scale, the pigeon side was heavier and would not balance.
The king eventually got on the scale himself.
Finally, the balance became equal with the life of the king and the life of the pigeon.
This story teaches the life of the king with his status, honor and wealth and that of the pigeon are equal.
All lives are equal.
The story says the king sacrificed his own life to save both lives of the pigeon and the eagle reincarnated into become Shakamuni Buddha.
Recently, a lethal bird flu was discovered in Iburi district in Hokkaido. 520,000 poultries were killed.
There are many victims as a result of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
There were 26 people lost when the tourist boat sank in Shiretoko.
These things happened due to things that should never have been done were done or things that should have been done were not done.
We pray for a society that values each other's lives.

Let's think about good and evil

May 2022 Issue

I was watching Takashi Yanase, the creator of Anpanman on TV and he was talking about what he wanted to convey through his creation.
Anpanman is a series of popular comic and TV animation created by Takashi Yanase. Human justice can easily be flipped. Take wars for an example.
You have to kill the opponent you have no hatred of. There is no justice in that.
The true justice is to extending your hand out to someone in need. To give a starving person, a piece of bread. You make no distinction between enemies and allies.
This is justice as I understand it. Anpanman was born out of that belief.We have grown up watching the standoff between good and evil. But is there a true stand off of good and evil in the real world?
Baikinman, the enemy of Anpanman exists in all of our heart.I think we are not good at extending good will without expecting something in return.We notice the negatives in the others, but do not see our own.
Let's think about good and evil.We unconsciously believe we alone are right (good) and berate the other (bad).When we are being self righteous, there is no good nor justice. All of us have some negative in our hearts.
The true opposite of justice is not evil, but "the other justice".
Shinran Shonin said in his Ichinen Tanen Moni（Notes on Once-Calling and Many-Calling）
We humans with many worries have constantly have greed, anger, bad temper, jealousy and envy in our hearts.
They do not cease till the moment we die.
When Buddha's light is on us, what is illuminated is not our goodness.Buddha understands and continue to shine light on us regardless of who we are.
Let us live our lives feeling Buddha's warm heart.

Eitaikyo Memorial Service(Perpetual Sutra Memorial Service)

April 2022 Issue

At Fukujuji Temple, we hold Eitaikyo Memorial Service twice a year in Spring and Autumn.This tradition, which started in Japan’s Edo Period, hundreds of years ago, also is a way for people who live far away to observe a service for their families, listen to the Dharma, and make offerings to help keep the temple and Buddha’s Teachings alive “perpetually.”

Eitaikyo means to Anivestral Memorial Service and we chant to honor the deceased ancestors.Called Eitai Dokyo in Jodo Shinshu, it is a service that hopes to continue the Teaching of Amida Buddha in eternity.In Jodo Shinshu, Eitaikyo is a memorial service held to chant in honor of the ancestors that are held at anniversary of the deceased's death or at Spring and Autumn Equinox. The following is what Shakyamuni Buddha taught his deciples. Buddhist chanting describes Amida Buddha's promise that he will save you and never abandon you.What Shakyamuni Buddha taught 2500 years ago is still reaching us today.

Shinran Shonin wrote in his Kyogyoshinsho*, "Those who are born earlier will lead those who follow. Those who are born later will seek the predecessor's path."* Kyogyoshinsho: On Teaching, Practice, Faith, and EnlightenmentWhat really is the wonderous power in "go-en"?I believe that at the base, everything is connected. Everything has a cause and go-en then make things happen.When we meet people, there are countless factors that are inter-related to make it happen.In other words, even if just one of those factors was lacking that encounter may have been different of you may not have met at all.

Let us treat Eitakyo Memorial Service as our 'go-en' and recite nembutsu and thank Amida Buddha that has been passed on to us by our ancestors.

Fulfilling Life

March 2022 Issue

The Buddhist event we have in the spring is called higan(other shore).
The Higan-e Ceremony is widely practiced in all forms of Buddhism in Japan and is usually conducted on March 21 and September 22, the days of the vernal and autumnal equinoxes.
On these two days, the length of daylight and darkness in a day is exactly the same, and the sun rises due east and sets directly in the west.
The memorial service conducted on these days for our departed ancestors is called the Higan-e Ceremony.
When we look back on our lives, we all have something we regret when we were being self center Issued, fought for no good reason, or things we wish we could do better.
Rather than things from when we were at peace, we tend to remember things from when we suffered at times of trouble.
Higan is not visible to us even if we strained our eyes.
Higan exists to the East of the ocean beyond our greed and earthly desires.
Amida Buddha is extending his helping hand to us who can not cross to Higan by ourselves by means of nembutsu.
Let us surrender all to Amida Buddha, not give up when we have troubles and live fulfilled lives.

Disaster and Natural Disasters

February 2022 Issue

We are yet to be able to foresee the end to Covid19 pandemic and we hear the term “Corona-ka” (Covid19 pandemic disaster) used every day.

“Ka” is a disaster that can be prevented by human efforts, but “Wazawai” is a natural disasters that is unpreventable.It should be possible to prevent and over come Corona-“ka” by our efforts.

Let us not become complacent and get infected until the pandemic ends.The foundation of Buddhistic Teaching is that of "Life and death impermanence". It means "life can not be controlled by our will" and that "the world does not stay constant".

“Giyu Tooi(1912-1991)”, a renowned Educational scholar and a Jodo Shinshu priest wrote this poem.
　On a rainy day, there are learnings beyond words
　that are only possible to hear on a rainy day.
　On a day of old age, there are learnings that are only possible for the aged.
　On a day of the sickness, there are learnings that are only possible for the sick.

The fact our lives do not go according to our will is not a tragedy.Know our folly in trying to control it, that is Buddha's Teaching.It is when experience hardship and sorrow we learn to appreciate other and the importance and necessity of helping each other. Let us think about how to live our precious lives and learn Buddha's Teachings together.

Thoughts on Shiwasu*

December 2021 Issue

*Shiwasu：Another name of December, is still frequently in use today to describe busy time at the end of the year.

We have entered December whilst the epidemic （COVID-19）continues.
Covid-19 is a contagious SARS Corona virus.
It was first reported in December 2019 in China and is still spreading around the world.
In Japan, as at the 1st of September 2021, 1,480,000 (around 1.2% of the national population) have been diagnosed with Covid-19.
The prospect is bright with the third vaccine and the development of oral medication, however, we still need to be careful.
Although self regulated. our activities have been restrained.
We are spending more time at home and some people's health have suffered.
We all lose vitality with age and sometimes we become ill unexpectedly.
Doshu, a diciple of Rennyo＊, left the words for the followers.
＊Rennyo, the eighth head of the Hongwan-ji Temple.

Everyday, practice the morning service.
Every month, visit Zuisenji Temple.
Every year, visit Kyoto Hongwananji Temple.
Doshu is suggesting that as followers of Jodoshinshu, let us live with the regulated routine.
Us modern day people who are always busy can not live as what Doshu taught, but as followers, we should take note of what he suggested as the way to live.
We have to live this day and age with our loneliness and anxiety in our hearts.
Our dignity as human beings is found when we take a look squarely at the reality that causes our loneliness and anxiety.

Amida Buddha has compassion for all of us without prejudice

September 2021 Issue

Each of us have father and mother.
Our mothers endured physical pain to give birth to us.
We are here today thanks to our parents who gave us birth and raised.
Parents raise their children wrapping them in love, but sometimes they give harsh words and deeds to teach them lessons.
These days, sometimes fathers do the mothering or mothers play the role of the father. Also, sometimes someone other than the parents play those roles.
When one of the children are sickly, the parents would take care of that child without hesitation.
The children who are low maintenance tend to be left alone. It is difficult to treat all children equally.
From parents' point of view, children will always be cause of concern.
Genshin Sozu(942-1017), whom Shinran Shonin admired, said, Amida Buddha is like a mother who looks upon all of her children with love and compassion equally.
What Amida Buddha sees with the eyes of love and compassion are us, who can only live self centredly.
Amida Buddha is telling us "I will save you no matter what" and is working as Namo Amida Butsu.

Thoughts on Urabon-e (Feast of Lanterns)

August 2021 Issue

Bon or Obon are shorts for Urabon-e which is a Buddhist service held from 13th to 16th of August.
This word Urabon-e comes from a Sanskrit word "ullamana".
This service originates in Yulanpen Sutra, a Buddhist scripture.
This　‘Obon’, as well as being a religious event to commemorate the souls of ancestors, has the air of a national holiday, with many people traveling around the country and, for those not aware of Buddhist practices, the Obon around August 15th is just a summer vacation, though most people throughout the country maintain the tradition of visiting family graves.
According to a lore, one of the ten principal disciples of Shakamuni Buddha “Mokuren” by using a supernatural power, went to see his deceased mother in the after word.
He found her in a “Gakido” (world of hungry ghosts) where she suffers eternal hunger.
“Mokuren” begged “Shakamuni Buddha” to save his mother.
“Shakamuni Buddha” said to him "On the last day of “Ango*”（the summer training）, help the trainee monks and the people who are suffering to the best of your abilities.
*Ango: The rainy season（the three from April 15th to July 15th）,when monks stay inside the monastery for mental training such as meditation, study of sutra, and lecture.
By virtue of your deeds, your mother will be saved."
As in this lore in the Sutra, Buddhism teaches to do good in life in order to save the dead.
The Urabon-e of today is a result of combining the tradition of receiving the return of the ancestors' soul for Bon and the Agricultural service that expresses gratitude for the year's harvest.

Pure Land Buddhism

July 2021 Issue

The word “Ojo" is usually means things that do not go smoothly and get stuck.
“To be reborn and live in Budhha-Worlds, after one’s death in this world”
In Buddhism, “Ojo” means “To be reborn and live in Budhha-Worlds, after one’s death in this world”.
Shinran Shonin(1173-1263) said a person who gains faith through Buddha's power and begins to chant nembutsu is assured to become Buddha in this life.
The term “Genseishojoju" is also referred to as “Genshofutai” (the idea of ‘not falling back in this world’).
As this term indicated, Shinran Shonin explained that, unlike the creed of Pure Land Teachings until then, he made faith,
conferred upon the individual by Amida Buddha,the sole precondition for attainment of birth in the Pure Land and for guarantee to become a Buddha at this moment and in this world.
We, who are self centered are awakened of Buddha's Primal Vow and led to the path of Pure Land.
Is it not the most important path in our lives?

The evil persons are the right object of Amida Buddha`s salvation

June 2021 Issue

This thought is very meaningful in Jodo Shinshu doctrine, meaning'It is evil people who are the major object of salvation based on the Vow ofAmida Buddha (Primal Vow of Other Power).'
Shinran Shonin didn’t talk about people having an evil mind or to do bad things,but meant that we should be a person who can take responsibility without blaming others when something bad happens.
Amida Buddha's Primal Vow is a pledge and a wish to save all living creatures.
We live everyday by taking lives of other living things.
Depending on the circumstances, we could do terrifying things.
Amida Buddha help us see ourselves and help us as we are.
That is the benevolence of Amida Buddha and expressed in "the evil persons are the right object of Amida Buddha's salvation."

“Tariki Hongan”(Salvation by faith in Amida Buddha)

May 2021 Issue

“Tariki Hongan” is the most important phrase in Jodo Shinshu.
What Shinran Shonin, the founder of Jodo Shinshu meant by “Tariki” (outer power) does not mean the benefit from the nature or the society, nor does it mean to depend on other people.
It also does not mean the others' power in ordinary human relationships.
“Tariki” means the boundless power of Amida Buddha.
Primal Vow does not refer to fulfilling our desires.
It refers to Amida Buddha's pledge to guide all people to be reborn in the Land of Amida Buddha by chanting Namo Amidabutsu.
The working of Hongan is called “Honganryoku” as well as “Tariki”.
The salvation by Buddha's primal vow is called “Tariki Hongan”.

Thoughts on Kanbutsu-e

April 2021 Issue

Kanbutsu-e is an important event that celebrates the birth of Shakyamuni Buddha.
According to the legend, when Shakamuni was born, he immediately took seven steps and said
"throughout heaven and earth, I alone am the honored one" and that honeydew rained from the sky.
These words mean, "There is only one of my life in heaven and earth.
Life is irreplaceable and precious.
To say my life is precious means all the other lives are equally precious.
My life as a being that is irreplaceable is precious unconditionally.
It is not something that you can say is more or less precious compared to the others.
People can not help themselves but compare themselves to the others.
They often feel envious of the others.
Sometimes they think they are worthless beings.
Please reflect on your self. You can definitely find good qualities in yourself.
You realize your incomparable precious life is here and now.
No one is living by ourselves.
Our lives are supported by our parents and the ancestors and also by many other lives with our relationships with them.
When even just one piece of those relationships is missing, you wouldn't be here.
Please acknowledge that our precious lives are given to us by our ancestors.
In Buddhism, this is called depending arising and is one of the important teachings of Shakyamuni.

Haru Higan-e (Spring Equinox Service)

March 2021 Issue

Higan is where the sun sets and where our lives are renewed at the end.
There actually many Pure Lands and each Buddha has their own Pure Land.
It is stated in the Buddhist chant, the Pure Land called Higan is in the direction of west and belongs to Shakamuni Buddha.
It is thought that the Pure Land of Amida Buddha (the pure land ruled by Amida Nyorai or Amitabha Tathagata) exists off in the distance in the west (it is also called the Western Pure Land)
Okyo (Buddhist chant) is the Teaching of Shakamuni who became Buddha in a written form.
It states the first step to be a Buddhist is to trust the Teaching of Buddha.
To say the Teaching that the Pure Land is in the west is unscientific thinking of the olden days means you are not trusting Shakamuni Buddha.
Instead, it is important to think about what Shakamuni Buddha was trying to show us by saying the Pure Land is in the west.
East West South and North are the directions on earth.
If you continually fly in the westerly direction, you will come back to the same position and can not reach the Pure Land.
If you were to think of it in the sky in the west, the westerly skies of Japan and Brazil are opposites.
Also, Earth is spinning, so what we think of as west is changing constantly and in 12 hours move to the opposite side.
We can not get an answer this way.
It is important how we think and feel rather than try to intellectually analyze.
The Sun rises from the east in the morning and sets in the west in the evening.
This is how we perceive passing of a day.
If we are to apply this perception to the spinning of the earth, the sun is born out of the east, gradually grows strong and becomes weak and old before dying by sinking in the west.
Thus when our lives end, the Pure Land where we are reborn awaits in the west.
At this time of Higan, tet us thank Amida Buddha of the Western Pure Land and think of our ancestors whose lives led us to where we are today.

Gog wheel Of Life

february 2021 Issue

The mechanism of our lives are functioning without our intervention. We don't consciously operate our hearts and our digestive system also runs regardless of our will. It can only be described as magic that enables life.
A single life does not exist on its own, but has many connections and relationships with others.
Perhaps you can visualize life as gears connecting with each other.
When gears are chipped or damaged, they can not meet the others and influence on the life itself.
We are made to realize how selfish and sinful we are when we study the Teachings of Amida Buddha.
Buddha who has prepared the way to Buddhahood (spiritual enlightenment) for us teach us errors of our way and the right way to live.
For us who tend to focus on our limited lives, whether we are dead or alive, Buddha works like infinitely large gear in Buddha's infinite domain, that supervise our lives.
Due to Corona virus, the state of current affairs can be described as the gears not turning, but is it true from the wholistic view on all lives on earth?
There are all kinds of food available to us, but take a really good look. We eat and live by taking by taking lives of other living organisms.
The greed of human beings to eat even more delicious things gets bigger and bigger.
The other living creatures other than human beings eat limited things.
Humans are omnivores. We eat foot from the sea and the land. We fulfill our desires by enjoying the taste to fill our bellies.
Recently, the occurrence of highly pathogenic avian influenza around the country cause many chickens to be slaughtered.
Do we not need to to reflect on our sinful lives, be grateful for the fact our lives depent on taking other lives, and to try to live with less sacrifices?

January 2021 Issue

With the continuing spread of New Coronavirus (Covid19), we are having to live with various anxieties. We would like to express our condolences to those who died from Covid 19 as well as our good wishes to those are fighting the infection.We pay our respect and are grateful to the people in the medical profession who are tending to the sick whilst being exposed to the highly contagious virus.
We are living in the busy and rapidly changing time with unpredictable future. It is because of this, it is a good opportunity for us to reflect on what our ancestors valued in the past.Buddha is always calling out to us to save all lives without discrimination.When we come to realize how we are being wrapped in Buddha's benevolent heart, we come to have inner peace.At the end of a day, sit in front of the Family Buddhist altar and reflect on your day quietly.
To sit at Buddhist altar and come face to face with Buddha and thank Buddha's warm heart will lead to a fulfilled life.Buddha is always with us as we our lives.When our heart is tired and feel loneliness, let us sit at Buddhist altar where our hearts can be at peace.

“Daijobu*”is a word of Amida Buddha

December 2020 Issue

*Daijobu: All right
"Daijobu: It's going to be all right" means you need not worry because it will be fine.
It means a state that has no problems.
In our daily conversation, we tend to say "It should be ok, right?", showing our baseless confidence with a question mark.
In order to succeed, you need to have confidence and be determined.
The attitude you need to have is to be ready even when the worst happens.
To say "daijobu" when it is just a wishful thinking is far worse than "not daijobu".
When someone tells you "daijobu" you feel safe, but if you are thinking "it'll be daijobu, right?", it makes you feel insecure.
When you put a question mark at the end of an affirmative expression, it just becomes a wishful thinking.
Originally, "Jobu" meant a strongly built male in Ancient China.
"Jobu" meant the person is not just strongly built, but is knowledgeable and has charisma.
A person who was truly All right.
Daijobu means a sure state that has no problems and is one of the names of Amida Buddha.
When we recite nembutsu, Amida Buddha is always there saying "Daijobu".
Daijobu is a word of Amida Buddha.