Sermon for the service of Obon
by Rev. Daien Tsutomu Haseo
(at
Touzenji
Buddhist
Temple, Japan,
August 8, 2004
)
Thank you all for
coming to attend the service for Obon at
Touzenji
Temple
in the heat of summer.
As it was an unusually cold summer last year, it goes completely
the other way around this year. Since
the main hall of our temple is not air-conditioned, I hope none of you
will suffer heat exhaustion and/or heat stroke and be taken by an
ambulance to a local hospital as we know some people have developed heat
exhaustion even indoors. It is
important for you to lower your body temperature in this unusually hot
summer. Thus, please go ahead and
get some cold drinks at the guest house, which is right next door to the
main hall, if you do not feel good. Even
though you all sit in front of the Amida Buddha, it is just too early for
you to go straight into the
Pure
Land
from here (laughter).
Obon is an appropriate
time for us to look back and see how we are indebted to the past.
We have so far met many teachers called Zenchishiki in our life who
led us to be awakened to the true reality of life and the universe so that
we may attain a true happiness in our life.
They are indeed the models for us to live the rest of our lives.
All of us have our individual stories to tell how we owe to the
deceased members of our family and our ancestors as a whole because they
have put a foundation in place for us to live now and survive into the
future.
Also, Obon is a good
opportunity for us to stop and think about the countless powers that
protect and sustain our lives. Such
countless powers are called ‘Tariki’ or Other Power.
‘Tariki’ is often misused in political speeches, business
presentations, and our daily lives as implying something weak, passive and
irresponsible. On the other hand,
‘Jiriki’ or Self Power is interpreted as meaning something strong,
positive and responsible. This is a
misunderstanding and misuse of those words.
‘Tariki’ is, indeed, the true reality that we all live with
both within ourselves and outside. We
can not live even a single day without ‘Tariki.’
This means that we are
all dependent upon each other to survive whether we recognize it or not.
Nothing can exist just by itself without dependence upon Other
Power. This is the truth called
‘Muga’ in Buddhism. In Japanese,
however, ‘Muga’ is often misinterpreted as meaning the state of mind
that Zen monks are said to have reached in their deep meditations (muga
no kyochi). ‘Muga’ is also
literally translated as non-self or selflessness.
What is important for us is to understand the true meaning of ‘Muga,’
which can be put in a single word, i.e., interdependence in
English. This is the very basic
principle under which all lives can exist. If
we ever neglect the principle of interdependence and take actions
unilaterally without recognizing the existence of others, then this drives
our ego and creates tensions in our society, resulting in the conflict of
interests one after another.
As we fully recognize
the meaning of interdependence, we are led to believe that ‘‘to live
is to be lived’’ and want to do something in return for what is
received. Because we can hardly get
rid of our egoistic self-centered mind, however, it is not possible for us
to do any good deeds in a true and sincere mind.
Thus, all we can do is to recite the name of Amida Buddha (the
Buddha of eternal life and infinite light) as an expression of gratitude
for what is received from the bottom of our hearts.
I am sure that most of
you will get together with your family members, relatives, brothers and
sisters to celebrate Obon shortly. There
is no question in that this is a good opportunity for you to sit right in
front of your family altars, think about the deceased members of your
family and the ancestors as a whole, the countless powers that sustain
your life, and express gratitude for what is received from all of them.
This should reaffirm your family ties and lead you to live the rest
of your life in a more positive manner.
Thank you very much
for your close attention.
Namo Amida Butsu
