Land of Virtues

Life is wonderful!

I had a joyful opportunity of attending a Buddhist wedding celebration last Sunday at a Buddhist center, Rissho Kosei-kai of Los Angeles.
I believe the atmosphere of any wedding is a good reflection of the quality of lives of a bride and bridegroom. Warm and heartfelt congratulatory messages from friends were a good evidence of wonderful virtues of the new couple, Emi and Mike. A virtue is like a fruit. You cannot obtain it in a short time. But you will eventually get it in the due course of time through every day’s efforts. The Emi ‘tree’ and Mike ‘tree’ are both beautiful trees bearing good fruits, growing on the fertile ground. And I am sure their parents must have diligently prepared the land of boundless virtues for them throughout their lives. I am very proud of Emi and Mike and also their parents. We reap what we sow.

Rev. Taido Matsubara, prominent Zen master residing in Japan, once hiked in a mountain with his college classmates some 80 years ago (he is now 102 years old), he took a short rest by leaning on a big stone, on which he found a short poem inscribed. Since then, the poem had become a guiding principle of his life.
“Look at that!
In such a deep mountain,
A cherry tree is blooming;
Do your best,
even though no one may recognize you.”

Both Emi and Mike are artists.
Below is the link to one of Emi’s work, the world of the Lotus Sutra.
http://www.geocities.jp/koyappy_rkk/gallery/loillust.html

Congratulations, Emi and Mike.

Awakening Call

A couple of weeks ago, I was staying at a hotel, in San Antonio, Texas. Around 3 a.m., a room phone rang loudly, and I jumped out of the bed. “Is John, there?” “What?” “Oh, sorry, I have the wrong number.”　The conversation ended, but the sensation of blaming this young woman for this careless action started within me. The following morning, I woke up with the sense of blaming her and also blaming myself for not being able to forgive her.

I gradually recalled what was going on the night before; the hurricane was approaching the Gulf area, lots of people were evacuating from that area, the hotel was occupied by many evacuee-like guests, and a group of people entered the room next door at midnight before the phone rang…… Most probably, the young woman was a family member from the Gulf region. I was ashamed of myself for having decided that she lacked common sense. When I saw it all clearly, my mind was freed. And I realized myself now worrying about and praying for the victims of the hurricane.

We react based on our own interpretation. By clearing our views and building our capacity to recognize everything as it is, we are able to see the beautiful nature of every being, and consequently peace, compassion, and dedication are revealed within ourselves. This is the meaning of awakening to the truth of the universe. Everyone has buddha-nature, most beautiful nature and also potential of awakening. Awakening to the truth of universe is assured to everyone in the Lotus Sutra.

The midnight phone brought me awakening.

Gassho

Shoko Mizutani

Dharma on the Move 1/31/08

Chanting sutra is a great practice. In the Rissho Kosei-kai Buddhist tradition, we recite the Lotus Sutra every morning and every evening. As February 3rd is an important day, called Setsubun, a day before the start of the New Year in the Japanese traditonal astrological calendar, we hold a special session to chant the whole pages of the Lotus Sutra in one or two week period of time. At 6am today, I started chanting from Chapter 3, "A Parable", to Chapter 6, "Prediction" at home myself. The total pages were about 70, and it was close to 8am when I finished the chanting. When I recite the sutra particularly in a loud voice, I always enjoy the sense of connection with the Dharma. Feeling deeper appreciation to family, friends, and all beings, I renew the bodhisattva spirit. I was sitting and chanting for two hours this morning, but I felt it was just about five minutes.

After the breakfast, it seems the Dharma guided me to listen to an audio lecture in a website. It was a lecture by Ven. Kusala Bhikshu. He was talking about Buddhism to students at Santa Margarita Catholic High school.
I was very much impressed with his openness, his easy-to-understand expression, and at most his sincere attitude throughout his life to share the Dharma to free every being from suffering.

Several days ago, I watched a video presentation by Pema Chodron and was struck by her great articulation of Buddhist principles.

I also got impressed by a book titled “The Best Buddhist Writing 2007”. Most of the contributors to this book are Western Buddhist scholars and practitioners.

Having learned and practiced the Buddhism wholeheartedly, now American Buddhists are sharing the Dharma with American people. Actually the person who introduced the Pema’s video talk to me was also a brilliant American leader in our Oklahoma Dharma Center.

Dharma is on the move now! I would like to renew my vow to contribute to peace and happiness of people in this country by sharing the Dharma as compassionately as possible.

Chanting brought me a great day today! Thank you, Buddha.
Shoko Mizutani