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Shinran's Final Words

Portion of article by Rev. Marvin Harada from the Feb. 1996 KORIN of the Orange County Buddhist Church

March 1996

• President's Notes

• Reader Writes: Aholehole

• Thank You

• Buddha Is Nowhere

• Quote from the Dhammapada

 

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Prior to Shinran, Buddhism was exclusively for the monks and higher priests. Shinran brought Buddhism to the common man, not only in terms of teaching, but in his lifestyle as well. He was the first monk to openly marry and raise a family. Although he was scorned upon by the orthodox Buddhism of his time, his teachings and way of life have affected countless individuals, and have withstood the tests of time. In this month's article, I would like to share with you Shinran's final words before he passed away at the elderly age of 90.

"Though I return to the Pure Land of Eternal Peace after my life is at an end,

Yet shall I return to this world, again and again,

Just as the waves of Wakanoura Bay return to the beach....

When you rejoice in the Nembutsu, consider that two actually rejoice

When you rejoice with another, consider that there are three,

And that other is Shinran..." p. 50

"Thank You Namo Amida Butsu",

Chijun Yakumo

In order for us to understand this passage, we have to consider what Shinran means by the Pure Land, and also what he means by returning to this world, again and again.

You may have heard the Pure Land mentioned in sermons and talks before and were given the impression that it is like a Christian heaven. This is not entirely true. Although the sutras talk about the Pure Land as a place that exists far, far in the west, and that it is a land of peace and beauty, with jeweled trees and beautiful ponds, these expressions are symbolic in trying to express the world of truth or enlightenment, Nirvana. Shinran Shonin goes to great trouble in his writings to express that the Pure Land is the same as Nirvana, thus placing Jodo Shinshu within the context of Mahayana Buddhism. That inexpressible world of enlightenment, nirvana, somehow has to be expressed, it has to be pointed out by the Buddha, otherwise unenlightened sentient beings would never come to seek Nirvana. This is the reason for the expression of the Pure Land in concrete, geographical terms, not as an actual realm, but as religious symbolism.

Therefore, the Pure Land is really all around us now, just as the world of nirvana is all around us now. Then why is it that we don't see the world as the Pure Land, nor feel it as the world of peace and beauty? It is because of our ego, our ignorance. Our ego are the blinders that cover our eyes from the world of truth that is all around us right now. If, we had the enlightened eyes to see it, we could see the Pure Land right now before us. Shinran Shonin, whose study of Buddhism and philosophy was far-reaching, was very aware of the Buddhist concept of Nirvana. However, Shinran Shonin's greatness can be seen in his total honesty towards himself. Although I know that the Pure Land is all around me, I truly don't have the enlightened eyes to see it. I am not a Buddha. I am an ordinary foolish being. But although I do not have the eyes to see the Pure Land now, when my life comes to an end, I enter the Pure Land, the world of nirvana, just as a little wave that is floating upon the ocean returns and becomes the ocean itself when it reaches the shore.

Therefore, Shinran Shonin returns to this world, "again and again", as a manifestation of that world of truth, in the form of "Namuamidabutsu." Namuamidabutsu is more than just a word, or recitation. It is an expression of enlightenment itself. Whenever I faithfully recite the Nembutsu, and bow my head in reverence and respect, the heart of Shinran "returns" again and again. That is why he states in his final words,

"When you rejoice in the Nembutsu consider that two rejoice."

Whenever I rejoice in the Nembutsu, Shinran Shonin is standing right beside me, rejoicing as well. May we come to share in the great truth of Namuamidabutsu with Shinran Shonin, as we observe our Ho-onko services this year.