From Rev. John's Desk
A Final Look Back: 10 years
ago
At long last, the Vista Buddhist Temple has become a reality. Let me
assure you that this did not happen by accident, nor was it something
that happened overnight.
This was a dream of so many Issei and Nisei who were very special
people, devoted Buddhists in every way, who had come to pass without
ever seeing the result of their dreams ever realized.
For this Temple Building to become a reality, we owe much gratitude
to so many people, the countless number of people from outside of our
community who have given us their support and well wishes. Moreover, we
owe our deep indebtedness to you, our members and friends, who have
supported us and encouraged us, in spite of the opposition and doubts
held amongst some of the people of the community. Your assurance and
understanding was simply overwhelming.
One of the greatest factors in the realization of this Temple has
been our own rev. Arthur Takemoto. Rev. Art, as he is commonly known by
all, and his wife, Kay, have given this community so much. We cannot
truly fathom how fortunate we are to have them as our Sensei. Were it
not for this one persons effort and his many, many friends who came
to rally in his behalf, this beautiful Temple would not have been
possible.
We, of the Vista Buddhist Temple "Shoken-Ji", do say
"thank you" and would also like to welcome you to this
momentous occasion in which we officially open the doors of our
beautiful Temple to the Community of North San Diego County, to all the
Temples within and without the Buddhist Churches of America.
The above letter was dated September 26, 1987 and signed in Gassho by
Mr. Elmer Omori who was, at the time, the President of the Vista
Buddhist Temple.
On the cover
On the cover of this months Vista View is the artwork of our Mrs.
Wanda Shibata. It is a picture that depicts "mochi tsuki"
or the pounding of mochi rice. In the month of December the Vista
Buddhist Temple will have its mochi tsuki on December 28. December is a
very busy month. It is a month where we reflect on the past, and make
preparations for the future. All this is done in the present. As we
pound the rice, a tradition that has a very long and wonderful history
even in the community of the Vista Buddhist Temple, we make preparations
for the future. In our preparations for the future, we wonder what kind
of year 1998 will be. In each of our minds we have an idea as to what
kind of year we would like to make it. Often we do this by making New
Years Resolutions.
In preparation for his future and eventual enlightenment as Amida
Buddha, Hozo Bosatsu (Dharmakara Bodhisattva) gave rise to and fulfilled
his 48 vows. In praise of this Buddha and his land, Sakyamuni Buddha
tells his disciple Sariputra "Sariputra, those who have already
aspired, now aspire or in the future will aspire to be born in the land
of Amitayus1 Buddha, all dwell in the
Stage of Non-retrogression for realizing the highest, perfect
Enlightenment. They have already been born, are now being born, or will
be born in that land. Hence, Sariputra, good men and women of faith
should aspire to birth there.2"
When we pound the mochi rice to make mochi, we remember all those
people of the temples past that helped to give us this tradition of
making mochi "the old fashioned way." We have made some modern
"advances" to the practice of mochi tsuki, but it is because
of all the richness of our past that allows us to enjoy the taste of
"home made" mochi even today. Today, as we continue to make
mochi the old fashioned way, we discover the joy of passing down this
tradition to the next generation as is depicted in this months
artwork by Mrs. Shibata. Or, to borrow a phrase from Shinran Shonins
Kyogyoshinsho: "I have collected true words to aid others in their
practice for attaining birth, in order that the process be made
continuous, without end and without interruption, by which those who
have been born first guide those who come later, and those who are born
later join those who were born before. This is so that the boundless
ocean of birth-and-death be exhausted.3"
Of difficult things
On his way (to the Deer Park of Isipatana in Benares), the
World-honored One met Upaka, a follower of a heretical path that
espoused an evil way of life. Upaka was struck by the serenity in the
World-honored Ones appearance and spoke, "Your appearance is
truly serene, pure and lucid. As a home-leaver, whom did you take as
your Teacher and what kind of teaching does he impart?"
The World-honored One answered this question with a verse:
I am victorious in battle; my wisdom is superior; I am unstained by
al things; I am free of all suffering; the thirst of lust has been
emptied in me; I am perfectly Enlightened. This is entirely due to my
Wisdom; whom shall I regard as my teacher? In heaven and on earth, there
is no one who is my equal. A am the enlightened One of this world; I am
the supreme teacher. I alone dwell in pure quiescence. From now on, I
shall turn the wheel of the Dharma in this blinded world; there I shall
beat the drum of immortality; to accomplish this, I now direct myself to
the village of Kasi.
Upaka said, "World-honored One, do you, of your own accord, call
yourself An Enlightened One and The Victorious One
The World-honored One replied, "He who has extinguished all
defilements and has restrained evil; is not that man The Victorious
One"
Upaka said, "Perhaps that is so" and nodding his head in
assent, he departed, taking a different path.
This is the story, as recorded in the Sutras, of the person who
almost became the first disciple of Sakyamuni Buddha. It is also a story
that reminds us of the following words "It is difficult to receive
a human form; it is difficult to hear the teachings of a Buddha."
Despite having ears that could hear and despite meeting the Buddha
himself, Upaka was unable to appreciate what his ears were doing for him
and was unable to appreciate the Buddha. "Difficult" is a word
we often fail to understand the meaning of because we are so good at
taking things for granted. When we begin to understand the meaning of
the word difficult, how much more powerful the words "It is
difficult to receive a human form, but we have already received one; it
is difficult to hear the teachings of a Buddha, but we are already
hearing it" become.
1 Amitayus is one of the names of Amida
Buddha and can be translated as "immeasurable life." The other
name used for Amida Buddha is Amitabha or "immeasurable
light." Hence, Amida Buddha is the Buddha of immeasurable life and
immeasurable light.
2 Translation from
"The Three Pure Land Sutras: A Study And Translation" by
Professor Hisao Inagaki. This book is available in our library.
3 The passage quoted is originally by the
master Tao-cho (Doshaku, Jpz). Doshaku Daishi (Daishi is an honorific
title meaning "great teacher") is the fourth of Jodo
Shinshus Seven Patriarchs. The passage quoted above can be found in
his "Anrakushu (Passages on the Land of Happiness)" The
translation used is taken from "the True Teaching, Practice and
Realization of the Pure Land Way: A Translation of Shinrans
Kyogyoshinsho," Vol. 4. Honganji International Center, 1990. This
book is also available in our library.
