Buddhist Thoughts - Salt Lake Buddhist Temple

2 Salt Lake Buddhist Temple: 211 West 100 SouthSalt Lake City, Utah 84101, volume 13issue 8 web site: slbuddhist.org September, 2005gamble, although I am not very good at it.Marriage, when it is right, is one of the mostpeaceful and stabilizing relationships we havecreated as humans. It allows us the opportunity tosee our lives, and ourselves, beyond our own egocentered viewpoint. Whether or not we do this is upto each person in the relationship. Marriage doeshave its benefits and I have been given thisopportunity one more time, by a woman I believe tobe the right one for me.My ex-wives had tried to create a union thatwould last, but because of the grumpy old man thatI am, neither had worked out. Up until thisrevelation, I had been thinking that I am not verylucky in gambling or love. Yet, this black jackdealer, had shed a positive light on my negativebeliefs. I have indeed been a lucky man to havebeen loved by others, to the point that they werewilling to share their lives with me. This third try atthe ring of marital bliss was something I have beenblessed with, better than hitting a monetary jackpot.My life is just right for me.The second teacher I met was an ex streethustler from Cleveland, Ohio. At our annual BCAministers research seminar, Socho Ogui had inviteda former student of his from the Cleveland Sangha tospeak with the ministers. This former street hustler’sname was Craig Jisui Horten. I do not have thetime to get into his entire dharma talk. However, itwas one of the most enlightening English Dharmatalks I had ever heard.Sensei Horten, before encountering theNembutsu teachings, had never been outside ofCleveland, Ohio. He didn’t know any Japanesepeople, for that was something outside of hisneighborhood. Yet when he began going to thetemple, he felt the teachings spoke to him. Duringhis Dharma talk, he spoke of how he likes to wakeup early in the morning to the sound of the birds. Hetalked about one early morning waking up andwalking outside to a park near his home calledEuclid Park. As he listened to the birds and watchedthe autumn leaves falling in the park, he realizedthat none of the leaves fall at the wrong time. Asthey fall, each leaf, falls in the right place, like apiece to a puzzle. As he explained this scene, I felta light go off within me. This is the essence of thedharma in all its glory.There is a famous poem by the poet Ryokan(1758-1831) it is used by many Buddhist priests intheir Dharma talks.Maple leaves fallShowing the front,Showing the back.Yet, how many of us can live the life of a maple leaf,showing the front and back. This is almost anunattainable goal, something we can only strive for.Yet, in realizing the leaves falling in perfect time, wehave been shown the beauty of our everyday lives.As Sensei Horten described his observation of theleaves in Euclid Park, the haiku I began this articlewith, naturally formed within my mind. I had metmy first non Japanese myokonin. Myokonin aredescribed and identified throughout Jodo Shinshuhistory, as individuals with a deep understanding ofthe Nembutsu teachings. Most were not formallyeducated in Buddhism, yet through their lifeexperience, come to a deep spiritual understanding.Myokonin literally means “wonderful, exquisiteperson.” Through listening to this Dharma talk, Ihad seen that Jodo Shinshu indeed has a place inAmerica. The seeds planted by our Issei ministersare beginning to blossom into the nembutsu flowerswithin this land. Even a grumpy old man,such as myself, is embraced and given life throughNamo Amida Butsu. Horten Sensei’s dharma nameJisui means “compassionate water.” I have beenallowed to take a drink from the compassionatewater of Life. .Jodo Shinshu and the Nembutsuteachings are not something held within ourestablished temples. It is something that we will findeverywhere. It is life as it is. At a black jack tablein Las Vegas and within a small inner city park inCleveland, when we are allowed to open our eyes toit and drink the compassionate water. Like the“ahhhh” of refreshment after a refreshing drink ofwater, all I can say is Namo Amida Butsu.President’s Message