Rude Awakenings - Forest Sangha Publications

^0 S E C O N D M O O N 06temple of the Nipponzan Myohoji sect. Being Japanese, it was bound tobe quiet and clean.The last miles on the road seemed endless; we had been going vigorouslywith only brief pauses for about eleven hours since Mr. Singh’sprotracted breakfast. We hadn’t even stopped for food. The sun had longgone down and the monotonous road and the rhythm of walking hadmerged into a hologram of fatigue in which the mind lost the ability tomeasure time or distance. There was just the pounding of the road andthe mantra leading onward like some unstoppable dirge. We were sonumb and Vaishali so small that we might have stomped past it in thedark but for a rectangular expanse of dark water wherein blazed thegreat moon. And the small white temple was right beside it, white andcool and still, a neat notice on its gate, and inside an immaculate shrinewith great glowing Buddhas and a photo of the founder of the NipponzanMyohoji, Reverend Nichidatsu Fuji, on the shrine. A broad smilebeamed over his hands joined in anjali to greet us; fluffy white eyebrowsdanced like cirrus clouds above a face shining with well-being. The drumthat played a central part in their ritual stood to one side of the shrine.We paid our respects and waited for the host.At the time of the Buddha, Vaishali was the capital of the Licchavirepublic, which together with the republic of the Videhas made up theVajjian confederacy. They say that the Buddha was impressed withVaishali—it was a beautiful spot, and the people who lived there had aform of government that was democratic by nature, being made up ofleaders elected from the aristocratic class. It probably reminded him ofhis homeland, which was ruled in a similar way. However, although theBuddha had no illusions about the pride and stubbornness of his ownpeople, he had nothing but praise for the Licchavis. Unlike his own people,they had offered him hospitality at the numerous shrines in theirrepublic, and had taken to heart his advice on statecraft:1 5 0