Sakyamuni Tathagata is Truly Our Loving and Compassionate Parent

In this month of April, we observe our Hanamatsuri Service celebrating the birth of Sakyamuni Buddha.  The many Buddhist traditions of the world celebrate the Buddha’s Birthday.  The Theravada Buddhist observance of Vesak includes the celebration of Sakyamuni Buddha’s birthday and was recognized by the United Nations as an occasion for the world to honor the Buddha’s wisdom and seek the guidance of his teachings.

A multitude of Buddhist lineages span the world, each with special observances honoring the founders and great teachers of their tradition.  All those diverse linages revere Sakyamuni Buddha as the great teacher who appeared in this world.  In that sense, all those who journey through life on the path of the Buddha are our brothers, sisters, and siblings in the Dharma.  In the following section from his Hymns on the Samadhi of All Buddhas’ Presence, Shandao describes the Buddha as the compassionate parent of all those who seek the path to awakening:  

All my friends who aspire for birth in the Pure Land must carefully reflect upon their own lives.  Sakyamuni Tathagata is truly our loving and compassionate parent.  He uses various skillful means to guide us to awaken the unexcelled heart of entrusting.  Moreover, there is not just one gate into his skillful teachings.  This so that they may benefit unenlightened beings like us with our upside-down views.  Those who live by the teachings may pass through any of the gates he taught to encounter the Buddha and attain birth in the Pure Land.

If you see or hear that there is someone doing good, immediately join them and offer your assistance.  If you see or hear that there is someone living by the teachings, offer your praise.  If you hear someone teaching how to practice the Buddha’s teachings, immediately take up the practice and follow their guidance.  If you hear that someone has awakened, immediately rejoice in their awakening.

(Free translation by H. Adams) 

Skillful means refers to the various ways in which the Buddha’s teachings are tailored to the needs of his audience.  Parents with multiple children, will find that each child has unique interests and abilities, as well as different needs.  As such, their way of parenting each of their children may differ depending on the circumstances.  Some children need more guidance than others.  Nevertheless, parents ultimately have the same wish for all their children to lead healthy and happy lives.  Sakyamuni Buddha showed the compassionate concern for all people that a loving parent shows their child.  Because of his deeply held wish that all people would realize lasting peace and bliss, he encourages us to entrust ourselves to Amida Buddha and say the Nembutsu.

Just as parents wish for their children to live together in harmony, the Buddha wishes for all of those who live by his teachings to refrain from arguments, and support and respect one another.   If you see someone working hard on a worthy project, do not hesitate to step forward and lend a hand.

If you encounter someone who is admirably living by the Buddha’s teachings, praise their virtues and let others know about it.  In this world, we have a tendency to delight in gossiping about others’ misdeeds, but consider how the world might be different if we dedicated our attention to celebrating those who live well.  If you hear someone teaching how to apply the Buddha’s teachings in daily life, take a moment to consider your own life with the question, “Is this the way I ought to be living?”  Living with this kind of self-awareness, you will find that your path forward in life will become clearer. 

If we go through life with a self-centered perspective, skeptical or envious thoughts may arise when we hear about another person realizing a great benefit that we have yet to attain.  In contrast, if we enjoy a settled mind of entrusting in the Buddha, we will come to see all people as our brothers, sisters, and siblings and awaken a sincere wish for their peace and happiness.  With this vast heart of entrusting, we rejoice together with the Buddha when we hear of one who has realized the great benefit of awakening.

Namo Amida Butsu

Shōshinge: Hymn of True Shinjin and the Nembutsu (Session 26)

Wednesday, March 8, 2023

We welcome you to join us via Zoom Meeting from the comfort and safety of your own home on Wednesday, March 8 for this free Dharma Study Class.

6:00 p.m. Shōshinge Sōfu Chanting

Chanting Shōshinge embodies the heart of daily Nembutsu practice in Jodo Shinshu Buddhism.  Join us to experience the settled the mind through focused breathing and meditative listening.

7:00 p.m. Reading and Discussion

In this month’s session we will further explore the teachings of the Chinese Pure Land Master Shan-tao (Shandao), who illuminates the path to attaining the threefold wisdom realized by Queen Vaidehi.

Shan-tao alone in his time clarified the Buddha’s true intent;
Sorrowing at the plight of meditative and non meditative practicers and people of grave evil,
He reveals that Amida’s light and Name are the causes of birth.
When the practicer enters the great ocean of wisdom, the Primal Vow,

He receives the diamondlike mind
And accords with the one thought-moment of joy; whereupon,
Equally with Vaidehi, he acquires the threefold wisdom
And is immediately brought to attain the eternal bliss of dharma-nature.

Full text of Shōshinge

Handout

To join us for this online Dharma Session, CLICK HERE and sign up for “Study Classes and Seminars”.

Shōshinge: Hymn of True Shinjin and the Nembutsu (Session 25)

Wednesday, February 8, 2023

We welcome you to join us via Zoom Meeting from the comfort and safety of your own home on Wednesday, February 8 for this free Dharma Study Class.

6:00 p.m. Shōshinge Sōfu Chanting

Chanting Shōshinge embodies the heart of daily Nembutsu practice in Jodo Shinshu Buddhism.  Join us to experience the settled the mind through focused breathing and meditative listening.

7:00 p.m. Reading and Discussion

In this month’s session we will encounter the teachings of the Chinese Pure Land Master Shan-tao (Shandao), who clarified the meaning of the Contemplation Sutra as an expression of the Buddha’s vast compassion for all beings.

Shan-tao alone in his time clarified the Buddha’s true intent;
Sorrowing at the plight of meditative and non meditative practicers and people of grave evil,
He reveals that Amida’s light and Name are the causes of birth.
When the practicer enters the great ocean of wisdom, the Primal Vow,

He receives the diamondlike mind
And accords with the one thought-moment of joy; whereupon,
Equally with Vaidehi, he acquires the threefold wisdom
And is immediately brought to attain the eternal bliss of dharma-nature.

Full text of Shōshinge

Handout

To join us for this online Dharma Session, CLICK HERE and sign up for “Study Classes and Seminars”.

Everyone Clothed in Fine Robes (May 1)

The robes worn by Buddhist monks were traditionally stitched together from discarded rags and dyed to a uniform color using inexpensive dyes, such as saffron in India and charcoal in Japan.    Inspired by Amida Buddha’s 38th Vow, this Sunday’s Dharma Talk will revisit stories of Nembutsu practicers in India, China, Japan, and the United States whose Buddhist garments expressed their commitment to the Dharma path:

When I attain Buddhahood, the humans and devas in my land will acquire garments as soon as such a desire arises in their minds, and they will naturally be clothed in fine robes as commended and prescribed by the Buddhas. If they should need sewing, bleaching, dyeing or washing, may I not attain the perfect enlightenment.

Schedule
8:30 a.m. Shoshinge Sofu Chanting (click here for chanting text)
9:00 a.m. Taiso Morning Exercise
9:30 a.m. Dharma Service
10:30 a.m. Shotsuki Hoyo Monthly Memorial Service

If you would like to attend the service in person, please email smbt@sanmateobuddhisttemple.org or call (650) 342-2541 to reserve a seat. Full Covid-19 vaccination is required. A maximum of 36 in-person attendees will be seated in the Hondo, so please contact us at your earliest convenience if you wish to attend.

To join us for this online Dharma Service, CLICK HERE to sign up for “Live Broadcast of Services”.