Editor's Note - This is an excerpt from the January 2010 issue of the Buddhist Wheel

“Immeasurable Light and Life.”

At the beginning of the year, I would like to send you my greetings from Hongwanji in Kyoto.

Editor's Note - This is an excerpt from the December 2009 issue of the Buddhist Wheel

Hello, everyone. How are you?

Today, I would like to share a proverb of Shinran Shonin with you. Shinran Shonin says, “Even a good person can be born in the Pure Land, how much more so an evil person!” When we hear these words, we think that they lack in common sense. But Shinran Shonin is not a person who lacks common sense. He admits this idea is really quite contrary to the way people usually think. That is why he says, “However, people commonly say, [Even an evil person can be born in the Pure Land, how much more so a good person!]” The reason he said that is Shinran Shonin saw an inner contradiction in the various efforts of religious people: they were all done in the expectation of egoistic benefits. Shinran recognized good deeds could be poi sonous and obstructions to enlightenment when done with the proud awareness that they were good. He realized the fulfillment of Amida’s Vow to save all suffering beings was not dependent on their performance of good deeds. However, Shinran Shonin should not be misinterpreted here as rejecting doing good deeds. Please don’t misunderstand it. Shinran Shonin considers a good person to be a person who believes himself as a good person. He considers an evil person to be a person who knows himself.

Editor's Note - This is an excerpt from the November 2009 issue of the Buddhist Wheel

Sakyamuni Buddha teaches us that one kind of suffering occurs when we cannot avoid separating from people who are close to us or are very dear to us. I cannot help thinking of this teaching now.

It has been one year and nine months since I was assigned to Hilo Betsuin in March of last year. However, time flies. Now the time to leave Hilo is fast approaching. I will be transferred to Kapaa Hongwanji on Kauai on December 1.

Editor's Note - This is an excerpt from the Octboer 2009 issue of the Buddhist Wheel

Many people tell my wife and me that we look like a newly married couple. When we hear this we feel strange because we have been married for 4 ½ years. Our relationship started over 9 years ago, and we are not doing anything special to keep this intimacy. Of course we don’t consider our relationship as bad or that good. This is just our natural relationship.

Editor's Note - This is an excerpt from the September 2009 issue of the Buddhist Wheel

“When I’m lonely I recite
    NamoAmidaButsu,
Then I feel him take my hand,
I gassho to Amida”

These words are part of the Late Bishop Tsuji’s gatha: “Gassho to Amida”, sung every Sunday at the 9 A.M. Dharma Family Service.