Editor's Note - This is an excerpt from the September 2008 issue of the Buddhist Wheel

Such beings are like people who, imbued with incense,
Bear its fragrance on their bodies;
They may be called
Those adorned with the fragrance of the light.
  (Hymns of the Pure Land, “The Collected Works of Shinran” p.357)

The following story, which seems unbelievable, is true. About 90 years ago in India, a priest found two little girls in the forest. One was eight, and the other, one year old. It is said that their family was too poor to bring up them, so they were abandoned. Somehow, these two girls survived in the forest. Can you imagine how or why these small girls survived for a long time in the forest?

Actually a wolf had raised the two girls. When the priest found the two little girls, they had been living with a wolf family with no human contact. The eight year-old behaved as though she were a wolf.  For example, instead of walking on two legs, she had adapted her body to the wolf’s walking style unconsciously, and she crawled on her palms and knees. And, instead of speaking human words at all, she just barked like a wolf. In addition, when she encountered humans, she was afraid of them. That is to say, although her appearance was that of a human being, her behavior was completely that of a wolf because a wolf had brought up this little girl.

From then on, the priest started to bring up them as human beings. His wife massaged their legs every day and taught them how to walk on two legs. After two years, they learned to walk on two legs. In addition, although at first they just barked like a wolf, they learned human speech little by little because the priest and his wife continued to talk to them. Finally, they could cry, showing sympathy for another person. This story shows us some important truths.

When we are born, we don’t have knowledge and habits. We are brought up as human beings through contact with parents, community, and various people. In addition, as this story shows, when we are in a certain environment, it affects us unconsciously. And it is possible for us to grow up in an unbelievable way. As the story shows, if a wolf brings up a human being, that human being will grow up as if he or she is a wolf.

The same goes for us if we always come to temple and attend service. How do we grow up? In the service, we always chant the sutra, sing a song, and hear the Dharma-talk. The Dharma talks are always about the perfection of Amida Buddha’s mind, which is Wisdom and Compassion. Wisdom is having the right view of things, seeing them as they are, and walking the right path. Compassion is giving pleasure and happiness to all people and removing pain and suffering. In other words, Compassion is the heart of kindness.

I think that when we always touch Amida’s wisdom and compassion, it influences us unconsciously. Just as when the wolf brought up the little girls, they became like the wolf, so if we are brought up by the Buddha’s mind, we become one with the Buddha’s mind when we always recite “Namo-Amida Butsu”. “Namo-Amida Butsu” expresses gratitude and awareness of the Amida Buddha that has wisdom and compassion for all beings. Amida Buddha always hopes for us, “Please receive my mind”. Then, hearing and receiving Amida’s vow is the teaching of “Namo-Amida Butsu.” If we hear and recite “Namo-Amida Butsu”, we are receiving Amida’s mind. As a result, our viewpoint is changed and influenced greatly.

Shinran-Shonin said that if we are always imbued with good incense, we have good fragrance on our bodies. In other words, if we always receive Amida’s vow, our life is adorned with the fragrance of the Amida’s light.

In conclusion, I would like to tell you about the really precious fragrance in the temple that we can imbue in our bodies. It is not only the fragrance of Amida’s vow but also the fragrance of the “Nembutsu” as gratitude to Amida Buddha uttered by your parents, grand-parents, departed loved ones, friends, ministers, and so many people. Let us share the teaching of Buddhism and share the fragrance in the temple. And let us recite the “Namo-AmidaButsu” with gratitude in our daily life.

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