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

It has been raining in Hilo almost every day for the past few months. Before I moved to Hilo last year, some people said to me, “Oh, you will move to Hilo. Hilo is really nice place, but it rains a lot in Hilo. Even if you forget lunch, you must not forget an umbrella!”

Therefore, my mind was ready for such a rain. However, after I lived in Hilo a while, contrary to my expectation, it didn’t rain too much. However, opposite to last year, this year is really rainy, so some people said to me, “This is the weather of Hilo. Finally, you were able to experience this rain.” I think I have become accustomed to this continuous rain, and I got wet several times.

After such an experience, I remembered a story. In the history of Japanese Buddhism are famous Nembutsu followers called Myokonin, who are people who really rejoice in the Nembutsu teaching. Their simple words, poems and episodes make us aware of some important things and inspire us. I would like to share two episodes of Genza (1842-1930), a famous Myokonin.

The first episode occurred on a summer day when Genza worked outside and was caught in a shower. Since he didn’t have an umbrella, he was drenched with rain. He stopped working and left for home. On his way home, he encountered a minister who saw Genza drenched with rain. He said to Genza, “Oh, Genza, you got very wet, didn’t you?”

Genza replied, “Yes, thank you very much. How grateful I am that my nose is pointing downwards.”

At first, this conversation might sound strange. However, if our nose point upwards, what is going to happen? The rain would fall into our noses, making us choke and suffer. Genza appreciated that he was able to avoid such a situation, even though he was wet so much. Also, he remembered the value of his nose pointing downwards.

Another episode of Genza took place on another hot summer day when somebody complained to Genza that it was too hot. Then he replied, “If outside is too hot, we have clothes to protect us from heat and sunshine. In case it rains, we have an umbrella. Oyasama always makes everything all right. How can we complain?”

Oyasama literally means our parent, but this word also refers to Amida-Buddha, which is immeasurable life and light. Genza realized that Amida Buddha always supports us, making us aware how every situation can be seen as appropriate even if we encounter some event that we feel unfavorable. Therefore, Genza was delighted that his nose was pointing downwards, and that his clothes and umbrella always provided protection. Thus, Genza always felt Amida Buddha’s compassion which embraces our lives, and was always grateful for everything during his life.

At the beginning, I talked about the rain in Hilo. When I get tired of continuous rain, I remember the stories of Genza. It reminds me of what I am provided with. Actually, thanks to the constant rain, we have beautiful greenery and plentiful water in Hilo. I know I am supposed to appreciate this rain; however, it’s hard to remember these facts every time. Even if I understand intellectually that I am supposed to appreciate it, and even if I study from the stories of Genza, I tend to wish sometimes for the rain to stop and for the weather to be fine.

That’s why “Namo Amida Butsu” is essential. When we listen for the Amida Buddha’s compassion, it enables us to reflect on ourselves and causes us to view things differently. We can remember Amida Buddha’s working, while we say “Namo Amida Butsu”. Finally, we can appreciate everything in our daily lives.

The stories of Genza made me think that this continuous rain can remind us of some important things. Even if we forgot an umbrella on a rainy day, let us not forget “Namo Amida Butsu”.

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