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Written by Rev. Mariko Nishiyama
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Saturday, 15 April 2006 |
Editor's Note - This is an excerpt from the April 2006 issue of the Buddhist Wheel
Shakyamuni Tathagata
appeared in this world
Solely to teach the ocean-like
Primal Vow of Amida;
We, an ocean of five defilements,
evil age of five defilements,
Should entrust ourselves to
the Tathagata’s words of truth.
(Shoshinge)
The celebration of Hanamatsuri commemorates the birth of the
honored one who saves all forms of life. On April 8th, we celebrate the
birth of Shakyamuni Buddha in gratitude for bringing Buddhism for our
salvation.
In the Shoshinge by Shinran Shonin, it is said that Shakyamuni Tathagata appeared in this world to solely teach about the Primal Vow of Amida. Like the ocean, the Primal Vow envelops all living beings, bringing enlightenment to all, through Amida Buddha and the Nembutsu. This message and promise were made clear and became available to all through the birth of this baby.
Coincidentally, April is when Japan is generally blanketed by beautiful cherry blossoms or sakura. After people have endured the winter cold, they welcome the coming of spring, its spreading warmth with cherry blossoms all around. Surely, it is like the enlightenment that this baby brought to the world. For myself, pleasant memories of Hanamatsuri come to mind as I remember making lots and lots of paper cherry blossoms to decorate the Hanamido, the flower pavilion housing the infant Buddha.
Traditionally, even today, the Hanamido remains the centerpiece at which the ceremony to honor the baby Buddha is performed. The flowers symbolize his place of birth, the Lumbini garden. We bow to the Hanamido, and then pour Amacha, Hydrangea tea, over the infant, put our hands together in Gassho and bow to the “Tanjou Butsu statue”. We do this because the birth of Shakyamuni represents the birth of Buddhism. With the coming of Shakyamuni began the spread of Buddhism. Buddhism became available to all people with his birth.
The legends which grew around the birth of the Buddha are many. One of them depicts the beauty accompanying the birth. One day, during the last month of her pregnancy Queen Maya decided that she would like to pass the spring day in a flower garden. So with the king’s permission, attended by her ladies-in-waiting, she had herself driven to Lumbini grove. The trees were abloom with fragrant blossoms: the deep green grasses were like the tail feathers of a peacock swaying like soft fine silk blown by the wind. The queen took a pleasant stroll and reached toward a drooping limb of an Asoka tree heavy with flowers. At that moment the Bodhisattva was born, suddenly and peacefully. Immediately on being born, the baby took seven steps in each of the four directions and proclaimed, “In heaven above and earth below. I am the most honored one. I shall dispel the suffering that fills the world.”
The four directions represent the universe. The first six steps refer to the six realms of samsara; the seventh step, humanity’s potential to transcend this world of suffering. So this baby was seen not as an ordinary baby but one who was born as Buddha who would awaken all beings and all forms of life.
Remembering this proclamation made on that day in April long ago, we celebrate his birth. May we all become Buddha like him, awakened and enlightened.
Namo Amida Butsu.
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