Editor's Note - This is an excerpt from the December 2006 issue of the Buddhist Wheel

Bodhi Day, observed annually by the Hilo Young Buddhist Council, commemorates the great Enlightenment that Siddhartha Gautama attained more than 2,500 years ago, giving rise to the great religious tradition called Buddhism. Gautama Buddha’s awakening to the true nature of existence promised that everyone can attain awakening to truth by following the Buddha’s path in earnest.

“Bodhi” is a Sanskrit term that signifies the illumination or awakening through which one’s blind ignorance, illuminated by wisdom-light, loses its negative power, thus ending one’s suffering in life.  It is like seeing a new day dawn in Hilo when the sun rises in the sky over Keaukaha.

Any school of Buddhism brought to the Big Island by pioneer Issei 120 years ago teaches the attainment of “Bodhi.”  However, Jodo Shinshu is unique because it teaches us to become truly human (instead of holy) in the unhindered light of the compassionate heart of Amida Buddha.  It is a way of awakening of bright “Bodhi” mind here and now, and for each person to live this life truthfully as he /she is.

Around Bodhi Day each year, I happily remember a person who awakened to herself in the wisdom-light.  Soon after I was assigned to a Hongwanji temple on a neighbor island some time ago, I was asked by a young Fujinkai member to see an old time member of the Sangha.  Due to old age and deteriorating health, this lady, I will call Hatsue, was not able to attend any of the temple programs and activities.  I visited her twice.  On the second visit, she told me that she felt deeply anxious and powerless that morning before receiving a heart treatment at the hospital.

Hatsue believed that she had not done anything especially good and meaningful in her life for the community. Later I learned that while she was a contributing member of the community, Hatsue was not always on good terms with temple members due to personality conflicts, a situation that bothered her very much. 

Hatsue said that while cleaning her apartment that morning, she suddenly felt darkness in her inner being.  She asked about petitioning spiritual support from Buddha through saying the Onembutsu. I acknowledged for Hatsue, her self-effort to clear her mind and heart to attain spiritual peace and comfort, but I wanted to shift her thinking from asking for Buddha’s guidance to receiving it.     I asked, “Hatsue, are you trying to clear your mind and heart and ask Amida-sama for guidance and support?  If  so, that is not needed on your part.” Hatsue believed I meant that Amida has already taken care of her, but she wasn’t sure. 

I then shared a saying of Kakunyo, the great-grandson of Shinran Shonin.  He said, “People of the world say that the sun rises after seeing the day dawn…But, that is not true.  Because the sun rises in the eastern sky, the day dawns.” Using the celestial movement as a metaphor of the working Amida’s unhindered light, Kakunyo taught that we should not attempt to clear our mind for the sake of receiving Amida’s compassion. That is self-power. We should instead acknowledge and accept that Amida’s vow to liberate us from suffering has already been accomplished, and that the light of compassion has always been illuminating our heart and mind.

Casting off her self-effort to appear good in front of Amida and her concern to become a good person, Hatsue realized the Other Power of unconditional love of Amida Buddha. Saying, “Yes, that’s right,” Hatsue was relieved from anxiety and worry.  When she passed away two weeks later, she had already attained birth in the Buddha Land of Peace.

Such is Enlightenment in Jodo Shin life. A person illumined by the unhindered light of Amida casts off doubt (about Amida) and self- power, is not overly concerned about being a good person, and instead, should simply have an entrusting heart (Shinjin).  Annually, on Bodhi Day we gratefully acknowledge that power of Amida’s Primal Vow manifested to each of us everyday of our lives.

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