Editor's Note - This is an excerpt from the April 2007 issue of the Buddhist Wheel

A magnet produces energy which flows as a force attracting a piece of iron and entering it.  The piece of iron is thus activated and energized, connecting it to the magnet.  Once magnetized, the piece of iron itself produces a force that flows out to activate any other piece of iron.  When I was small, I was impressed with the working of magnetic force. Wondering why it happened, I continued play with the magnet and pieces of iron. 

And now, I am impressed with the working of Amida’s Compassionate Vow, and the magnet serves as a perfect metaphor.   Shinran Shonin used the metaphor of a magnet to describe the power of Amida's Vow when he awakened in awe of Amida’s compassion that transformed imperfect human hearts into what was true, real and dynamic.

On April 29 of this year, Hilo Betsuin’s Fujinkai will observe its Centennial Celebration, “A Century of Dana, Embraced by the Vow” with a special service and programs.  This celebration commemorates the great hundred year-long women’s Buddhist movement in Hilo that exemplifies the power of Amida’s universal compassion working like a magnetic force in energizing these women's lives filled with trials and failures, struggles and success.

While many achievements of Hilo Betsuin’s Buddhist Women’s Association are remembered, the precious lives of many Buddhist women, known or unknown, will be honored equally during the Celebration.  Through the magnetic force of “Namu Amida Butsu,” they expressed their joy of life in its utterance and through their selfless giving. They left this gift of dana to those who followed the Jodo Shin BWA movement.  What does this gift of dana mean?

I remember warmly how a local Nisei Fujinkai member, I will call Kiyo, told me about her path of O-Nembutsu.  When Kiyo was born, her mother developed partial blindness. The disease was incurable, so mental agony filled her when she finally became legally blind.  Out of frustration, the mother blamed Kiyo, who was still small, saying “Because of this one, because of this girl….”  Although Kiyo did not say so, I believe she was very hurt by the mother’s emotional abuse.  The mother perhaps did not mean to complain, but her deep frustration brought upon this karmic act.

Kiyo married and was blessed with two girls, but one died when she was young. Not able to accept her circumstance, she spent many days in despair.  But thanks to a Fujinkai member in her district who had gone through the similar circumstance of living in abuse, Kiyo got some help.  After her own long period of despair, this woman felt the assurance of Amida’s Compassionate Vow that liberated her from the pain and suffering of human existence. Seeing Kiyo facing an impasse in life, this woman told Kiyo to open herself up to see her personal circumstance as a reality and to entrust herself to the compassionate call of Amida that embraced her.  This kind of dana binds people for life.

Entrusting in the Buddha’s compassion that Kiyo received through her Dharma friend, she rose from sorrow, and continued her life of hearing the teachings.  Knowing that she was embraced by the Vow, Kiyo devoted herself to temple programs, including the Project Dana program of the district until she returned to the home of homes, the Pure Land.

Human existence is itself difficult and incomplete.  And yet, that is the realm where Amida Buddha’s magnetic compassion dwells, transforming the defiled mind and heart of everyone into what is true, real and dynamic.

May the spirit of Shin Buddhist Fujinkai of “Dharma-hearing” and “Dana-giving” be renewed and revitalized through the Fujinkai Centennial Celebration!

"Just as the light of a candle spreads
       from one candle to another in
       succession,
So does the Buddha-Dharma spread
from one person to another
endlessly!”

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