Shin Buddhism and the Eightfold Path
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The Newsletter of the Buddhistpage 1 Study Spring Center 2018 Spring 2018 Shin Buddhism and the Eightfold Path Bishop Eric Matsumoto participated in a Buddhist dialog on the Eightfold Path, the fourth of the Four Noble Truths. The Four Noble Inside this issue: Truths are fundamental principles of General Buddhism. He shared with the participants how he as a Shin Buddhist understands the Eightfold Path. What follows was written based on his presenta- tion notes——— Good Evening. For my part of the presentation, I would like to -A Few Words From share a Mahayana perspective which begins with the Eightfold the Editor Path includes the Six Paramitas and, then, concludes with the Shin Page 2 or Jodo Shinshu understanding of practice referred to as the “Great Practice.” -Shin Buddhism and However, before I begin, I would like to ask you to not attach sig- the Eightfold Path nificance to my title as a bishop. Spiritually, I am but an ordinary foolish being/bonbu filled with Page 1 klesa. Generally speaking, there is no doubt that the Noble Eightfold Path outlines in a clear and easily un- -My Journey, derstandable way what should happen for the realization of Enlightenment. Though not to be taken conclusion only linearly, the start from Right View or Right Understanding and concluding with Right Meditation Page 4 is probably the ideal progression common for many people striving to attain enlightenment. “According to Buddhism,” says Walpola Sri Rahula,” there are two sorts of understanding. What we generally call “understanding” is knowledge, an accumulated memory, an intellectual grasping of a -Mahalos and subject according to certain given data. (And) Real deep understanding…seeing a thing in its true In Memoriam nature, without name and label. This…is possible only when the mind is free from all impurities and Page 7 is fully developed through meditation.” And thus, we find Buddhist Traditions which focus on the Eightfold Path as the means to attaining enlightenment. What is very apparent is the focus on an -Upcoming Events individual’s attempt to rid oneself of klesa, or “impurities” as mentioned in the above quote, and Page 8 attain nirvana through the practice of the Noble Eightfold Path. The Mahayana attempt in trying to make more apparent the relationship between self and others regarding religious practice results in a shift or transition to what is known as the Paramitas. The Mahayana attempts to fully bring out that religious practice is not only an individual matter or fo- cused on an individual but must necessarily also include others. Traleg Kyabgon Rinpoche says “Paramita means "transcendent action," actions or attitude are performed in a non-egocentric man- ner. …we conduct our lives and perceive the world – either in an egocentric or a non-egocentric way. The…paramitas are concerned with the effort to step out of the egocentric mentality.” Rev. Henry Adams, a Jodo Shinshu minister, explains “The Mahayana Buddhist tradition places a strong empha- sis on benefiting others as the goal of Buddhist practice. As an expression of this attitude toward the nature of Buddhist practice, the Mahayana tradition expresses the essential elements of Buddhist practice described the Eightfold Path in an alternative model called the Six Paramitas. (omit) The Six Paramitas, or Six “Perfections,” encompass the virtues of the Eightfold Path, while emphasizing ben- efit for others through the addition of dana, or generosity, as the first virtue. Wisdom is the final element of the Six Paramitas, implying that benefit to self of receiving wisdom comes through the practice of benefiting others.” Thus, in Mahayana, the aspirant for enlightenment, the bodhisattva embarks with these two principles or thoughts in mind, non-egocentric and simultaneously bene- fiting self and others, and endeavors to perfect the Six Paramitas which explicitly shows the relation- (Continued on page 3) page 2 October 2017 Editor’s & Director’s Message Rev. Kevin Kuniyuki Rev. Shingo Furusawa Hello everyone! I am the new assistant of the Office The reality of this world is change. And there’ve been many of Buddhist Education. I changes in 2018. Jamie Itokazu has advanced in her career would like to introduce and is now working for the Registrar’s Office at the Universi- myself briefly. ty of Hawaii at Manoa. Taking her place is our student in- tern, Kerrie Wong, who recently graduated from UH Manoa. I was born in Hiroshima Also we are happy to welcome Rev. Shingo Furusawa who City in Japan. After gradu- will working with me on the Office of Buddhist Education ating from Ryukoku Uni- (OBE) and all Buddhist and Ministerial Education here at the versity with a degree in BSC and the OBE. He will eventually be a shared minister Buddhist history, I received resource to the BSC/OBE and the Hawaii Betsuin. a Master’s Degree in Shin Buddhism at Ryukoku University Graduate School. In 2006, I moved to Hawaii as a minister of So now, we would like to introduce our new team to you! Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii (Hawaii Kyodan). Since then, I have worked at Honpa Hongwanji Hawaii Betsuin, Kerrie Wong Pearl City Hongwanji, Honpa Hongwanji Hilo Betsuin, and Hi everyone! I’m the the 4 North Hawaii temples (Honokaa, Kamuela, Kohala, and new assistant to the Paauilo Hongwanji). Also, I was assigned as a Hawaii Kyodan director of the BSC. scholarship student from 2010 to 2011, and attended the Here’s a brief introduc- Institute of Buddhist Studies to study Buddhism, as well as tion of myself. Berkeley City College to study English and public speaking. I was born and raised Now I am very excited that I can work as the OBE assistant at in Honolulu, Hawaii. I the Buddhist Study Center, and I am looking forward to graduated from Puna- meeting with you there. I sincerely ask for your help and hou School in 2010, support! and in December 2017, I graduated with a de- gree in Japanese from the University of Hawaii. In 2015 I be- Welcome Rev. Furusawa and gan working as apart-time student intern for the BSC as the Congratulations to Kerrie Wong OBE assistant. After gaining experience working at the BSC I became the Assistant to the BSC Director on January of this Together we hope to better: “… share the living Teachings year (2018). of Jodo Shinshu Buddhism so that all beings may enjoy lives of harmony, peace, and gratitude.” I look forward to seeing you at the Buddhist Study Center! The current logo from all the documents I Metta have found was designed in 1992 under the The Newsletter direction of Rev. Yoshiaki Fujitani, when he of the Buddhist Study Center was director of the Buddhist Study Center. Volume 46, Number 1– Spring 2018 The background of the black circle with the white stripes images a scene of the calm ocean Metta is published by the: and symbolize serene and tranquil state of mind created by the Buddhist teachings which Buddhist Study Center is represented by the white lotus flower in the center of the logo. 1436 University Avenue Honolulu, Hawaii 96822 This also symbolizes the BSC, located in Hawaii on the cross- Phone: (808) 973-6555 roads of the Western cultures and the Oriental cultures, which Fax: (808) 973-6551 shares the better understanding of different cultures and contrib- E-mail: [email protected] Director: [email protected] utes towards the peace of human beings and the world. http://www.bschawaii.org The white lotus flower symbolizes a stage that is associated with The views and opinions expressed in Metta reflect only the state of bodhi; that of becoming awakened to the wonders of the views and opinions of its writers and contributors, who are solely responsible for its content. No material it all. When one reaches this state it is said that one has mental that appears in Metta may be reprinted or republished purity and has reached a state of spiritual perfection. in any one‘s without permission. page 3 Spring 2018 (Continued from page 1) moved from the Historic Buddha’s influence, enlightenment is ship of self and others regarding practice and attaining enlighten- not attainable. The third period known as the “Last Dharma Age” ment. is when only the Teachings remain. No one can successfully prac- tice anymore and thus no one attains enlightenment either. To further quote Walpola Sri Rahula, “…there are two qualities In Japan, the last Dharma Age is understood to have begun in that… should develop equally: compassion (karuna) on one side, 1052. Things have gotten so bad that no one can attain enlighten- and wisdom (panna) on the other. Here compassion represents ment in this samsaric world. Does this mean that there is no re- love, charity, kindness, tolerance, and such noble qualities on the course except to wait for Bodhisattva Maitreya who will appear emotional side, or qualities of the heart, while wisdom would stand 5, 670,000,000 years from now? for the intellectual side or the qualities of the mind. If one develops only the emotional, neglecting the intellectual, one may become a According to the Pure Land Tradition, no, there is another way. If good-hearted fool; while to develop only the intellectual side [and] one were to find oneself in an environment or circumstances that neglecting the emotional may turn one into a hard-hearted intel- are much more favorable to practice and attain enlightenment, it lect without feeling for others. Therefore, to be perfect one has to might be possible to attain buddhahood. According to Mahayana develop both equally. That is the aim of the Buddhist way of life: in Buddhism, this better environment is the “pure lands” of the var- it wisdom and compassion are inseparably linked together…”.