Dharma Talk given by Rev. Marvin Harada in 2000 (Orange County Buddhist Church)
Last week I had the opportunity to see in live concert, the Japanese taiko group, Kodo, who performed at the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts. Kodo is a very famous taiko group from the Sado Island in Japan. I have seen them on television before, but never had the chance to see a live performance. What an amazing performance they put on. The taiko pieces, all varied in rhythm and style, were dazzling, powerful, and moving. It was amazing how they could be playing a long piece with complicated rhythms and patterns of beat, and in one instant all stop in complete unison. Sometimes more than the power of the beat of the drum, it was the timing of the complete silence that was impressive.
The drummers were all in amazing physical condition. In one piece a drummer beat on the huge odaiko or “great drum,” for several minutes straight, and just when you thought the piece was over, he moved to another drum and continued playing what seemed to be an even more physically taxing number.
Needless to say, the audience was enthralled with the performance, and they were given a standing ovation. I thought it was quite interesting that not one word was spoken during the performance (other than a couple of numbers that involved some singing). There was no introduction of the group, no explanation of any of the pieces about to be performed, or anything of that nature. The curtain opened, and they immediately began to play.
During the performance, I began to look around at the audience that was there. People of all ethnic backgrounds were represented. It was not a concert for the Japanese community. I realized that it didn’t matter what your ethnic background was to enjoy this concert. Your knowledge or background of music didn’t matter either. The beat and rhythm of the drums had a universal appeal, and was moving for all who were there.
When you stop and think about it, not many performances can have that kind of universal appeal. In terms of music, some people like country, some like classical, some like rap, some like jazz. You wouldn’t be able to have people of varied backgrounds and musical interests all enjoy a concert of one kind of music. But yet for the taiko, without any words, without any melody, they produced a concert that stirred the hearts of everyone. There is a definite universal quality, a universal appeal to the taiko.
This has led me to reflect on the universal qualities of Buddhism and Jodo Shinshu as well. Buddhism is a universal religion. This is evident by the fact that it has withstood the tests of time, and has been transmitted for over 2500 years. The Buddhist Teachings have been a vital part of eastern culture and thought for centuries. It is now becoming a greater part of the western culture and thought as well.
The message of the Buddha is universal. The Buddha points to the suffering of man, and the way to transcend the sufferings of life that all men must face. To put it another way, the Buddha wants all people to live a happy and peaceful life. We all want to live a happy and peaceful life. That is universal to all men, to all of humanity. However, we don’t all know how to find that happy and peaceful life, or how to live it. That is why we need Buddhism and the teachings.
I have been impressed by reading a book by the Dalai Lama, titled, “Ethics For The New Millenium.” In the preface, the Dalai Lama clearly states, that he is not attempting to write a book about Buddhism, nor is he attempting to write a religious book. His desire and motivation is to address the question of ethics based on “universal rather than religious principles.” In reading his book, I think that there is great universal appeal to what he says. A person of any ethnic or religious background could read this book and feel something about the issues that the Dalai Lama addresses.
This has also led me to ponder more specifically about the universality of Jodo Shinshu, of Shinran’s teachings. In my mind there is universality to Shinran’s teachings. The Shin Buddhist path is open to anyone. It does not require that you become a monk or a nun. It does not require that you give up your home or your job. It does not require you to live in the mountains, or to learn Sanskrit, Chinese, or Tibetan. There are no claims about mystical secrets, or secret ordinations. Man, woman, or child may follow the Shin Buddhist path.
However, although there is a universality to the Shin path of Buddhism, I think that Jodo Shinshu has failed to elaborate that universality, and on the contrary, has been too strongly sectarian in its approach. Part of that stems from the context of religion in Japan. In Japan, nearly every sect of Buddhism has been in existence for centuries. Even within each sect, there are sub sects. There are ten sub sects of Jodo Shinshu. The two largest are the Nishi Honganji, and the Higashi Honganji. The Zen tradition has three main sects.
Because there are so many Buddhist denominations represented in Japan, in order to survive or maintain themselves, the uniqueness, or the individual qualities of that particular sect or tradition has taken a greater prominence than emphasizing the universal qualities. What has resulted is a strong sense of sectarianism in Japanese Buddhism. For example, the robes of the ministers are each uniquely different. Obutsudans, or Buddhist altars, are each uniquely different. Even ojuzus are different. I remember once loaning my ojuzu to a minister who had forgotten his before a service in Japan, and he scolded me saying, “This isn’t a Shinshu ojuzu!” To me, an ojuzu was an ojuzu.
If Shin Buddhism is to reach a greater audience in America and the western world, it will have to elaborate more eloquently, the universality of its teachings and tradition. I would like to challenge myself to begin that type of dialogue and direction in the messages and class presentations that I make in the future.
To begin that discussion, let me relate the following universal qualities of Shin Buddhism:
- Focus on everyday life. While other traditions emphasize various practices and meditations, the focus of Shin Buddhism is one’s everyday life. Therefore, one’s family life, work, school, or recreation are all opportunities to listen to and reflect on the Dharma.
- Focus on the ego side of man. Who is there in life that doesn’t have an ego? Although we don’t want to admit it, we all have an ego, and sometimes this ego of ours causes us lots of problems. The Shin path is to see and awaken to one’s ego, which opens up the world of non-ego.
- Compassion has no boundaries. Enlightenment has two aspects: Wisdom and Compassion. Shin Buddhism focuses on the compassion aspect of enlightenment. Shinran meets the truth of enlightenment as Great Compassion. Great Compassion knows no bounds in ethnicity, intelligence, or physical capability. As the saying goes, “Just as rain falls on all vegetation equally, so Buddha’s compassion extends equally to all people.”
In the future, I hope that people of all backgrounds will be able to share in the Shin Buddhist path. Like the taiko concert the other evening, someday I hope that we will all feel moved together, as our hearts resonate with the same beat, with the same tempo, as we share in the universal truth of Namu Amida Butsu.
Namu Amida Butsu
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