Buddhist Thoughts is the SLC Buddhist Temple newsletter which is mailed to Temple members each month. Here we provide excerpts from archival Buddhist Thoughts.

2000 July/August

The Last Dance?
by J.K. Hirano

I reflect within myself: The universal vow difficult to fathom is indeed a great vessel bearing us across the ocean difficult to cross. The unhindered light is the sun of wisdom dispersing the darkness of our ignorance.

-- CWS

It's been quite a busy Summer. The Obons and various services associated with Salt Lake, Ogden and Honeyville temples. We had visitors from the Denver YBA and their Sunshine Trip on two sleep overs, shortly followed by the home stay and one month study program for 52 students from the various Honganji affiliated High Schools in Japan. All of these things make life interesting, to say the least. I would like to thank all the families that participated in the home stay. I know the students from Japan really appreciated your taking them into your families and letting them get a small taste of our Buddhist American life style.

There were busy times, when I would just look at the schedule and mechanically make the rounds. However, this past month, I had three particular occasions when I was able to reflect on my life and really appreciate what I have. On August 6, we had the YBA waterski trip. It was a wonderful activity which Sherrie Koga and Elaine Endo planned. I told Sherrie, "You can be our temple's Martha Stewart for outdoor living". Of course, in Japan they say there is always a good woman behind any successful man. That is the meaning behind the word "Okusan".  Maybe, with Sansei couples, it's reversed, with a good man to every successful woman. Brent and Stan were always there to receive orders from their bosses. I mean spouses. Dutch ovens, Weber grills, truck loads of coolers and tents, boats, etc. a good man's work is never done. As a result of all this planning and manual labor, it was a wonderful day for everyone involved. As the sun began to set, many of us felt that we didn't want to see the day end. How many times could we enjoy a day with people we really enjoyed being with? Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could view each day in a similar manner? Enjoying the company of those around us, filled with gratitude for all the work provided, just so we could live and enjoy our moment in the sun. This is what we mean by, a life of gratitude, the Nembutsu way. I hope that all of us can remember and find that same type of joy in our everyday lives.

The second experience was at a concert I attended. I hadn't been to a concert with a dinner before hand for years. It was almost like going back in time. Getting together with a few other couples, without asking for a kids menu and children's seats, was a very remarkable experience. As we walked to the Delta center and found our seats, everything was very familiar. Showing our tickets at the door, finding our seats with the voices of thousands of people filling the arena. Earth, Wind and Fire was a musical group I had enjoyed for years. I guess I had forgotten just how many years. I had to comment to Cheryl how everybody there seemed so old. She commented that I wasn't a Spring Chicken anymore.

Instead of well dressed young couples, preening and trying to impress or be impressed, as was my memory of concerts from the past. This concert was filled with couples and groups in their late 30's, 40's and 50's. Many on cell phones, calling baby sitters to make sure everything was alright at home. There were a couple of guys with long hair, wearing dashikis and large beads around their necks. They looked ridiculous. Yet, I remember wearing a dashiki and getas to some of my college classes, trying to be cool and ethnic, finding my identity. Others in our group commented on the angel flight pants they used to wear. I was too fat to ever wear angel flights, but dashikis, large hats with wide brims, puka shells, gold chains, Mexican wedding shirts, I tried them all. At that time in my life I was looking for something. As I reminisced about the past, I suddenly slapped back to the present, my sore arms and body aching from the YBA waterski trip, as Cheryl slapped me, laughing and telling me to try and move a little to the wonderful music of Earth, Wind and Fire. With my joints creaking, I grooved, as well as a 40 something could groove and I realized I may have found that the something I had been looking for.

The third experience, was my 25^th year high school reunion. I hadn't seen many of these people since our 10^th year reunion. At that time, many of us were still searching for what we wanted in life. I was on a break from my studies in Japan. At this reunion, it was wonderful to see that so many of my friends had done well for themselves. South High was not a rich school. Most of us were from working class families, where the counselors rarely if ever talked about going to college. Yet here we were. Two classmates were city council persons. A number were attorneys, business owners, teachers, living comfortable lives. How many of us could have envisioned our present circumstances 25 years earlier. One of the questions that had been asked of the participants on a questionnaire was, "What has life taught you?" To paraphrase the most common answer, "Friends, family and love are the most cherished aspects of our lives. These are to be treasured beyond material gains of any kind. These will get you through any obstacles life may have in store". Although he may have been unaware of it, my favorite reply and I thought most appropriate and Buddhistic response was from Dale Aramaki, he wrote, "He who dies with the most toys, still dies". This sentiment was reflected and seemed to be mutually agreed to be all in attendance. There are many more treasures than the toys we sometimes think are so important, namely love, friends and family.

The music of our life is as intricate and multi faceted as that of Earth, Wind and Fire. As the strains of Phillip Bailey's voice sang "Reasons" the perennial last dance of countless YBA dances of the past, I remembered searching for a partner. I wasn't and will never be a dancer, but I didn't want to be left out of the last dance. When the real last dance of our lives come, where will I be. It sounds so cliche, but while living within the Nembutsu teachings. I have found everything I need. If I'm lucky, my life will continue to move forward. My life has been filled with wondrous friends, family and loves the true melody of my life. Just as I wanted that day on Hyrum Lake to continue and was saddened when it ended. I'm sure I will feel the same when my life here ends. However, realizing all the individuals that have given me the wonderful life I have, I can only be grateful when the last dance truly arrives. All I will be able to say is Namo Amida Butsu, the true rhythm of my life. With these words, I realize I have found what I was looking for.

We will be beginning our Dharma Schools on September 10^th with the Dharma School picnic. Ogden Temple will be asked to bring the desserts and Salt Lake Temple: last names A-P salads and Q-Z desserts. Although we have called this the Dharma School picnic, the entire Sangha is invited. Please join us. On September 17^th we will officially begin classes. Every year our Dharma School provides the children of our temples with a place to truly find themselves. It seems that many other groups try to duplicate what they see at our Buddhist temples. I don't mean to downgrade their efforts, but we are the real thing. The temple has provided generations of individuals to find what they are looking for. "The great vessel bearing us across the ocean difficult to cross". I hope that you will join us. Namo Amida Butsu.

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