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

2001 November

Life is Delicious
by J.K. Hirano

"Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment."

Shakyamuni Buddha

In Buddhism, the first noble truth is "Life is suffering."  It seems that since September 11, our society has undergone a tremendous change.  The newspapers, radio and television talk shows are all reporting about the effects of that day.  Without a doubt the events of September 11 must be considered a tragedy of tremendous proportion.  The lives lost, the suffering that has come about as a result are reasons that each of us should take notice.  All of these reports and events verify this first noble truth. However, there is more than one noble truth and the effect and result of listening to the first would be nothing more than despair and pessimism without the other three.  Number two: "There is a cause for this suffering."  In observing this second noble truth we will find that the cause of suffering is our blind desires.  In Jodo Shinshu we call this "bonno." Bonno is usually categorized as greed, anger and ignorance and their resulting actions and effects.   The conclusion to these two statements, that life is suffering and there is a cause for this suffering can be found in the last two truths, Number three: There is a way to alleviate this suffering and Number four: The eightfold path.  The eightfold path is as follows: Right Views, Right Thoughts, Right Speech, Right Conduct, Right Livelihood, Right Effort, Right Mindfulness and Right Meditation.  I'm sure that a good number of you are now ready to stop reading and are thinking, "Here we go again, another lesson of the four noble truths and the eightfold path." I am the same way, when I see lists of teachings, I have a tendency to ignore them and my mind drifts off.  However, I do believe that it is important to remember this foundation of the Buddhist teachings of the four noble truths and the eightfold path.  The problem I have with the eightfold path, is the difficulty I find in following them.  I know that there are some human beings that have the perseverance and ability to follow them to their rightful conclusion, enlightenment.  Shakyamuni Buddha is our ideal in this regard.

Through his life and teaching we know that the possibility for humans to become Buddha is a reality.  In this regard we should try to follow what he says.  However, there have been thousands of individuals, living and dead, much greater in ability than I, that have not been able to reach enlightenment.  I'm not advising you to give up.  I will continue to try, but let's just say, I buy lotto tickets too and I still haven't hit more than 3 out of the six numbers.

Which brings me to the main point of this article.  The events of September 11 are tragic, but you are still alive if you are reading this article.  If they have caused you to examine your life, what a wondrously expensive gift you have received.  It was given at the cost of thousands of lives lost and yet to be lost.  Through the untold suffering of your fellow human beings.  Now that you have received this precious gift, what will you do with it?

Hasn't the life you had before September 11 also been given at no less a cost.  Human history is filled with tragedy.  You are here as a result.  The entire Universe has been prepared for your arrival.  Now that you are here, what will you do?

In Plato's Apology sct. 38.  Plato writes about a trial in which Socrates has been brought up on charges of going against the gods.  From this writing we have the famous Socratic dictum, "The unexamined life is not worth living." This is definitely an interesting view.  I feel that what Socrates is saying, is that examining life is life itself.  To do anything else is not really living, merely existing.

In Buddhism, we often refer to tasting the Dharma (the teachings), this can also be paraphrased to taste life itself.  If we go back to the first noble truth, life is suffering.  Without tasting life, without examining life, my life, your life.  It is suffering.  An existence of merely opening our eyes, moving, putting things in our mouth such as air, water and food, closing them at night, until we are no longer able to open them again, because of death. 

In contrast, in tasting life, I have found that I am incapable of following the eightfold path to enlightenment.  Yet, in this knowledge, in realizing my weaknesses, my ignorance, my blind passions.  I am tasting life and it is delicious.  For I am alive and not alone.  Each of us have tragedy and suffering in some form in our lives, from the events of September 11, the sickness or death of a loved one, to not balancing your checkbook or the kids not wanting to get in the bath at bath time.  I am not equating one with the other, just acknowledging that suffering is a part of our everyday lives.

However, within that everyday life is also great beauty, hope, love and compassion.  To me, this can be the definition for Amida Buddha in my life.  The compassionate light of Amida Buddha shines within the darkness of suffering, to show me these wonders in my life.  Allowing me to taste all that it has to offer.  The echoing of the laughter from the bathroom walls, as my children play in the bath.  The tears of gratitude that I was allowed to share in the life of family and friends no longer living.  The embrace and support of family during those times of tragedy.  Even the fact that I have a checkbook to try and balance.

We are each the recipients of wondrous gifts and the light of Amida Buddha allows us to appreciate them.  Our response is one of  thoughts, words and actions.  In the thoughts received in examining our lives.  In the words of Namo Amida Butsu.  In the actions, which are done with appreciation for the gifts we have received.  Delicious.

There is a Swedish proverb that I came across that I would like to end with.

Fear less, hope more

Whine less, breathe more;

Talk less, say more;

Hate less, love more;

And all good things are yours.

Namo Amida Butsu.

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