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

2002 June

Fragility and Impermanence (Dance of Life)
by J.K. Hirano

When I reflect quietly, I realize that one receives life in the human world due solely to the merit of observing the five precepts in one's past life. This is indeed a rare thing to happen. Life in the human world, however, is but momentary and ephemeral; the life in the Pure Land is the eternal, blissful fruit.

Even if we boast of pomp and glory and revel in prosperity, we cannot enjoy such a state for long, because "those who prosper will necessarily decline, and those who meet must definitely part" is the way of the world. Life lasts only fifty or a hundred years. In addition, since it is not certain whether death comes to the old first and then to the young, human life is hardly reliable.

For this reason, people of today should seek the entrusting heart of Other Power and aspire to be born in the Pure Land.

-- Letter 10 Gobunsho Rennyo Shonin

Over the past few months, I have been emphasizing the joy of living. In understanding this joy and gratitude of life, it is necessary to understand the fragile nature that surrounds us at all times. If one thinks they will live forever and their loved ones will always be with them, it would be very difficult to appreciate what one has at this moment. It creates a self centered vacuum, where the world revolves around our personal happiness.

Individuals that have never experienced the death of a loved one, a father, mother, spouse or child, may often live in a dream world, such as this. They are lucky, in a very limited way. Yet, I hope that they can learn to live with the awareness, that this fragile happiness may burst at any moment. Nothing remains the same. Impermanence is a great law that must be learned, to appreciate life.

The great joy in my life are my children Taylor and Kacie. Of course the Nembutsu teachings and Amida Buddha are pivotal in finding this joy. For it is through the compassion of Amida Buddha, that the nembutsu teachings have shown me the joy in the fragile nature of life. Yet, in a very simple sense, every morning when I awake, I look forward to the day, because of these two little girls. For I know that I will not always have them there with me.

Those who have every been unlucky enough to see me dance, know that I am not a dancer. I envy those that can dance. It must be an extremely freeing act. I had mentioned over a year ago about seeing an apparently homeless man near pioneer park, dancing with joy. In that moment, he was possibly one of the richest men in the world. I'm sure he had been through great suffering. His lifestyle must be filled with difficulties I can't even imagine. Yet, he was able to dance with that joy and abandon.

My daughters are teaching me to dance. When I am home in the evening, Kacie will often put on one of her cds and say, "Daddy dance with me." At first I would hesitate saying, "Daddy doesn't dance." She would have this sad look on her face and say okay and she would dance by herself as I watched. Pretty soon Taylor would come in and the two of them would dance and laugh. One day, while they danced, Taylor picked up the picture I keep of my mother and I. It was taken at our temple's 75th anniversary. I had returned to Salt Lake from San Jose to take part in this celebration. There was a dance held at the Doubletree Hotel after the banquet. My mother was so happy when I came back. She asked me to dance. I said, "Mom, I don't dance. We didn't dance. It was the last time, I would ever have the opportunity to have danced with my Mom, before she died a year later.

Every time I think of this event, it brings tears to my eyes, thinking that I had lost this chance, to dance with my mother because of my ego-filled self. I now dance with my daughters, whenever they ask. If I am tired or busy, I find the time, I find the energy. Life is fragile, how long will I have my daughters wanting to dance with their clumsy, ungraceful father. As we dance, I look into their eyes, seeing their joy in living and my mother's joy, looking back at me. We laugh and I cherish the moment. Namo Amida Butsu fills my heart.

From June 26-28, July 1, 2, 3, 5, 8-10 at 7:00 pm, we will begin our Obon dance practice. Please join us for this celebration of the fragile nature of life. I would like to close with a poem written by Rev. Mas Kodani:

Even though you are happy, you should dance.

Even though you are sad, you should dance.

Even though you are excited with living, you should dance.

Even though you are bored with living, you should dance.

Even though you are embarrassed to put on Yukata and Geta and dance, you should dance.

Even though you put on Yukata and Geta and swagger like a puffed-up chicken, you should dance.

When old friends come to visit, you smile and laugh and act the fool.

Why then so timid and somber when remembering your ancestors?

As a leaf falls from a tree and flutters to the ground, showing all sides of itself, front and back, so should you dance.

Even though you are a congealed mass of greed, anger, stupidity, you should dance.

Even though you are an enlightened saint, you should dance.

Dance not for form, dance not for show, dance not for grace, dance not awkwardly to conceal your awkwardness, dance not for identity, dance not for Japaneseyness.

Dance to dance; your ancestors and relatives are your ancestors and relatives because they are your ancestors and relatives; dance to dance because you dance. Heavy, Heavy, Odore, Odore! Bummer, Bummer, Odore, Odore!

Kekko, Kekko, Odore, Odore! Chikusho, Shikusho, Odore, Odore! Bonno no katamari, Bodai no Jiyu. Soku Soku, Toku Toku Amidabutsu. Kekko Kekko, Odore Odore! Odoranu Aho-san, Odore Odore! Namuamidabutsu, tada Odore!

Choi, choi!

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