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

2003 February

Keeping it Simple
by J.K. Hirano

From the offspring of those who entertain loving thoughts toward hly scriptures and who collect and store them are likely to come out persons who cherish loving thoughts toward the Buddhist teaching.

-- Rennyo Shonin

My life has changed in so many ways with the birth of my two daughters Kacie and Taylor. I am much more aware of my actions and the effects they have upon them. As a result, I am trying day after day to quit smoking, exercise daily, etc. Although I have spoken to Kacie and Taylor about these habits and bad habits of mine, I realize that they pick up on many things that I do, rather than say. Telling them how smoking is bad and continuing to smoke. Telling them should exercise and then just getting fatter and fatter. What would it be that I am telling them.

When Kacie was just learning to talk, she would sometimes growl, like an animal. At first I thought something was wrong with her. Was it some recessive gene making her a throwback to a more primitive time? It was while we were playing, that she would laugh and growl at me. Sometimes suddenly reaching out to take a swipe at me with her hand. Her actions were more like a dog, rather than human. One day I saw Kacie watching and playing with our dogs Sammy and Shoyu. As the dogs played and fought over a stuffed animal. They would growl and swipe at one another. Kacie was right there with them, growling and laughing. I have never conscientiously explained to Kacie how humans play. Yet, Kacie still knows how to play. When Taylor gets mad, she points her finger at me and shakes it at me. I have never told her how to get mad.

Yet, Taylor scolds me, the same way I often scolded her. As a minister, I eat a lot of pot luck dinners and group lunches. At times, there are cold cuts, meats and cheeses set out with bread and condiments. Among the condiments for the sandwiches, I have never seen Miracle Whip Salad Dressing. It's always Best Foods Mayonnaise. I don't think parents sit down with their children and say, "We only use Best Foods Mayonnaise and not Miracle Whip." And there are no rules that I know of pertaining to what Mayonnaise temples use. However, Best Foods is obviously the mayonnaise of choice, within most of BCA.

I have mentioned this before, but a few years ago, my father gave me a very unusual gift. It was a Panasonic nose hair trimmer. I laughed when I first saw it and thought, "What am I going to ever use this for?" I have recently had to purchase a new nose hair trimmer, since the old one wore out. My father never sat me down and said, "Jerry, as you get older, your nose hairs will get longer and longer." However, the gift was very much appreciated and useful. As a child my parents never sat me down and told me, you have to be Buddhist. Nor did they ever explain to me about using our family's Obutsudan. Yet I saw my Mother and Father attend the temple and enjoy themselves. I saw how they treasured the teachings and also treated the ministers with great respect. There were times when I would say, "Mom, I can't understand Sensei's English." She would tell me, "Just sit there quietly, something will sink in. Sensei tries very hard to teach you kids."

At home, every evening, my mother would always put up gohan in the Obuppanki for the Obutsudan. In the morning, I would hear my father, ring the little bell and Gassho in front of the Obutsudan. When I was a little older, my Father gave me a seiten with the Buddhist teachings written in English. He never said anything about the contents. However, he inscribed it with the word, "May these teachings help you in life."

As parents and grandparents, there are many things that we may not say to our children and grandchildren. We may not be confident in explaining all aspects of our religious tradition. However, wouldn't it be wonderful if we could and did. Nevertheless, without saying anything, we are affecting our children in ways unbeknownst to us. They are observing and learning, from growling to respecting the teachings. What is it, you aren't telling your children. Namo Amida Butsu.

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