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

2004 January

What is Your Dream?
by J.K. Hirano

I take refuge in the Buddha
I take refuge in the Dharma
I take refuge in the Sangha

A few weeks ago, a small group of temple members and myself met with three officials from the L.D.S. Church about our temple's building plans. When we first embarked upon building a new temple, one of the first foundations that made a donation was the L.D.S. foundation. They pledged $25,000 to our building fund. A very generous gesture, towards our small temple. This last meeting was a result of a chance meeting between Christy Fong and one of the members of the quorum of the seventy, while she was flying home from a business trip.

This meeting was to discuss possibilities of how the L.D.S. church could help us in furthering our plans. During the meeting, Ronald Rasband, a member of the seventy, asked me, "Reverend what is your dream for your temple?" Of course he was referring to what I would like in regards to the building of the temple. However, it made me focus on what I would really hope that our temple could become and what I think the temple should be. Of course I would like a nice physical structure for us to conduct our temple activities, but these are secondary to what I would like our Sangha to focus upon.

Every week, at the Dharma school service, we recite the threefold refuge. This is an ancient tradition of taking refuge in the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha. In fact, this the traditional method of declaring that one is Buddhist. There are other ceremonies that may vary from tradition to tradition. However, in accepting the three treasures or the threefold refuge, we are declaring that we are Buddhist.

The main Buddha for we Jodo Shinshu Buddhists is Amida Buddha. The Buddha of infinite wisdom and compassion. In relying upon Amida, we accept ourselves to this wondrous compassion. We open ourselves that Amida Buddha will allow us and draw us to the Pure Land. In taking refuge in the Dharma, we look to the Buddha's teaching for guidance in our lives. The four noble truths, the eightfold path, the teaching of the seven patriarchs, Shinran, Rennyo and many other teachers have contributed to the great body of knowledge and tradition that we call the Dharma. These first two treasures of the Buddha and Dharma, have changed vary little throughout time. However, I feel that we must re evaluate the concept of Sangha.

The original concept of Sangha was in reference to the Buddha's disciples. They had all given up their individual families and taken vows as monks. As Mahayana Buddhism developed the definition for priests, monks and laymen began to change. With the development of Shinshu, it would change even more. Let me give you an example. In many sects of Buddhism, the altar would be the focal point of the temple. It was extremely large, with a small hallway in the front and possibly sides. The monks or priests would utilize the altar for rituals and ceremonies, that would change the consciousness of the participants. The benefits derived from the rituals would primarily help the active participants. Those witnessing the ceremonies, hoping for something to spill off onto them.

With Jodo Shinshu ceremonies and rituals, they are not meant to change one's consciousness, but rather to express the mind of gratitude that has hopefully already developed within the individuals participating. The priest is merely helping to lead the ritual and everyone present participating. That is why the Jodo Shinshu temples changed architecturally to have a larger area for the members (Sangha). The altar area is rather small in comparison to the gejin (sitting area). In this same regard the Sangha was no longer just the priest or monks, but the membership of the temple itself.

In Japan the majority of temples are used for memorial services and funerals. Over the past ten or twenty years, some temples have tried to form some sort of activities for the Sangha. However, in most cases, the temple is a place the priest and their family lived with a hondo, consisting of altar and gejin. This is very different from the United States and most of our BCA temples. As a result of the history of the discrimination faced by the Japanese Americans who founded our BCA temples. They have been an essential community center for the Sangha.

In Salt Lake City, with our small Japanese American community, our temple continues to serve the needs of the entire community, not just our Sangha. Our board has voted to not let the temple be rented out to outside groups, except, those organizations within our Japanese American community. As a result, our temple is used by the Nikkei center for luncheons and the JACLs within Salt Lake has also used our temple. In this regard I feel that it is important that we maintain a facility that can be used by our community. However, our Sangha must be harmonious.  Our temple has many families that have supported the temple and its various organizations for generations.

However, we are very fortunate that we have many members that are relatively new to our temple. With this variety of old and new members it is only natural that there will be a variety of opinions on any number of subjects. This is the beauty of a Sangha, it is but one of the three treasures. In keeping the Sangha together, it is necessary for us to all keep in mind the other two treasures of the Buddha and Dharma. These are the guiding principles and the glue that should maintain the foundation of any temple building we may create.

In answer to the question posed to me by Mr. Rasband, "Reverend what is your dream for the temple? I would have to say that above all else I hope that our temple is a place that many individuals guided by our mutual entrusting of the three treasures, can come together and work to support ourselves and the entire community we find ourselves in. In doing so, we are able to see ourselves as human beings, living in gratitude. Able to go beyond our petty squabbles and differences in personalities, to work for the betterment of all.

In this new year, I hope that each of your lives will be blessed with this understanding of a life of gratitude. Hoonko is our first major service of the year. It will be on Sunday, January 11th; our guest speaker will be Rev. Teruoka of the Tri State Buddhist temple. He is one of the newest and youngest ministers in BCA. I hope that each of you will join us for this special service.

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