Aloha, Where East Meets West:

Earlier this year, in observance of the United Nation’s World Interfaith Harmony, numerous faith traditions gathered for the 3rd World Religions’ Conference sponsored by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community of Honolulu at their Kalihi Mosque. Bishop Eric Matsumoto was invited to represent the Buddhist Community. Each tradition was given 7 minutes for a presentation on the theme.

The following message is a condensed version of the message shared by Bishop Matsumoto introducing the story of Kisagotami (slightly adapted) from BDK’s The Teaching of Buddha.

Once, there was a young woman named Kisagotami, the wife of a wealthy man, who lost her mind because of the death of her child. She took the dead child in her arms and went from house to house begging people to heal the child. Of course, they could do nothing for her, but finally a follower of the Buddha advised her to see the Blessed One (Sakyamuni Buddha). The Blessed One looked upon her with empathy and said: “To heal the child I need some poppy seeds; go and beg for four or five poppy seeds from some home where death has never entered.”

So (she)...sought a house where death had never entered, but in vain. At last, she was obliged to return to the Buddha. In his quiet presence her mind cleared and she understood the meaning of his words. ...(she)...became one of his disciples. This actual story from the life of the Historic Buddha shares the truth or reality of impermanence, that everyone and everything is subject to change including the human body which, born of conditional causes and conditions, is thus subject to old age, sickness and death. This may sound pessimistic, but in actuality it depicts reality. The goal of Buddhism is to be in touch with reality and in that way attain perfect peace and tranquility by becoming aware and thus not attached to false perceptions of our ego. As the Historic Buddha said, Life is ever changing; none can escape the dissolution of the body. ...the true Buddha is not a human body: -it is Enlightenment. A human body must die, but the Wisdom of Enlightenment will exist forever in the truth of the Dharma...

This understanding of the impermanent nature of the self, however, does not totally negate life and living and deny the significance of the body as we find in the following quote.

Those who hear and receive the Buddha’s teaching know that their lives are transient...so they do not become attached to them. At the same time, they do not neglect to take good care of their bodies, not because they wish to enjoy the physical pleasures of the body, but because the body is temporarily necessary for the attainment of wisdom and for their mission of explaining the Path to others.

The Buddhist view embraces old age, sickness and death as a natural part of life. Ajahn Brahm shares

I came to know...a region steeped in Buddhist teachings... (where) death was accepted by all in a way that defied Western theories of grief and loss. ...there is an alternative to grief. Not that grief is wrong, only that there is another possibility.

Loss of a loved one can be viewed in a second way, a way that avoids the long days of aching grief.” “Grief is seeing only what has been taken away from you. The celebration of life is recognizing all that we were blessed with, and feeling so very grateful.

From my own Jodo Shinshu or Shin Buddhist Tradition, I am recalling a poem written by Ayako Suzuki. She died of cancer, but she wrote the following remarkable poem.

Now I finally understand the Buddha’s words.
For this life that I have received,
I am very thankful.
For this body that is able to listen To the Buddha-Dharma,
I am very thankful.
For the Nembutsu that I have been able to receive,
I am very thankful.
And now,
with inner joy and gratitude,
I also receive the end of my life.

Ayako Suzuki encountered both the Wisdom and the Compassion of Enlightenment. It is not the attainment of Enlightenment by her, but she came into contact with it. On one hand, she came to understand one aspect of the Wisdom of Enlightenment that life is subject to change and at the same time she experienced the embrace of the Amida Buddha’s Great Compassion known as Namo Amida Butsu, which, unconditionally, just as we are, embraces one and all who Entrust, and vows that no matter what I shall never abandon you (and all who Entrust) under any circumstance and eventually bring about your Enlightenment.

Now, what does this have to do with “East meets West?” There is much we can learn from this “Eastern” view of life and when combined with the “Western” role of medicine and health care, it can produce a much more balanced view of life and a realistic role of medicine and health care which will benefit patients and health care professionals too. I am a supporter of the integration of spiritual care into health care for a more holistic approach as being advocated by individuals such as Dr. Christina Puchalski.

To conclude, for us of Hawaii guided by the Aloha Spirit, we are in a good position to offer to the world, a very special gift. Hawaii is truly where “East meets West” and today’s program is a prime example of it. I am honored to have been able to share today. Thank you and Namo Amida Butsu/Entrusting in All-Inclusive Wisdom and All-Embracing Compassion

- Namo Amida Butsu