Orange County Buddhist Church
Orange County Buddhist Church
I think this might be somewhat difficult to write about, but let’s give it a try. The reason the subjects are being brought up at all is that February 15th is Nirvana Day, the day Shakyamuni, the historical Buddha, is said to have died.
“Nirvana,” literally means “blown out,” as in “the lamp was blown out.” It refers to at least two things: it is a synonym for enlightenment and, in the case of an enlightened human being, it can also refer to his death, as with Shakyamuni. Technically, the latter event is called “parinirvana,” or complete extinction, because nirvana, when used to mean enlightenment in this live body, refers to the extinction, or blowing out the fires, of bonno, or insatiable desire, which is the cause of our suffering. Parinirvana, or complete extinction, then, is also complete enlightenment, because one is no longer bound to this body, which is to say that even an enlightened person is subject to the vagaries of the body while “alive.” In other words, even an enlightened person can get sick, will get old, and can be injured, among other things that a body is subject to. S/he might even get Alzheimer’s. An enlightened being is not superhuman in that sense.
On the other hand, unlike most of us, a Buddha does not dwell on her/his illness, aging, or whatever. S/he is free from attachment to the body. Not many, if any, of us will realize (make real) that situation within ourselves, so we need not worry about what that might mean in terms of whether it is desirable.
Shinran Shonin said that Shinjin guarantees us complete enlightenment and, therefore, that we are in effect the same as Buddhas. I won’t speak for you, but I am not a Buddha. On the other hand, I have no doubt that I will be born in the Pure Land, where no one dwells. All those born therein must return to this realm in order to lead all other sentient beings to enlightenment, or the Pure Land, however you might interpret that. Keep in mind that we become one with Amida when we realize birth in the Pure Land, which is Oneness, and that when those we leave behind say, “Namo Amida Butsu,” they are calling our name in that same utterance of the Nembutsu.
Most Buddhists consider Shakyamuni the only historical Buddha in this era, but I consider others such as Nagarjuna, Vasubandhu, and a number of others, including Shinran, as having realized enlightenment, which makes them Buddhas as well. It might be more correct, though, to consider them as Bodhisattvas, who have postponed their complete enlightenment, or Nirvana, in order that we, too, might realize that same enlightenment. After all, their teachings and explanations of the Buddha Dharma are still with us and showing us the Way.
Let’s hope that we are able to realize the Buddha Dharma through their efforts as Bodhisattvas, so that they might eventually rest, as it were. When they are able to rest, we are able to rest as well. Think about it.
Gassho,
Dull-Rooted Jaan,
Rev. John Doami
