Orange County Buddhist Church
Orange County Buddhist Church
Inazuma ni How admirable!
Satoranu hito no To see lightning and not think
Tootosa yo Life is fleeting.
- Basho
This was supposed to start with a haiku whose theme was specifically on Obon, but, although I looked through two books of haiku, I couldn’t find one. On the other hand, this haiku by Basho is perhaps even more fitting anyway. In case you don’t remember who Basho is, he wrote what is probably the most famous of all haiku: “An old pond - / a frog jumps in; / the sound of water.” (There are other translations of this as well, but it will do, especially since it is probably the most familiar one.) Unfortunately, I don’t remember whose translation it is I quoted at the very beginning. It is not a literal translation, but it captures the meaning quite well.
The meaning, or, rather, the significance, of Obon differs somewhat depending on the Buddhist school, with some giving it a more literal interpretation than we do in the Jodo Shinshu school. This is seen most directly in the fact that we also call it by its alternative name, Kangi-e, or Gathering of Joy. There are several stories about why it is called that, but in general it has to do with the joy one feels knowing one’s late loved ones have been liberated, or have realized enlightenment.
The beginning haiku can be understood literally as is, but it probably means that, far from being admirable, we need to realize that life can be as fleeting and unpredictable as a bolt of lightning and we must therefore live each moment in that realization. We need to create meaning in and through our lives before our lives no longer have the causes and conditions to continue, or conversely before our lives have the causes and conditions to end. In Jodo Shinshu, creating meaning has more to do with coming to a realization of our true, real nature and of our utter inability to realize enlightenment, to free ourselves from our selves so that we can live without causing suffering both to ourselves and to those around us, on our own. We can only rely on Amida’s Primal Vow, which makes it possible.
Lightning is often used as a metaphor for the brevity and unpredictability of life, both in the East and West, so this haiku is simple for us to understand. However, unless we take the further step of acting upon that understanding, it is just another poem. As we observe Kangi-e and gather to express our joy, let us also give thought to the lightning swiftness of our own lives and discover our true nature as seen in the mirror that is Amida.
Gassho,
Donkon Jaan, Rev. John Doami
