Orange County Buddhist Church
Orange County Buddhist Church
In my Introduction to Buddhism and Jodo Shinshu class part 2, we are covering eight different key figures in Buddhism. One of the figures we are covering is Zendo Daishi (Shan-tao), one of the Seven Masters in the Shin Buddhist tradition. The Seven Masters are the seven great teachers most revered by Shinran Shonin. Shinran quotes extensively from the writings of the Seven Masters, and Shinran’s work, the Shoshinge, is basically a song in praise of the Seven Masters and their key teachings.
Zendo, or Shan-tao in Chinese, is one of those Seven Masters. Zendo’s work and propagation made Pure Land Buddhism popular among the common masses of people.
Zendo (613-681), is most famous for his parable on the two rivers, Nigabyakudo, the river of fire and the river of water. This is the title of the book by Dr. Taitetsu Unno that I can highly recommend (River of Fire, River of Water, published by Doubleday.)
In this famous parable, Zendo relates a message that is especially relevant for modern man. Zendo teaches us the only way out of a desperate situation. If you have ever found yourself in a desperate situation, not knowing which way to turn, then this parable has a message for you. If you have ever faced a tragic situation in life, such as the loss of a loved one, divorce, strained relations with a child or parent, loss of a job, bankruptcy, then this parable has a message for you. If you have ever wandered from religion to religion, trying to find a teaching that speaks to your heart, but feel you have gotten nowhere, this parable has a message for you.
To paraphrase and put this parable into my own words, for sake of brevity, the story begins with “once there was a traveler.” The traveler is running for his life from beasts and bandits that are chasing him from behind. He runs into a river that blocks his way. The river is a strange river. It is a river of fire and water. The river flowing to the north is a rough, raging river of water. To the south the river is nothing but raging fire, with flames leaping high into the air. Between the two rivers of fire and water lies a narrow, white path. The path looks very dangerous, as to the north, waves splash over the path, and to the south, flames from the river of fire leap out over the path.
The traveler is completely stuck and is desperate. I cannot stay here, because the beasts and bandits will catch me and kill me. I cannot swim across the river of water, nor even enter the river of fire. If I stay here I die. If I go forward I will die. What a helpless, desperate situation I am in!
But then the traveler hears a voice from somewhere behind him, urging him, saying, “Go forward! It is not dangerous. If you stay you will die!”
And then he hears another voice, this time for the other shore of the river, pleading to him saying, “Come across the river on this white path! Do not fear! I will protect you.”
With those encouraging words, the traveler slowly moves forward on the treacherous, narrow path. From behind the beasts and bandits tempt him to turn back, saying that they do not wish to bring him harm. But the traveler proceeds and reaches the other shore, to be greeted by a good friend, which is Amida Buddha.
Zendo, in his writing, explains the symbolism of this parable. The river of water represents the world of greed. The river of fire represents anger. Man walks a fine line between these two emotions that can destroy his good life. A life that succumbs to anger only knows hatred and animosity. A life that succumbs to greed only knows the gratification of oneself, and never thinks of others.
The other shore represents the world of truth, or enlightenment, and this shore represents the secular world, the world of samsara that we all live in.
The bandits represent teachings that are of the secular nature, such as how to get rich, how to be influential and powerful, etc.
The beasts represent the passions of man, whose ties bind man to the secular world.
The voice from behind represents Shakyamuni Buddha, who encourages the traveler to turn and move towards enlightenment.
The calling voice from the other shore represents Amida Buddha, the timeless, eternal Buddha of wisdom and compassion.
And who then is the traveler? The traveler is each one of us. It is you and I.
Like the traveler who is running for the throes of the beasts and bandits, our life as a sentient being will come to an end, and nothing in the secular world will carry us across to the other shore. No self-help books, no Dr. Phil from Oprah Winfrey, no amount of money in the bank nor the highest of social status – none of that can carry us to the other shore.
But when we listen to the urging of Shakyamuni Buddha, and the calling voice of Amida Buddha, we will turn the direction of our life towards the narrow white path and proceed forward on the journey to truth, to enlightenment.
It is not an easy path to follow, and we are tempted by all kinds of distractions to not follow it. It can wait till I retire. Maybe when I get the kids out of college. Maybe after I get my career going. Maybe after I master the golf game.
I think that Zendo writes this parable from his personal experience. Perhaps he reached a point of desperation, of not knowing which way to go in life. Maybe his own study and practice of the teachings reached a point of desperation, of futility. But from somewhere, deep within his heart and mind, from somewhere beyond his own ego self, he heard a voice, a call, to follow the narrow white path.
If you are in a desperate situation in life regarding a personal, family, or work related problem, no matter how dark, no matter how bleak your situation might seem, there is a narrow white path out of what seems to be a hopeless situation. Through listening to the teachings, you will begin to hear the urging of Shakyamuni Buddha, you will begin to hear the call of Amida Buddha, you will begin to see the narrow path that will carry you out of your suffering, and to a world of true peace, happiness, and tranquility.
The teachings of Shakyamuni Buddha and countless masters and teachers after him, can all be condensed into the message that leads man out of the pit of darkness and despair, out of pain and suffering, out of greed and hatred, to a world of light and hope, of joy and gratitude, of wisdom and compassion.
Namuamidabutsu,
Rev. Marvin Harada
