In Jodo Shinshu tradition, the working of Amida Buddha to bring about the awakening of all beings can be expressed as “Light” or “Warm Light.” And this Light works by continually shining on all life, nurturing and supporting all living beings equally and without exception.
Kurumi Turned Sixteen
This past August, my daughter turned sixteen! Because my son’s birthday is also in August, it is a special month for my family. However, every year because of this, their birthdays overshadow my birthday that comes at the beginning of September. This makes me feel a bit sad.
But putting that selfish thought aside, my family celebrated my daughter’s Sweet 16th birthday more splendidly than usual, with gorgeous decorations. As I watched her turn 16, my true emotions are deep gratitude that she was born as our precious child who has grown up well to this day. Mika and I were so pleased as our daughter, full of smiles, sat happily with her favorite food laid out before her, and blew out all the candles on her birthday cake. Furthermore, when I saw my wife watching our daughter with such a warm and loving gaze, her eyes narrowed by her smile, I also couldn’t help but feel so grateful to her, for she has always been there for our kids, showering them with her love. As I watched my wife’s warm and loving gaze on our daughter, it felt as if I were witnessing the Buddha’s loving look, and at that moment I realized how great and valuable a mother’s influence is.
Hangan — Eyes Half-closed in Japanese
In Buddhism, the Buddha’s eyes are called the “Eyes of Compassion.” In this expression, Buddha’s eyes are always depicted as narrow slits. Because of this, it looks as though the Buddha’s eyes are closed. But certainly, they are open. He is not sleeping.
We call it hangan in Japanese, which means eyes half-closed. Although it is our eye that sees the outer world, Buddha keeps his eyes slightly open so that he can see both his inner self and his true nature hidden within himself. That is why the Buddha’s eyes are half-closed.
This way of looking at things also refers to the Buddhist idea of Naige-Ichinyo, which means to see the unity of both the inside and outside views. It is to see both the inner world and outer world equally without prejudice. This means to see others warmly as if seeing oneself. These are the “Eyes of Compassion.”
Compassion is the working of wisdom flowing toward all living things. So, the working that is cast on each one of us equally with the light of wisdom are the eyes of Buddha’s compassion. Before we realize it, we have been raised by the eyes of Buddha’s compassion and guided by the light of wisdom. Buddha’s eyes are always directed at each one of us, much like the warm sunlight that shines on even the nameless grass, or like a parent’s smiling eyes that are lovingly fixed on a child.
Say “Namo Amida Butsu”
Consider a mother and her baby. The reason the baby can eventually say “Mommy” is because the baby has heard its mother’s voice repeating the word countless times. When thinking back on my children’s first years, I am sure the reason they were able to say “Mommy” naturally is because my wife affectionately told them over and over, “It’s Mom- my, it’s Mommy,” from the time she knew she had new life in her womb.
Also, when a mother soothes her crying baby by saying, “It is Mommy,” the word “Mommy” is reassuring her child that her love also means, “You can rely on me; I am here with you and you will be all right.” This is why when the baby hears a voice call out, “It’s Mommy!”, it will instantly feel relief and a sense of security. And even when we adults just mention the word “Mommy,” it brings to mind our own mother’s love and warmth.
“Namo Amida Butsu” is Amida Buddha’s name, and it is also Amida Buddha’s calling voice. Just like the special word “Mommy,” the Nembutsu which we utter is Amida Buddha’s voice calling to each of us just as it is. And the Nembutsu – “Namo Amida Butsu” – is filled with the great wish of Amida Buddha: “Depend on me. I will surely save you,” just like the word, “Mommy” which contains all a mother’s love. Just as we called our loving mother, when we say “Namo Amida Butsu” naturally, Buddha’s wish certainly reaches our minds and we are able to touch the warmth of Amida Buddha’s compassion hearing our voices utter the Nembutsu. At that moment, we are filled with the feeling of joy, gratitude and peace of mind.
In this way, the light of Amida Buddha became “Namo Amida Butsu” and continues to shine equally upon us without tiring and lift us up. Therefore, we should be aware of and grateful for how precious it is to be embraced by Amida Buddha’s warm compassion. To receive his loving look is like a parent whose gaze cannot leave a child abandoned. The Buddha’s loving look is directed at all living beings equally.
It is difficult for those of us who lead busy lives to aways be aware of Amida Buddha’s compassionate eyes. But, when we just press our palms together and utter the Nembutsu, “Namo Amida Butsu,” we are encouraged by the Buddha’s calling voice assuring us, “You are all right, I am always with you.” And this calm assurance helps us find the strength to keep moving forward in life with a feeling of joy and gratitude.
Being Embraced by Amida Buddha’s Compassion
While celebrating our daughter’s Sweet 16th birthday, I realized again something very important. It is that the mother who talks tenderly to the unborn baby in her womb…and Amida Buddha who calls us…can resemble one another. Even when babies are still in the womb, they are called fondly by their names, and their safety and their futures are wished for by their parents. And even before they are born into this world, the parents assure them by saying, “You are all right, so don’t worry.” Like a baby in the womb being spoken to by a loving parent, we are also being embraced by Amida Buddha’s compassion. Our fruitful life filled with happiness and our birth in the Pure Land are always wished for by Amida Buddha. In other words, we can say that the relationship between an unborn baby and its parents…and between Amida Buddha and ourselves…are the same.
As I witnessed my wife’s warm gaze on our daughter, the words of Master Haya Akegarasu,
Although there are 100 million mothers for 100 million people, there are no mothers who are superior to my mother,
echoed deeply in my heart.
In Gassho,
Rev. Yushi Mukojima