title tenen
The Shokoji Temple copying sutras is not a calligraphy class. Therefore, the purpose is not to write characters well. Through copying sutras, we aim to reaffirm the "essence of things" that is necessary to make daily life peaceful and rich, and by chanting the Nembutsu, we hope to be welcomed into the Pure Land at the end, just like our beloved ancestors.
New Year's Day is one of the most fitting events for the phrase "starting afresh." The New Year's Day comes around every year without fail, and it is also a time when our hearts can be refreshed and cleared from all the dirt that we have become accustomed to. We were blessed with good weather on a refreshing Sunday afternoon, and were able to hold the first sutra copying session of the new year, engage in introspection, and recite the Nembutsu.
In the last sutra copying session, through the story of Kisa Gotami, we reaffirmed the importance of "speaking in a way that suits the audience." Even if the conclusion is the same, the degree of persuasion of the audience can change greatly depending on how you explain it. Moreover, in a world where there is no single correct answer, we learned anew that in order to get people to sympathize with a conclusion that is neither right nor wrong, it is important to have a "just cause."
Now, at the February sutra copying session we will focus on "love and patronage" and take another look at what is important.
The sutra "Udanavarga," which is a collection of the Buddha's teachings, has a chapter on "words." In it, there is the following teaching:
Speak only those words that do not torment yourself or harm others.
This is indeed a well-spoken saying.
We need words to know each other and to understand everything. However, words, which are supposed to be useful, can also cause us to hurt ourselves and others. Even words can become a source of suffering.
That is why we need to strive to use "good words." However, even what we think are "good words" tend to be self-righteous. The moment we become conscious of "good," we start relying on our own values and standards of judgment, and we are unable to completely eliminate subjectivity.
In the first place, "absolute good for all people" is an ideal concept that cannot be directly applied to everyday verbal exchanges. When you think about it like that, you can see how incomplete each of our assumptions about what is good really are.
So how should we understand the "well-spoken words" that the Buddha spoke of?
In the end, it all comes down to whether or not you are honest with yourself and others. Trying not to hurt others does not necessarily benefit them. What you say with good intentions may have the opposite effect, and you may end up hurting yourself as a result. However, if you neglect to make an effort to be considerate of others, you will not be able to build smooth relationships.
Without hurting or tormenting yourself or others
It doesn't mean that we don't hurt ourselves or others.
Speak only sincere words
Being overly conscious of not hurting the other person, or not being conscious of it at all, does not necessarily benefit the other person. Rather, the moment you become conscious of it, you start judging words with your subjective idea of "good" and "bad," which can actually have the opposite effect.
That is why what we should value is to simply remain sincere. Sincerity is the attitude of accepting the other person's position and feelings head-on and empathizing with them without selfish judgment. Even if both parties suffer and are hurt temporarily, we must not stop being sincere because we believe that we will be in a better state in the end.
I believe that these are exactly the words that the Buddha spoke of as "truly well spoken."
Taking the above into consideration, the prayer text for copying the sutra is as follows:
"Gu Ai's language"
Let us write this down, reflect quietly, and chant the Nembutsu.
Namu Amida Butsu
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