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12 EASTERN HORIZON | TEACHINGS

Gratitude

By Rev Dr Kenji Akahoshi

For over 30 years, Dr. Kenji Akahoshi was a practicing dentist in his hometown
of San Jose, California; while being an active member of San Jose Buddhist
Church. Pursuing his commitment to Buddhism, he received degrees from Sofia
University in Tokyo, the Institute of Buddhist Studies in the US, and ordained
as a Kyoshi Minister at the Nishi Hongwanji Temple in Kyoto, Japan. Rev. Kenji
was then assigned to the Buddhist Temple of San Diego in 2013 where he was
resident minister for 9 years. Rev Kenji has been a teacher and thought leader in
the migration toward a more contemporary Shin Buddhist understanding.

Visitors to our Shin temple often voice surprise when Following a lineage of Pure Land masters, Shinran
they see that the atmosphere is somewhat casual emphasizes reliance on being mindful of the truth
and not as exotic as anticipated. The members of the that our lives are the result of the effort of others. This
sangha are friendly and welcoming—they don’t seem to mindfulness is maintained by the continual voicing
display the reserved and meditative posture one might of the refrain “Namo Amida Butsu,” which is called
expect at a Buddhist temple. This may be because of the the nembutsu. It literally means to be mindful of Amida
expectation of the visitors and not so much because of Buddha.
the conduct of the sangha, or temple members.
For some, Amida Buddha may be envisioned in human
As the Zen roshi Shunryu Suzuki observed, the truth form. However, for most contemporary American Shin
of the dharma could be expressed in just two words: practitioners, the name Amida literally means “light and
“Not always so.” Zen has a way of slapping us awake in life,” which comprises all known elements of this earth
a moment. Shin Buddhism originated and developed and universe. We can relate to this more intimately
as a path of Buddhism for nonmonastics, people in by the “effort of others,” which includes parents,
common life, and the methods, practices, and conduct teachers, ancestors, society, and plants, animals, and
of Shin followers may seem incongruous to what many minerals that sustain us. Astronomers, geologists,
assume to be Buddhist traits. There is a rich treasure biologists, anthropologists, and other scientists trace
beneath the veneer of ordinary life. Some background our origination to causes and conditions beyond our
can provide a context for realizing the integrity and comprehension. We have inherited the results of 14
depth that Shin (more fully Jodo Shinshu) provides in billion years of evolution, and the Buddha reflects this
ordinary life. process in mythical form. As contemporary people,
limited in knowledge and true wisdom, we seek a
Since the life of an ordinary layperson is quite different meaning of Amida Buddha that is relatable. Shinran
from that of a monastic, the practice, or awakening provides a way.
process, of a Shin practitioner is different from that
of a monk. Shinran, the Tendai monk in 13th-century Solely saying the Tathagata’s [Buddha’s] Name
Japan who founded the tradition that is now the largest constantly,
Buddhist sect in Japan, interpreted the sutras in a One should respond with gratitude to the universal Vow
way that resonated profoundly with the laity, and his of great compassion.
teachings already benefit many Americans who seek a —Collected Works of Shinran
spiritual path in everyday life.