Although it is not yet definite, the results of our negotiations with various temples have gradually borne fruit.
I personally have stopped accepting new students, but several friends have accepted foreign practitioners. It is difficult for a tourist visa holder to practice for 100 consecutive days, but we are working on a procedure to allow them to come to Japan and practice with a different visa. Some head temples are positively considering accepting foreign practitioners, and the closed gates of the Shingon sect are gradually opening.
I personally have stopped accepting new students, but several friends have accepted foreign practitioners. It is difficult for a tourist visa holder to practice for 100 consecutive days, but we are working on a procedure to allow them to come to Japan and practice with a different visa. Some head temples are positively considering accepting foreign practitioners, and the closed gates of the Shingon sect are gradually opening.
One fact that I have always recognized is that there are no perfect people in the world.
How can imperfect people conduct perfect works? The translations that I, a less-than-perfect person, do are, of course, not perfect. But it is relatively easy for future generations to improve their translations because they already have translations, rather than starting from scratch, isn’t it?
Science is the knowledge available to humans today, not the knowledge of the unknown. That knowledge available to humans today is based on the accumulated failures and successes of people in the past, right? What I am doing is only a small part of the history or science that humans are accumulating.
What would be more interesting is if I could be the foundation for future generations to discover better practices and make better translations, wouldn’t it? I will never be able to be sure of that in my own lifetime. But I don’t need to worry about that either. There is nothing more interesting than the possibility of people using our translation as a basis for improving it and attaining enlightenment. And considering that there are people who will be saved by it, even if I don’t attain enlightenment in this life, my wish will also be fulfilled, so it’s a win-win situation, isn’t it?
Last night, I recalled a story that happened more than 20 years ago.
Since that time, Master Shodo Habukawa in Koyasan has come into contact with many different people, both in Japan and abroad. Among them, there were many who badmouth him, some who praise him, and others who try to take advantage of him. Even within the same Koyasan community, there were many monks who spoke well of the master and many who spoke ill of him.
Since that time, Master Shodo Habukawa in Koyasan has come into contact with many different people, both in Japan and abroad. Among them, there were many who badmouth him, some who praise him, and others who try to take advantage of him. Even within the same Koyasan community, there were many monks who spoke well of the master and many who spoke ill of him.
As a young man, I questioned my master.
Why do people speak ill of others they do not know well?
What is the benefit of this?
If a monk speaks ill of another monk, isn’t that a problem before he practices as a monk?
If a monk does not understand this, how can he understand what enlightenment is?
Why do people speak ill of others they do not know well?
What is the benefit of this?
If a monk speaks ill of another monk, isn’t that a problem before he practices as a monk?
If a monk does not understand this, how can he understand what enlightenment is?
My master said, “It is not necessary to be liked by all people. There were people who did not like Shakyamuni Buddha. A monk is not born as a monk wearing a robe, but as a human being. Monks are the most cowardly of those human beings, who fear the four sufferings and try to escape from them instead of confronting them. While doctors and scholars are confronting birth, aging, sickness, and death, monks are trying to escape from them instead of confronting them. Monks are the most cowardly people who are practicing to escape from the four sufferings, and since they are not yet enlightened, it is only natural that they speak ill of others. Do not chase those who leave and do not reject those who come. Listen only to what you need to hear and do what you need to do.”
I also practiced at Master Ryusho Soeda’s Rengejoin-temple in Koyasan, and he always had breakfast with all his students. After breakfast, he would listen to the concerns of his students, and he would say the same thing as Master Shodo Habukawa.
I don’t know if it was the result of what I did, or if it was just the times we live in.
Various head temples are considering accepting foreigners using our books, and they have proposed at meetings of the head temples to establish a system to teach monks to practice in English. If we can prepare monks to teach foreigners, some head temples are willing to accept foreign practitioners. In this case, there is a possibility that we could offer foreign monks visas to stay in Japan without getting married.
Various head temples are considering accepting foreigners using our books, and they have proposed at meetings of the head temples to establish a system to teach monks to practice in English. If we can prepare monks to teach foreigners, some head temples are willing to accept foreign practitioners. In this case, there is a possibility that we could offer foreign monks visas to stay in Japan without getting married.
I am now at the age where I can understand the feelings of those who have gray hair, feel close to death, and would rather run away as fast as they can than face it. I will try to do more to make a good report.