Akemashite omedetō-gozaimasu. Sakunen-chū wa iro-iro to osewa ni narimashita. Kotoshi mo mata yoroshiku onegai mōshi-agemasu.

Happy New Year, everyone! Thank you very much for all that you did for me and my family last year. Please continue to favor us this year as well.

My New Year’s greetings nearly always begin with these words and they may strike you as being formulaic; but they are meant to transmit feelings that are exactly what they say – gratitude and a wish that your new year be a happy one. There might be a fancier or more philosophical way of putting it, but the feelings are the same.

There is a Zen Buddhist saying that goes, “with mind, transmit mind.” The Chinese can also be translated “transmit (the teachings) from mind to mind;” in other words, transmit the teachings to another person’s mind using only mind. These teachings are outside the written teachings, the reasoning being that one should not be attached to anything, even the teachings. Ironically, the Zen schools have at least as much in writing as do we. The problem, or at least one of the problems, is that for us to find someone able to do this in accord with the teachings, whether written or not, is extremely difficult.

In our way of seeing, Jodo Shinshu, the True Intent of the Pure Land Teachings, we are fortunate to have much in writing, so that we might, when or if necessary, go back to those writings and meditate on their meaning or intent. It should be made clear that it is not necessary to read and contemplate the writings in order to realize their goal. On the other hand, it should be made clear also that listening to the Dharma and contemplating thereon are the way in which we who follow the way of seeing taught by Shinran Shonin are meant to realize oneness with Amida. (I capitalize “Dharma,” when it means “teachings” or “Suchness” and its synonyms, because the word is used to mean “thing,” or “element,” within Buddhist teachings, especially within what is known as the Abhidharma School.)

Of course, we say the Nembutsu, Namo Amida Butsu, to express our profound gratitude for Amida’s vows, especially the 18th. (If, when I attain Buddhahood, sentient beings in the lands of the ten directions who sincerely and joyfully entrust themselves to me, desire to be born in my land, and call my Name even ten times, should not be born there, may I not attain perfect Enlightenment. Excluded, however, are those who commit the five gravest offences and abuse the right Dharma. – Tr. by the Rev. Dr. Hisao Inagaki.) Without it, there is no possibility to realize oneness with Amida. The true intent of the Pure Land teachings is to get us to see that the only way in which we can realize enlightenment, or be born in the Pure Land, or become one with Amida, or to realize Emptiness, or Suchness, or Buddha-nature, is to rely totally on Amida. The reason for this is simply that we are incapable of realizing this on our own. Our ego is too strong to deny its own existence.

A friend of my wife sent her an email that included many pictures of the aftermath of the NE Japan earthquake and tsunami. In the background is a song by Metis, titled Ningen Shikkaku, No Longer Human. (First draft tr. by Rev. John Doami.) However, the song is not directly related to the tsunami. It was written earlier and simply added to the video. The reason I’m adding it is that, instead of New

Year’s resolutions, you might contemplate whichever of the questions below might pertain to your situation. I hope it will affect you as much as it affected us.

Kurushimu tomo o sukuu koto sae dekinakatta Ningen Shikkaku. I could not even save my suffering friend: No longer human. Namida o wasureteimasen ka? Haven’t you forgotten tears? Daiji na koto kara nigetemasen ka? Aren’t you running away from something very important? Jibun ni uso o tsuitei-masen ka? Aren’t you lying to yourself? Akirameru koto ni naresugite-masen ka? Aren’t you too used to giving up easily? Nakitakereba nakeba ii. If you want to cry, go ahead and cry. Sakebitakereba sakereba ii. If you feel like shouting or screaming, go ahead. Sore de iin da yo. That’s okay. Kimi de iin da yo. You’re okay. Subete iin da yo. Everything is okay. Kitto iin da yo. I’m sure it’s okay. Ashita wa ashita no kaze ga fuku. Tomorrow, tomorrow’s wind will blow. Shinji-au nante koko de wa karugarushiku kikoeru. Mutual trust, in this situation, sounds frivolous. Wakari-au nante kotoba wa tabun muimi ni hibiiteru. The words “mutual understanding” probably echo with meaninglessness. Hito wa dare mo yowaki mono. Everyone is weak. Mienai shiawase sagasu tabibito. Travelers who look for happiness one can’t see. Kako wa kurai mama de mo iindayo. It’s OK for the past to be dark. Kimi no egao ga ashita ni areba. As long as you have a smiling face tomorrow. Hito no ayamachi o azawarai, hito o semeru koto ga subete desu ka? Are ridiculing someone’s mistakes or attacking someone everything? Kokoro no mama ni itsumo “Suki” to itteimasu ka? Do you always say “I love you” just as your heart feels. Kōkai shiteimasen ka? Aren’t you regretful? Yume o wasurete-imasen ka? Haven’t you forgotten your dream? Michi o hazureteimasen ka? Haven’t you lost your way? Shita o muiteimasen ka? Aren’t you casting your eyes downward? Kazoku o daiji ni shiteimasu ka? Are you taking good care of your family? Arigatō to itteimasu ka? Are you saying thank you? Ima dare o aishitemasu ka? Whom do you love right now? Taisetsu na hito namida shitemasen ka? Isn’t a very dear person shedding tears? Mudazukai shitemasen ka? Aren’t you wasting your money? Zeitaku o shitemasen ka? Aren’t you living too extravagantly? Mō tabako yamemashita ka? Have you finally given up smoking? Raku ni ikiyō to shitemasen ka? Aren’t you trying to live the easy life? Mō ningen yamemasu ka? Are you giving up being human already? Jinsei hōki suru no desu ka? Are you giving up living like a human? Ikiru koto wa subarashii koto desu. To live is a wonderful thing. Kimi o ima hitsuyō to shiteimasu. You are needed very much right now. Jibun no jikan ga arimasu ka? Do you have your own free time? Nakeru kurai koishiteimasu ka? Are you so much in love as to cry?

If you want to see photos of the tsunami’s aftermath, go to www.youtube.com/watch?v=MVKWtxXtZ3E&feature=related. Be forewarned: be prepared to shed tears. It is unlikely you have seen these before.

Thank you for reading this essay.

Make it a meaningful new year. Take care.

Gassho,

Rev. John Y. Doami