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It has been about 120 years since Buddhism landed in the USA. How much has Buddhism been a part of the blood and bones of the American people? Seattle Koyasan, as a small local Buddhist temple, is now being reborn as an international temple. Thanks to the "pilgrim fathers and mothers" of the temple, the 1st and 2nd generation of Japanese immigrants, Seattle Koyasan was founded and has been well maintained until today. Now non-Japanese backgrounded people have started to join the work in sustaining the temple. In Buddhist terms, it's called "off the cushion" duties. As far as one's eyes are just drawn to "on the cushion" activities, Buddhism in this country stays superficial and so it's going to shrink sooner or later. But when people start to play roles as blood and bones of a Buddhist temple, Buddhism becomes their blood and bones which enables them to walk through today, tomorrow, and the day after. Still it's a small stream, but surely I have felt it's going to be a stronger current.
Gassho,
Taijo
仏教が米国にはいってきておよそ１２０年と言いますが、どれほど米国民の血肉となったでしょうか。シアトル高野山はご存知のように、小さなローカルのお寺ですが、現在インターナショナルなお寺に生まれか変わろうとしております。日系移民１世、２世の皆様のご尽力のおかげで、当山は創立され、今日までよく維持されてまいりました。そして今、次第に、日系ではない米国人たちが、お寺の「縁の下の力持ち」に加わり始めております。仏教用語では「下座行」と申しますが、座布団の上でおこなう修行にだけ目が奪われているあいだは、仏教もキレイごとで、うすっぺらくて役には立たず、やがて衰退するでしょう。しかし、自らがお寺の血となり肉となるべく汗をかきはじめると、仏教がその人の血となり肉となり、明日を生き抜く糧となります。まだ小さな流れですが、これから大いなる流れとなる予感がしております。
合掌
太定
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