July 2014 (Heisei 26) Engakuji Sunday Sermon (Roshi Nanrei Yokota)
We are presenting the 2014 Sunday Sermon archive.
At that time, the Roshi's media appearances were still rare, and of course, YouTube was mostly just for Sunday sermons, so perhaps it feels like the time before his major debut?
Because of that, the Sunday sermons were full of humor and had a very relaxed, family-like atmosphere.
The following is an AI-generated summary of the video.
If you are interested, please watch the video above.
I apologize for the recurring notice, but since this video combines two or three separate clips, please forgive any awkward transitions or audio issues.
Making the temple an "open place"
In the past, temples were places where anyone could come and go freely. The Roshi introduces the words of an expert who says that even for troubled or delinquent boys and girls, "one cannot hurt oneself in front of the gods and Buddhas" [10:06]. It is mentioned that at Engakuji, they are working to create a place where anyone can sit and spend time by opening the Buddha Hall and the Hojo (Abbot's Quarters) to the public, so that visitors can spend time quietly in front of the Buddha.
"What is this Buddha good for?"
One day, when asked by a visitor to the Buddha Hall, "What is this Buddha good for? (What kind of benefits does it provide?)", the Roshi was momentarily at a loss for an answer [16:33]. This is because, since ancient times, Zen Buddhism has not placed much emphasis on worldly benefits (fulfilling one's own desires), such as recovery from illness or business prosperity.
The true meaning of "Riyaku" (benefits)
The Roshi, who continued to think about this question, unravels the true meaning of "Riyaku" by citing the words of Buddhist scholar Taido Matsubara and the episode of the Toya Maru sinking, a maritime disaster that occurred in 1954 [32:05].
Surviving alone is not a "benefit": When Mr. Matsubara, who had coincidentally avoided boarding the Toya Maru, was later told by a reporter, "Devout believers receive benefits, don't they?", he replied, "It is not a benefit that I survived while many others died. If I had died and others had been saved, that would be a benefit."
Devoting oneself to others: If you look up the word "benefit" in the dictionary, it originally refers to "benefiting others," meaning doing something for the sake of others. During the Toya Maru accident, the sight of missionaries who died after giving their life jackets to young mothers embodies that spirit.
Conclusion: The greatest "benefit" we can obtain
The Roshi concludes that the "true benefit" is not to have the gods and Buddhas fulfill only our own wishes and desires, but to be able to reach the following two states of mind [41:46].
Becoming a person who can be grateful: To be able to feel sincere gratitude for the fact that our "life is being lived (a life bestowed upon us)" through countless connections.
Becoming a person who is useful to others: To become a person who, within the reach of one's own hands, devotes oneself to others and is of service to people, even if only a little.