Spring Ohigan 2010

Posted: March 14, 2010 | Author: Doug | Filed under: Buddhism | Leave a comment »

For this year’s upcoming spring Ohigan, I picked out a quotation from the immense Buddhist text, the Flower Garland Sutra, Chapter One:

There were also present thunderbolt bearing spirits as numerous as atoms in a Buddha world…All of them had constantly invoked great vows over countless past eons, vowing to always draw near to and serve the Buddhas. Their practices in accord with their vows had already reached fulfillment and they had reached the other shore. They had accumulated boundless pure good works. They had clearly arrived at all the realms of meditative absorption, and had attained spiritual powers. They dwelt wherever a Buddha was, and entered into the realm of inconceivable liberation; taking their place in the assembly, their dignified light stood out. They manifested their bodies according to the needs of sentient beings and thereby pacified them. Wherever there were manifestations of Buddhas, they all went there magically. Wherever the Buddhas dwelt, they always diligently guarded and protected the place. (trans. Thomas Cleary)

I picked this quotation from the Flower Garland Sutra partly because of the reference to the “other shore” as well as the fact that information on such a critical Buddhist text is hard to find on the Internet due the sutra’s immense size. I thought it sounded poetic too.

The symbolism in Buddhism of the “Other Shore” (higan 彼岸 in Japanese) is very important In Buddhism. The notion of crossing over to the Other Shore is not something physical but instead conveys the gradual journey out of darkness, ignorance, unease and contention that symbolize this life and “this shore” to a place of peace and refuge that symbolize the other shore.

There is nothing in Buddhism that compels you to cross to the Other Shore. People often think Buddhists have to give up desire and everything and everyone they love, but again this is a misnomer. One can stay upon this shore and live the status quo all they want. If they feel malaise or discontent, well that’s life. The Buddha was a doctor who prescribed a cure to people’s to happiness, but like a regular doctor he never forced anyone to take it. A regular doctor might tell someone to lose weight or risk health issues, but it’s up to the patient either to follow the advice or continue living as they do now, with all the consequences it might entail.

But the Other Shore, the shore of Enlightenment, of peace of mind, of contentment does exist and the Buddha not only proved that one can cross over, he taught others how to do it too. That’s what we know as Buddhism today.

So on this twice-yearly holiday in Japanese Buddhism, devout disciples reflect upon their life on this shore, and renew their vows to cross over to the other shore no matter how long it takes. As part of the Path of the Bodhisattva, they may also teach, encourage and assist others who seek to do the same.

Namu Amida Butsu

P.S. Decided to post a few hours early.

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