Happy New Year – Awaken, and Aspire for the Truth!
Wishing you health, happiness, and prosperity in 2023 in the Amida Buddha’s immeasurable light and life!
The New Year is the perfect time to reflect on the past year and think about one’s new year’s resolution. Maybe you endeavor to take a short walk before work, stretch every two hours after working on the computer, eat healthy foods, or sleep more than six hours. It may last for only one week or a couple of months, or who knows, you may keep it for the whole year.
I think the key to thinking about the new resolution is inner-reflection. This is the “wise reflection” constantly exhorted by Śākyamuni Buddha. It is wonderful if you want to challenge yourself, but it may take courage and commitment. I get in the mood for inner-reflection this time every year, and plan some items for the new year resolution.
This year again, we have received a calendar from Rev. Brian Nagata from the Bukkyo Dendo Kyokai (Society for the Promotion of Buddhism) and cousin of Ms. Diana Ono. I always appreciate the daily Buddhist phrase on the calendar. The phrase on January 1st shows 念発起 (pronounced “ichinen-hokki”). The term “ichinen-hokki” is originally a Buddhist-specific term meaning: to decide to embrace Buddhism; or make up one’s mind to renounce the world and be a Buddhist monk or nun; or in the Pure Land way, to be embraced by the Amida’s unhindered light. The secular meaning is “to decide to accomplish something you want to try.” Literally, the term 念; “ichinen” is a moment of thought, and 発起 "hokki” means to start something with determination. It sounds perfect for when we think about the new year resolution.
The Bukkyo Dendo Kyokai was established in 1965 by the late Rev. Dr. Yehan Numata. It was Rev. Dr. Numata’s belief that the attainment of world peace is possible only by the perfection of the human mind through the teachings of the Buddha. His decision to found Bukkyo Dendo Kyokai must have come from his “ichinen-hokki” mind. He was awakened by the ultimate truth and aspired to share the teaching of Buddhism for world peace.
Bukkyo Dendo Kyokai is a non-sectarian organization and does not promote any particular denomination of Buddhism. Rather, it endeavors to promote and propagate Buddhist wisdom rooted in Buddhist history and cultures by developing a wide range of activities and programs. Its ultimate goal is to contribute to the achievement of global peace and harmony. Bukkyo Dendo Kyokai has published books on Buddhism, translating and publication of an English edition of the Chinese Tripitaka, and held Buddhist seminars inviting well known Buddhist scholars. You might have seen or read The Teaching of Buddha in a hotel room.
I became a Jodoshinshu minister after working at corporations for over twenty years. Someone told me, “It is the mind of ichinen-hokki!” My “ichinen-hokki” mind may not have been as ambitious as his, but it did give me a strong sense of responsibility to deliver the teaching of Jodoshinshu to our sangha.
Rennyo Shōnin, the 8th generation, wrote ‘The Tradition of Shinran’ in his Letters called the Gobunshō.
What is taught in the tradition of Shinran Shōnin is that the entrusting heart is essential. For when we abandon various practices and take refuge in Amida with singleness of heart, out birth in the Pure Land is settled by the Buddha through the inconceivable Vow-Power. The state we thus attain is described as “with awakening of a single thought of entrusting, we join those who are in the stage of the truly settled.” Recitation of the nembutsu therefore should be understood to be an expression of gratitude for the Tathāgata’s benevolence for settling our birth in Pure Land.
After Shinran descended Mount Hiei after 20-years monastic practice and finally visited Honen Shōnin—who was very popular in sharing the Pure Land teaching—he discarded sundry practices and took refuge in the Amida’s primal vow with the mind of “ichinen-pokki.” Shinran states that the mind of “ichinen-pokki” (the Jodoshinshu pronunciation of “ichinen-hokki”) is shared among people as a collective thought to fulfill Amida’s deep wishes. Likewise, you might find OCBC to be your spiritual home, one where you can appreciate the Buddha-Dharma with good friends.
If you have not yet decided on a new year's resolution, perhaps open yourself to the concept of “ichinen-hokki.”
Namo Amida Butsu
Rev. Dr. Mutsumi Wondra