During a past economic downfall in Japan, there was an automobile company that had come out with a “limited edition’ model. With it being a ‘limited edition,” cars were being reseryed, even before it was advertised. Being able to gel your hands on a car meant that you would be a par t of an exclusive group.
We have a tendency to value things that al-c limited or “few in number”. This is probably the reason why we have an attraction for things that are expensive. Brand names, vintage jeans that cost thousands of doLlars, and the “limited edition” pair of sneakers that cost lmndreds of dollars. We think, ‘As long as Tm the only one that’s wearing it, it’s worth paying big money for.” After all, it doesn’t feel good to see everybody else wearing the same thing. Tndividualism is important, hut I think that something is wrong in thinking that having a “limited edition” something makes a pet-son an individual.
As explained in the Sutra of the Buddha of Immeasurable Life (Mwyojuk-yo), one of the principle sutras of Jodo Shinshu, Dharmakara Bodhisattva (Amida’s name before becoming awakened) established many vows. Within them is a phrase, “all sentient beings,” which refers to all living entities, and thus, all the vows themselves are directed to all sentient beings. Because of this, of course, there is not one mention of “exclusive” or “limited numher of specially selected” people. Further, the sutra states that there is a world where we are all accepted. And the person who came to realize this aspiration, which is directed to all of us from the Buddha, is Shinran Shonin, the Founder of Jodo Shinshu. It was Shinran Shoniii who was able to grasp the true meaning of these scriptures. He refused to accept the notion of cxclusiye and limited number of people, allowing us to awaken to reality that there is a world awaiting to open up to us which is completely different from this one where people are living their lives merely seeking happiness, ihrtnne, and the value of material possessions.
Listening to the teachings, we begin to understand that it is not what one has, that makes an individual. Rather, it is how one expresses their true self, and it is the Nembutsu that accepts us for who we are. The Nembutsu, being from many societies before, opposes to weighing the value of things. This may he the adjudication for our building such a materialistic world.
Namo Amida Butsu
Tatsuya Aoki
