WCBT's Spring Ohigan service, on March 17, 1996, was distinguished by the visit of guest speaker Rev. Bob Oshita. The popular Rev. Bob, whose Buddhist Church of Sacramento is literally 'bursting at the seams" with 1,000 families, came into town primarily to speak Saturday at a Dharma School Teacher's retreat, and then agreed to also speak at WCBT the next day.
Ohigan, Rev. Bob explained, marks that "most comfortable time of year when the days and nights are in balance...in Buddhist tradition this is the perfect time to look within and contemplate the Dharma." Rev. Bob chose this occasion to speak in particular about one of the Six Paramitas: Prajna, or the perfection of wisdom.
He told the story of how he had once gone golfing with his wife Patti. Much to Rev. Bob's shock, she had shot an "eagle" (2 under par) on a certain hole, which was outstanding. However, the next time they golfed the same course, Patti didn't do as well, and according to Rev. Bob, was "monku-ing" (complaining). When he criticized her for monku-ing, she quipped, "Once you've had a taste of perfection, you come to expect it...but I wouldn't expect you to understand that."
After the laughter ceased, Rev. Bob explained on a serious note, "If things went always as we want them to, things would be very uninteresting. If we always got our way, after awhile, we would hunger for change. This is the Dharma - to know and accept the naturalness of change. Impermanence - change - is the fundamental teaching of Buddha Dharma. Impermanence is not good or bad, right or wrong. It is simply Truth, undeniably. This is the Prajna Paramita. The wonder, excitement and beauty of life - but also the sadness. This is the truth of impermanence, the truth of wisdom."
Ohigan means "other shore," and during this time we should literally "try to view our life from the other shore - of death, really" said Rev. Bob. We should accept the truth of impermanence that our life and all life is fleeting at best and thus, be grateful for what we have and stop complaining. "Our goal is to try to live life without complaints...monku nashi," said Rev. Bob. However, this is so hard to do.
In closing, Rev. Bob pointed out that we live in a time of great conveniences-remote controls, dishwashers, etc.-and yet, he said, "we complain even more." Rev. Bob observed that unfortunately, "As soon as we complain, there is no room for appreciation, no room for gratitude." The true Buddhist he said, should simply feel "how wonderful it is to enjoy this day, just as it is."