a Zen Breeze

We had a devastating earthquake and a big Tsunami in northeastern Japan this year. I was in my temple when the earthquake hit, I felt dizzy and had to sit down. My first thoughts were that it came from overwork as I was doing so much in those days and because the movement was so slow and a little too long. Soon I knew from the television reports that it was a big earthquake one of the worst kinds of natural disasters.


In April our Shinryukai called for donations in order to start volunteer works to support the disaster victims. Soon a substantial amount of money had been donated not only in Japan but also from Oi Roshi’s German Zen Samgha disciples. In all it was more than 5,000,000 yen . I really appreciated their kindness. We have already supplied meals, such as Zenzai(sweet red-bean soup with rice cakes) and Donburi( Japanese "rice bowl dish" ), and some other foodstuffs. The money which is left over we will contribute to the building of a nursing institute for the earthquake orphans. I also visited Rikuzentakata and Kesennuma which are on thei Northern Pacific coast to participate in volunteer works with my friend Osyo. We carried mud out from under the floors and generally cleared up in private houses. We worked from 9 in the morning until 3 in the afternoon making sure to take proper rests. Having finished our work we also felt our hearts become clear and warm.


The Great Earthquake and Tsunami left immeasurable scars across northeastern Japan on unprecedented scale. But we Japanese shall overcome this catastrophe. They said that before any guidance came from local governments some of the residents naturally started to organize relief activities and demonstrate soft leadership. Despite the gravity of the disaster people did not appear devastated. They were and are maintaining their presence of mind and standing firm to help each other in harmony.
While the earthquake was natural disaster, the nuclear accident was man-made.
The following article in Jiji-tsusins (Jiji Press is a news agency in Tokyo) descibes that men of Samurai sprits are now living in Japan.
“Tokyo Electric Company asked different cooperative firms for help in finding volunteers who would literally be a suicide squad to do the technical work inside the atomic power plant. One of the volunteers who had been working at an atomic power plant in West Japan for 40 years volunteered saying he would have only one year till his retirement and his children were grown up now. His family couldn’t dissuade him. He is quiet but firm in his determination that such a difficult job should be done by veterans like him. His daughter said this is a side of her father that she has never seen before.
The next day, 20 more volunteers left their homes for this mission as if it was just a usual morning of going to work.”


Zen Master Lin-chi said "Followers of the Way, as I look at it, we're no different from Shakyamuni. In all our various activities each day, is there anything we lack? The wonderful light of the six faculties has never for a moment ceased to shine”.
Really these Japanese people are living Buddhas. They are demonstrating Buddha nature of Prajna wisdom and Compassion.
The Tibetan Meditation Master Chogyam Trungpa also said “Prajna is a very clear, precise and intelligent state of being.
Compassion is the open atmosphere in which Prajna sees. Compassion contains fundamental fearlessness, fearlessness without hesitation.”


About Shinryukai
Shinryukai received its name from Oi Rhoshi who took two words, “Shin”(firewood)and “ryu”(stream), from the poem ”Student Life at Keirinso” written by Hirose Tanso(1782-1856). a Confucian scholar living in Hita who founded the private academy Keirinso which produced many talented and renowned people. The motto of Shinryukai is “aspiration to enlightenment and salvation of humankind”.