In
this month’s newsletter I wish to invite back in time
to about three weeks ago, into the same dojo in which I teach
Tai Chi, but on this occasion the event is ...
The Inauguration of The Amida Buddha Shrine at the
Home Dojo of the Southampton Shin Sangha. Sunday 28th October
2007
More or less the last thing you pass before entering this
dojo is a small wooden plaque, pinned against the door frame
- up at about eye level on the right. It has hung there outside
this dojo since day one, which was September the 18th last
year. Before this it had hung there in a slightly higher position
just above the door into my previous dojo in St. Mary's.
Here, as there, it is easily missed because one passes all
manner of inanimate two or three dimensional objects on the
way to the dojo; notwithstanding the fact that then, as now,
one has to walk through my 'living space', up the stairs and
past my bedroom to get to the actual dojo in the first place!
In other words, a person that is welcomed into this "my"
dojo is at one and the same time welcomed into my home.
By the same token, a person who gets as far as this dojo becomes,
before they get there, quite aware that they are not visiting
a monastery, or a temple - or any kind of 'centre' of learning,
religion or commerce.
The plaque outside this door is easily missed because, I am
pleased to say, my home has in it lots of pretty things to
look at; to be distracted by - or drawn to. Furthermore, this
house is also home to my partner Mary and her 10 year old
son Lawrence. Her feminine touch has added pretty distractions
to this home that were not present in St. Mary's.
She tells me that following her first visit to that place
- three years ago now and as a prospective Tai Chi student
- the 'message' she left with was the essence of those words
written on that little wooden plaque above the door. It says:
If there be righteousness in the heart, there will be beauty
in the character.
If there be beauty in the character, there will be harmony
in the home.
If there be harmony in the home, there will be order in the
nation.
When there is order in each nation there will be peace in
the world.
Credit for these words is given there on the plaque as being
a "Very old Chinese Proverb". This may, academically,
be debated but this is not really necessary because the thing
is only a trinket and indeed, many cultures or religions may
lay claim to recommending the same or being the first or last
to say, preach or endorse what amounts to no more than "personal
responsibility" and "family values".
If the statement was very old and of Chinese origin then it
would I suppose (academically) best be further categorised as
either Buddhist or Taoist. Just "Chinese" is not enough;
we need a date. The older it is, the more likely to be Taoist.
If this were so the proverb would be referring to the Taoist
concept of "household priest" wherein the head of
the house had a 'parish' that extended no further than to the
front door. This, they suggested, was enough!
The Buddha was once asked questions that inquired as to the
nature of "the moon and the stars". He eventually
replied "Look at the place you stand".
If we were just able to understand ourselves in our own homes
- we might go on to try to understand our next-door neighbour
… and all of those that live in the road, both sides,
and the next road, in this town and in the next town, in the
county, in the country … and so on.
Should we come to understand all of this - we might then be
ready to understand the moon and the stars. Till then we should
at least "look at the place we stand."
There was a predecessor to the two dojo's already discussed.
This first one however was part of a community hall and unlike
like those that followed in so much as that it was not intrinsic
to or part of my home.
This, my first dojo, was opened to the public in February 1996
and, because I provided what some people said they wanted, this
being a mish-mash-mix of the exotic this and that, this venue
quite soon became quite popular and its reputation as a 'centre'
grew.
Whist popularity can be pleasant, it does I have found, has
its drawbacks.
Dictators can be awfully popular - this does not mean they are
always right! To maintain power and influence a dictator must
see to it that he gets it all his own way and then things stay
the way they are.
Thankfully, I am not in the position of a dictator. Thankfully,
I am as confused, as insecure and as lost as the person next
to me - just as he or she is as confused, insecure and as lost
as the person that is next to him or her.
If ten years of study of the Buddha's teachings has taught me
anything it is has taught me that! We all suffer - we are manipulators
and we are the manipulated - and we can always justify our actions.
Likewise, if we can put ego aside, we can learn from our mistakes.
In hindsight I consider the mix that I offered at my first dojo
was a mistake. It confused maters.
So, when I moved the dojo from the hall to within my home I
took that opportunity to make certain delineation's and clarifications.
Tai Chi has in this room henceforth been taught on an individual
and personal basis only - and a fair fee is charged. Furthermore
I explain to all students before they begin that the decoration
and ornamentation in the room reflects only the fact that they
are being taught Tai Chi by a person who is a practicing and
apparently devout Buddhist.
Over the years I have begun to learn that one need not go out
to try to change the world or put right wrongs. I have learnt
that it is more important to 'take care of the home' and go
about ones business with non-ado. This is the manner in which
I have sought to run this my dojo since it has been here in
my home. There is room here for Tai Chi because I (with Mary's
assistance) have made sure that this is so. The Amida Buddha
Shrine is here because the Sangha through their generous contributions
has made sure that this is so - and it is their devotion that
will be blessed and acknowledged on this day of inauguration.
(This final part is not in the online version)
It is a custom in some Buddhist cultures to leave a tiny portion
on the side of one’s plate at the end of every meal -
as an offering to the Buddha. Later this has to be thrown away
anyway (or fed to the animals in the garden) … …
… but as is the case in all good gifts, it's the thought
that counts. The Amida Shrine in this room is that thought.
It is the little bit that each member of the Sangha has put
aside and left here as a personal contribution - and it delights
me that you are all here today to witness and take part in this
inauguration ceremony - conducted by Reverend Sato.
Words cannot express how it so honours us, the Southampton Shin
Sangha that he has once again gone out of his way to help and
support us - despite our inadequate efforts to repay him.
To conclude, I also acknowledge and give thanks for the presence
of my good friend Reverend Ganshin Rock; the person that first
introduced me to Reverend Sato about a dozen years ago. Perhaps
more than anything else it pleases me to see the two together
in a room. A rare sight indeed! In this room, together …
unique!
As far as the elders are concerned, the last one that ought
to be mentioned is my Father. We have just come back from a
trip to New York together. It was the experience of a lifetime
and we have returned home with a deeper understanding and appreciation
of each other.
And last but not least, my most heartfelt felt thanks go out
on this occasion to the Sangha that meets here weekly. They
are, by name: Sue, Matt, Gordon and Mary. I thank them and their
family's now most of all - for it is they who, with either their
presence or tolerant cooperation, have made these few hour in
a day a joyous Buddha family occasion to cherish as a memory.
We know that Amida's Infinite Light will shine on us one day
as we continue our journey together to the Infinite Life of
His Pure Land.
Namu Amida Butsu
Gary Robinson. 27.10.07.
Further details of Reverend Sato generosity and support of the
Southampton Shin Sangha are documented in my "Statue Speech"
given at Three Wheels Sunday Morning Service 24th May 2007 -
marking the occasion of the first formal receiving an Amida
Buddha Rupa from Reverend Sato on that day. This document also
details the provenance of the statue and can be found on the
thoroughly updated www.purelandnotes.com http://www.wheelswithinwheels.net/purelandnotes/statuespeech.htm
where it appears under the title of "Statue Speech"
subtitled "Thought Is Not Separate From Person". I
have also uploaded a small gallery of pictures taken on the
day of the Inauguration. If you do have time to visit purelandnotes.com
please also take a look at an associated article about a Buddhist
monument of national importance now (and for the rest of time!)
to be seen in Brookwood Cemertery, Woking, UK). This details
the erecting of a Buddhist Stupa. The project originated in
a bequest by Reverend Zenko to the Three Wheels Temple in London.
The statue that now sits in our dojo is a much smaller bequest
of the same person as above. Three Wheels inherited it and the
head priest (Rev. Sato) saw fit to pass the statue on to us,
The Southampton Shin Sangha, resident group of the home dojo.
www.purelandnotes.com:
http://www.wheelswithinwheels.net/purelandnotes/index.htm
Statue Speech. (Thought is not Separate from Person):
http://www.wheelswithinwheels.net/purelandnotes/statuespeech.htm
The Inauguration of The Amida Buddha Shrine at the Home Dojo
of the Southampton Shin Sangha. Sunday 28th October 2007:
http://www.wheelswithinwheels.net/purelandnotes/inaugeration.htm
Inauguration of the Three Wheels Buddhist Stupa of Namu-Amida-Butsu
at Brookwood Cemetery, Woking, Surrey (National News):
http://www.wheelswithinwheels.net/purelandnotes/national.htm
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