practice the Paramitas; out of our thankfulness we seek to be generous in Dana, to be proper in behavior, to be patient, to be energetic in our actions on behalf of mankind, to call the name of the Buddha, to seek for wisdom. These things which comprise the Buddhist life, we do out of Thanksgiving and Gratitude.

 

On this day of days when we speak of our gratitude to Shinran for giving us the wonderful teaching of the Buddha, we should understand that merely saying we are grateful is not enough. We must show our gratitude in our daily lives, so that our whole lives become a modal of truth and righteousness.

 

You know, when Japanese are given something, they often give something back.. this retum present is called “okaeshi” and in Shin, if we are truly grateful, our whole lives become one great return gift, the gift of ourselves.

 

But how different are we, than the proud and haughty people in our story from Gosei? If Shinran were to return to life and come wandering through Washington, where would he find followers? would you or I really be ready to follow him along the difficult path he trod?

 

Shinran was born to a good home-- His father was first secretary to the empress dowager, his uncles were important officials and great scholars; but, he left these things, left a life of ease, and became a humble monk on Mount Hiyei. When later he was sent into exile, he wandered about as a poor and ordinary traveler, that sounds nice---

 

But, let’s tell it like it is: Shinran went into exile as a bum, a hobo, a tramp! What do you or I do when a tramp come to our door, or we encounter a bum, a homeless person on the street? We brush him off, we ignore him, we hold up our noses and walk past him. would we have done less to Shinran?

 

When strangers come to our home or temple, we judge them by their clothes, by their beauty of face, by the length of their hair; but we ignore their hearts, we ignore their minds, we ignore their personalities.

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