Women in Buddhism (Part 3)
Obon Memoir of Sachi:
Every year when Obon comes, I remember our Dharma friend and OCBC member, Sachi Ochiai. Sachi never missed the Sunday service and study class, and she was a deep listener. When I became a full-time minister in 2015, Sachi came to my office, and offered her Dharma school teacher’s yukata (cotton kimono). She told me, “Mutsumi-san, you wear this yukata and dance at the Obon festival.” It was so unexpected that I was lost for words, but of course, I accepted her yukata. Initially, I was not interested in dancing because I knew I was not a good dancer. After thinking for a few months, I have decided to practice the dance. I put on Sachi’s yukata and danced with the Dharma school teachers in a circle for two evenings in the Obon festival. At first, I was a little self-conscious, but eventually my ego stepped aside. When that happened, Sachi was encouraging me to see that I am just fine with the way I am! Understanding Sachi’s intention, I reflect on her unspoken message with appreciation.
Women in Shin Buddhism (Jodo Shinshū)
This is the final episode of my Women in Buddhism series, and I would like to focus on Shin Buddhist women. My mother was one of them, as are Sachi and Byrda Hamada, of course. OCBWA (Orange County Buddhist Women’s Association) led by President Lynn Black holds a largest membership under BCA. There are many Shin Buddhist women in ABA, Dharma School, ABA, Project Kokoro, Girl Scout, Boy Scout, and all temple organizations.
Chiyono Sasaki
Chiyono Sasaki was another Shin Buddhist woman in Kona, Hawaii. Chiyono was born in Ka’u in 1897. She worked on the Kona coffee farm all her life, raising ten children. In order to attain some resolution of her problems, she turned to other religions, but she was averse to following a religion that was idealistic. She started going to a Shin temple located in Kealakekua to hear Rev. Shuun Matsuura’s Dharma messages. For many months, she attended the Sunday service in desperate straits. One afternoon when Chiyono returned home from the temple, her husband, Kumataro, who had just returned from laboring in the coffee fields, scolded her, shouting, “You’re always going to the temple! What for?” Chiyono replied, “To listen.” “After listening, what did you learn?” yelled her husband. Chiyono could not answer, and finally said, “Nothing.” Kumataro then said, “What a fool you are!” Hearing those words, something arose within Chiyono’s inner being. “Oh, today, I finally am able to truly listen. Yes, I am able to accept and embrace my foolish self.”
Chiyono Sasaki’s notebook
Chiyono Sasaki’s notebook
Chiyono’s awakening to her true, unenlightened nature was made possible by the working of inner compassion. After Kumataro’s criticism, Chiyono figured out that she had already encountered the Buddha-Dharma and had no need to search for it by herself. To express her thoughts and feelings, she wrote the following poem.
When told that I was foolish, truly foolish,
It was by calling of Primal Vow that led to my fall.
Rejoicing, I said Namo -amida-butsu, Namo-amida-butsu.
When I fell after being told to fall,
I found myself on a lotus petal.
I am ashamed of myself, I am sorry:
Tears of joy come streaming down.
The original poem was written in hiragana (a Japanese syllabary, part of the Japanese writing system) in her notebook (see the image). In 2013, when I was studying at Ryukoku University, I had a chance to visit the Hawaii Betsuin where Rev. Tatsuo Muneto showed me Chiyono’s original notebook. It was old and fragile. I slowly opened it, and saw Chiyono’s hiragana handwritten in pencil. I was so moved. I felt like Chiyono was telling me to put my ego aside, appreciate Amida Buddha’s deep compassion, and accept myself just as I am.
D. T. Suzuki introduced Chiyono Sasaki in his book. Mysticism: Christian and Buddhism (1957), praising her heart of a wondrous nembutsu devotee. In the Buddhist Churches of America, Center of Buddhist Education seminar, Women in Jodo Shinshu, I will talk more about Chiyono and other contemporary Shin Buddhist women. The seminar starts at 11:00AM on Saturday, August 20, 2022. For more information and registration, go to: https://tinyurl.com/CBEWomen
Hope everyone has a wonderful summer!
Namo Amida Butsu,
Rev. Dr. Mutsumi Wondra
(Reference: Dharma Treasures, HHMH Buddhist Study Center Press, 1997)