Reverend's Message

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2007 New Year's Greetings

Rev. William Masuda

I wish you a very happy and fulfilling new year! The last half of 2005 was a challenging time with the discovery of cancer and subsequent eight round treatment of chemotherapy. Entering 2006 was a time of caution and it consequently became a year of healing and reassessment of the preciousness of this given life. Presently I am cancer free and again appreciating each given day. Thank you too for the limitless support and kind thoughts my family and I received from you. We are deeply grateful to each of you. And, at the same time, my previously shared meditations have an even more special meaning today.

I realize that life is changing rapidly for each of us. We have no control over change itself, but we have a measure of control over how we live each gifted moment as change occurs.

I realize that each moment we receive is the only moment we have. The present moment is the only moment of reality. The past cannot be recaptured or experienced again in the same way; nor can we fully grasp and hold our illusive future. Reality, as it is, in this present moment, is absolute; never to be repeated in the same way.

I realize that the new year is for living, creating, and appreciating the gift of each precious moment we are given. This moment is always fresh and new. It is fresh and new of spirit, of commitment, of our capacity to see and live clearly. True awareness of self and life happens only in this absolute moment.

I realize that life does not go our way - my way. This often leads to feelings of frustration, agitation, confusion, loneliness, disenchantment, and even other afflictions. We struggle for solutions in our past or future, but the solutions often escape us. They escape us because we often look in the wrong places. My suffering and afflictions are not separate from who and what I am now. I am my suffering now. We are our suffering now. We own all that we are. The solution and answer are with and within us, here and now.

I realize too that because I cannot escape who and what I am, my only recourse is to realize and accept myself as I am, just as I am, in the present - fragile/strong, intelligent/ignorant, willful/vulnerable, courageous/fearful, etc.

When this realization and acceptance occurs authentically and clearly, a new indescribable dimension of life unfolds and opens up to me - to us. Our self-generated sufferings become less burdensome as immeasurable light (amitayus) and immeasurable life (amitabha) - Amida Buddha - illuminate and transform our being. Our whole life changes in the very moment we encounter the light (mind/wisdom) and life (heart/compassion) of Amida Buddha.

I realize now that I am not lost nor confused when I am fully present to immeasurable light and immeasurable life. Nothing is added or substracted from my life. I am fully present to my-self just as I am. We are simply who we are. Joy and gratitude are the feelings that naturally emerge. The name we are given in affirming this genuine moment of realization and acceptance is Namu-amida-butsu.

Namu-amida-butsu is the most authentic spiritual and liberating gift we receive from the compassionate heart and vow of Amida Buddha. It is truly an inexpressible gift fulfilling our deepest wish and search for meaning and fulfillment. May we, in turn, share this timeless gift of Buddha and its beauty and transforming power with others on their life journey for meaning and fulfillment.

And, finally, once again, may you be happy and well; may no harm or difficulties come to you; may you live peacefully and harmoniously. Namu-amida-butsu.