Archives Who Are You?

Rev. William Masuda

A woman is lying in a coma and slowly dying.

She is unexpectedly overcome with the feeling that she is being drawn to the next life and facing her moment of departure. Suddenly, a voice from within calls to her,

"Who are you?"

She is startled but replies, "I am the wife of a sucessful businessman."

"I didn't ask whose wife you are, but who you are," said the voice.

She replied, "I am the mother of three children."

"I didn't ask whose mother you are, but who you are."

She replies, "I am also a school teacher."

"I didn't ask what your occupation was, but who you are."

And so it went. No matter how she replied, she did not seem to have a satisfactory answer to the question, "Who are you?"

Again, she replies, "I am a Buddhist."

And again the voice replies, "I didn't ask what your religion is, but who you are."

She replies, "I am the one who went to the temple every week and always helped those who were in need.

"I didn't ask what you did, but who you are."

She evidently failed these questions, because she was soon returned to this life. When she was recovered from her illness she was compelled to find out who she was. She slowly came to realize that the search and journey towards self-awareness and self-realization made all the difference in the world, especially in fulfilling the meaning of this gift given to each of us.

In each and every moment of our life, this inner voice calls to us to respond to the questions, "Who are you?" through words, deeds, and thoughts. The answer does not simply come externally. We are challenged by our karmic forces to enter the inner chambers of our life and listen closely and clearly to our heart, mind and spirit. Our obligation and responsibility is to become and be who we truly are. Such is at the heart of the meaning of Nembutsu - Namu-amida-butsu - in our daily life. Namu-amida-butsu.

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PRACTICE

Ed Dressen

As a spiritual care volunteer at the hospital, visiting patients is an impressive opportunity to offer and share Buddhist beliefs and behavior. It is a "you and me" occasion, a social exchange of caring, an expression of beliefs, a time to put one's faith in dynamic form.

An example: When visited, a young man with a consequential illness described himself as having been raised a Buddhist, but not an affiliated, practicing member now. My response was a smile and the fact that reentry was not necessary at this time. I told him I was there to support his spirit, to give him our best wishes and to express our caring. Nothing fancy, nothing special, just caring. To quote our Beliefs, we are all accepted as we are; all we need is faith.

Namu amida butsu

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