While I was looking at the painting of the Buddha at Horyuji in Nara, I was surprised to see how indescribably sharp and cool the Buddha's eyes were. The Buddha's face and body were somewhat feminine in shape - soft and gentle. But those eyes, in an eerie way, were cool and penetrating; filled with an indescribable light which seemed limitless and bright. This, I think, gives meaning to the penetrating eyes of the Buddha's wisdom. The bright light emanating from the Buddha's eyes penetrates into the depth of an ordinary person's being.

Although the Buddha is depicted in a human form, I am sure there is no person in this world with such fearsome and frightening eyes. For me, the Buddha's eyes are definitely scary. They seem to see the secrets I keep from myself and others.

The Buddha's eyes are neither closed nor asleep. Nor are they wide open like Ninno's eyes! They are resting half-open and half-closed. Those eyes coolly see, penetrate, and illuminate the hidden inner life of all people and beings.

No matter how beautifully artificial flowers are arranged, no bees or butterflies fly to them. They have no natural fragrance or color. They cannot naturally reproduce seeds like nature that will bring forth more flowers. They are always in the shape and form.

The Nembutsu - Namu-amida-butsu - also is not like artificially arranged flowers. Namu-amida-butsu rather is like the great earth itself; fertile and vibrant and not like a framed photo of nature. Shinjin - true and real faith - is like the flower blossoming from the naturalness of this great earth, manifesting the inconceivable mystery of boundless life itself through Namu-amida-butsu.

No matter how skillfully and patiently scientists apply modern scientific knowledge, discovery, and technology to our life, they are unable to create and reproduce even a single bud of flower like nature itself. This great earth, without any hesitation even for a moment, continually creates, produces, and reproduces various kinds of flowers and other vegetations naturally.

In the same way, the person of Nembutsu cannot be artificially created or produced through our self-centered calculations. There is a distinct fragrance and presence of a person of Nembutsu faith who grows naturally from the heart of this great earth. Such a person is unlike an artificial flower. The person of Nembutsu expresses the fragrance of a truly living flower.

There was a certain priest who was not given to delivering inspirational dharma talks. Still, he seemed to cultivate and nurture sincere dharma seekers and followers. One day a fellow priest asked him, "You know, you truly amaze me. I don't mean to be disrespectful, but your dharma talks often do not inspire feelings of gratitude and thankfulness. And yet, you seem to draw and cultivate devoted dharma seekers and followers. Have you developed a secret technique?"

The priest replied, "You're absolutely right. I really cannot give dharma talks that make people feel grateful all the time. Also, I am limited in leading them forward in many religious activities like other priests. All that I seem to be able to do is to help diminish and destroy the egoistic beliefs and foolishness that many of our dharma followers carry and hold."

When I heard this comment, I was made to deeply reflect on his words, and also reflect sincerely on my life as a priest and dharma seeker.