The Obon season always returns me to the classic narrative of Mogallana, one of Gautama Buddha's gifted disciples. Mogallana's was known for his spiritual gift of insight. With this supernormal gift, Mogallana saw his deceased mother suffering in the hell of the hungry ghosts. She was unable to receive nourishment and suffering grew. Whenever she tried to take a bite of food, it would turn to flames, making it impossible for her to swallow. This in turn would fan her agitation and pain as she continued to become more emaciated - her belly becoming more distended. He tried to save her to free her from her pain and suffering with his gifted powers by reaching deeply into this hellish world. Instead, for all of his spiritual gifts, he felt helpless in his inability to save her from her suffering.

In desperation, Mogallana then sought Gautama Buddha for his help and guidance on how to save her from her suffering. The Buddha wisely and compassionately responded to him by instructing him to prepare a feast for the many other disciples who were concluding their summer meditation and study retreat. The nourishment will reinvigorate them to continue their dharma practices. So he thoughtfully prepared an elaborate table for the many disciples. When they received and ate the delicious food to regain their vigor, he "saw" his mother being saved and released from this hell of the hungry ghosts.

Mogallana's overwhelming joy in his mother's salvation from her hellish pain and suffering knew no bounds. This shared joy with all of Buddha's disciples became the symbolic beginning of the Obon dance of joy and release from suffering and pain. The inexpressible joy in his heart and mind went beyond his own supernal powers. He realized the Buddha's compassion and wisdom was at the heart of his mother's release from suffering. He realized too his mother's salvation and liberation is also shared by all the disciples of Buddha. The Buddha's wise counsel also awakened in Mogallana an inexpressible gratitude for the immensity of his mother's love and sacrifice, even as it led her to fall into the hell of the hungry ghosts. There was nothing his mother would not give for his happiness and bliss. He now knew that in his mother's salvation and liberation was his own spiritual salvation and liberation.

This Obon narrative holds much internal meaning and significance in our life. It is timeless and universal and emerges from our deep karmic relations with our mothers and fathers. Our parents, especially our mothers, give of their lives limitlessly even to the extent of sacrificing their own comfort and gratifications. They create countless karmic conditions and opportunities for our happiness and bliss, whether in terms of wealth, social status, psychological well-being, and spiritual fulfillment. They are always present visibly and invisibly in their support, even as we stumble through the ups and downs of our life. Our happiness is paramount, even should they fall into their "hell of the hungry ghosts". Their pain and suffering are the source of our own pain and suffering. And, at the same time, their happiness and liberation from their suffering become our happiness and liberation. We are indelibly connected in life and death.

In the timeless world of dharma, their sacrifices become the karmic source and connection for our awakening to the living Buddhadharma. This living Buddhadharma as Namu-amida-butsu embodies the limitless love, concerns and sacrifices of our mothers and fathers for our lasting happiness and bliss. We in turn then reach beyond our narrow ego concerns and humbly and gratefully participate in the world in the spirit of the Tannisho, "...for all sentient beings, without exception, have been mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters in the course of countless lives in many states of existence". In the living dharma of Namu-amida-butsu, we are empowered by Amida's primal wish and vow to reach beyond our ego-centered concerns and share the great vehicle (Mahayana) of wisdom and compassion with "all sentient beings...(who) have been mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters in the course of countless lives in many states of existence". This is the manifestation of the "dance of joy" at the heart of Obon.

Namu-amida-butsu renews the meaning and life of Obon each year when it unfolds from the depth of our heart and mind, and we share the joy and gratitude of true and real life with all sentient beings.