(This is another translation from Ito, Kozen Sensei's writings originally entitled "Hakkotsu dake Nokoru" (Only the Skeleton Remains. This is found in the work entitled, Ito Sensei no Kotoba (The Words of Ito Sensei) by Rev. Joko Akatsu).

When we reach middle age, many of the dreams we dream are often not worth remembering or recording. A little while ago, however, I dreamt an interesting and unusual dream. This was a dream going beyond my normal thinking. But as I reflected on this dream from various angles, it gradually seemed to me to focus on the point of "throwing everything in my life away". It's meaning lay in becoming totally free of all attachments to myself.

This dream may have emerged with this focus because I had been reflecting on the parable of the White Path as related by Shinran from his rendering of Zendo's work. (Collected Works of Shinran, Vol. III., pp. 89-91)

In my dream, I was thinking of throwing away all of my savings and my money. So I took out my savings book and threw it on the side of the road. Suddenly, from behind me, a large group of people greedily came after the book. Then I took the books out of my extensive library and threw them all away. Many people also rushed to pick up the books.

I then took off my robe, kesa, and nenju and threw all away too. Finally, I stripped off all my clothes and underwear and threw them all away. I was now standing completely naked.

Suddenly, I was surrounded by a pack of dogs which seemed to be staring at my nakedness; waiting to attack me. So too ward them off, I yanked my intestines out and threw them at these dogs. They pounced on them and ate them ravenously. But, of course, since this was all occurring in my dream, I experienced no pain.

Next, I sliced the flesh from by thighs; my torso - from one end of my body to the other - and threw them all away. I had no sense of pain or regret in what I was doing. As a matter of fact, I was thoroughly enjoying throwing away all of my body parts. I was simply throwing away whatever was possible to throw away.

Finally, I was simply a skeleton - a collection of bleached bones strung together. Thinking no one would want this skeleton, I cast it into the river. Now, only the ghost of my former self remained. In this form, I was happily strolling on the beach, singing and feeling as free as a child again. What an enormous pleasure it was to throw everything away!

Then, from the other shore, my deceased mother's face suddenly appeared. "My gosh!" I thought, feeling great regret now, "I have nothing to give her!" "Mom!" I cried out. "I only have this skeleton I cast into the river to give you!" "Yes, that's all right!" she replied warmly. "I'll take your all your bones just as they are." "Mom!", I said with tears welling in my whole being. "After all your loving care for me through the years, this is all I can give you!" I was overwhelmed and began sobbing uncontrollably. This woke me up from my dream; only to find that my pillow was soaked with my tears.

This was a strange and unusual dream for me. It goes beyond my rational understanding. Still, in my heart, I sense that it was simply the Nembutsu, through the limitless power of the Amida Buddha's wisdom and compassion, which caused me to dream this dream. The Nembutsu was the catalyst for me to dream this dream, to meaningfully reflect on it, and to shed these tears of my being. I realize now that this dream reveals MY story, my inner spiritual story, and it's my personal parable of the White Path.

Now, I realize deeply I have nothing to give to my mother, my parents. How can I give anything, when I have received everything of life itself from her, from both my parents. In my dream, this is what I was shown. I am a being, an ordinary person, who simply receives and moves within the Nembutsu, even through the veil my tears. To be embraced by Buddha's boundless compassion and wisdom is truly an incomprehensible reality, beyond the scope of my understanding. Still, through this dream, my gratitude unfolds even more as I realize within my self that I was given this life so that I may deeply penetrate and cast myself wholly into this incredible working and spiritual power of the Nembutsu!

...These are thoughts and feelings I am contemplating recently in my life, and even as I write these thoughts down, tears are welling up in my eyes.

COMMENT: Revisiting this translation made me realize that the incomprehensible working of the Buddha's penetrating wisdom and embracing compassion deeply affirms our basic act of receiving life from our mother and father. The moment of our birth acknowledges this total acceptance and receiving of life itself. We owe nothing; can give nothing. This moment is one of freedom and joy itself.
Our spiritual birth too is a re-birth of our being receiving the Buddha's heart of wisdom and compassion and reviving our fundamental wholeness and humanity. We are returned to our self as we really are; not enslaved by the dictates of our false ego-self. We are neither better than others nor less than others. We are as we are - ordinary and special, foolish and wise. We are humbled by our appreciation of Buddha; we are humbled by our mother and father for giving us life itself.
In this Obon season, I am moved with appreciation for the inexpressible sustenance of the Nembutsu and a heart-felt gratitude for my deceased parents and daughter who "speak" to me through each Namu-amida-butsu recited or heard. Namu-amida-butsu. - Rev. Masuda