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Unexpected Joy in Mexico

Rev. LaVerne Senyo Sasaki

January 2004

In December, my wife and I joined a 16 day tour visiting Colonial and Aztec Mexico. Because of this trip, we returned with greater respect and appreciation for the history and culture of Mexico and its people. We've accumulated unforgettable memories of the great history telling mural paintings of Diego Rivera, magnificent Cathedrals, outstanding museums, the climb to the top of the pyramid of the Sun, colorful religious parades, our first bull fight, statues and monuments of Mexican and world-wide heroes, and more. Blessed daily with spring like weather, we were throughly impressed!

Although our travel experiences were uniquely educational and pleasurable, they could not compare with the joy that I found in a fairly unassuming place - Mexico City, the most populous city in the world (over 15,000.000). The site was the Jodo Shinshu Buddhist Temple called Templo Budista Ekoji headed by Rev, Yoshiaki G. Takemura , formerly of the BCA – Buddhist Churches of America (most recently of Seattle Buddhist Betsuin). I expected a gathering similar to a BCA temple mostly of Nikkei (people of Japanese descent), or in this case, Japanese Mexican members. Rev. Takemura had not told me anything about his temple or its membership when I had originally requested to meet his Sangha. Therefore, it was a complete surprise to be joined by nearly 40, mostly young Mexican adults! The only persons of Japanese ancestry in the half tatami/half western style hondo were my wife Helen and the four ministers.

At 7 pm we began by chanting the Nembutsu, Wasan, in Japanese and read its translation in Spanish from an attractive service book entitled, 'Jodo Shinshu Liblo de Servicio' (published in May, 2001). During the chanting, I was unable to hold back tears of joy and gratitude from hearing the voices of these Mexican people which reverberated with the incomparable sound of Oneness, transcending both languages and culture with people from a historically Catholic background.

The two-and a-half-hour evening program included my short Dharma talk, a meditation period with Rev. Todaka's Dharma talk in Spanish, Rev. Ishii's Dharma remarks in Spanish and a brief Mexican potluck dinner. A lively question/answer/discussion period with excellent translation by young Mexican members followed another short Dharma talk on my part.

The entire group sat in a large circle and participated in meditation with a 30 foot ojuzu made with giant beads, and Rev. Takemura gave words for self-reflection. I was especially impressed by 9 members who were called upon to individually recite in Spanish, “The Golden Chain.” In our BCA temples, we would delegate such a task to Dharma School children, but these adults recited it most earnestly. I was touched by their beautiful 'sunao' attitude (childlike innocence or as some Buddhist traditions call it , beginner's mind”) of these individuals. They really had “what it takes” to walk the Nembutsu path. Some of the members seemed to have been searching for an alternative to the Catholic religion and expressed their happiness at finding a place that embraces them without barriers or expectations, a place where they felt comfortable and peaceful.

This unforgettable Buddhist evening of inspiration has reaffirmed my faith and belief that the messages of Shakyamuni Buddha and Shinran Shonin are truly universal. May the doors to our BCA temples and churches be more widely open so that all who are searching for a 'Way' may be given the opportunity to hear the Dharma in the spirit of Metta.

Gassho

Rev. LaVerne Senyo Sasaki retired from BCA in October, 2000. His last assignment was at the Buddhist Church of San Francisco. This article was from the May 2004 issue of “The Wheel of Dharma” published by the Buddhist Churches of America.

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