Good morning everyone.

Next weekend, I am going to San Fernando Valley Hongwanji Buddhist temple for their Ohigan service.  So, unfortunately I will not be here for our Ohigan service.

And last week, my brother-in law, my Michi’s younger brother, Kyogo Ogata, came from Japan to visit the United States for the first time.  He will visit our country for one month…

Kyogo is a repair man for Brass instruments, such as Saxophones, Trombones or Trumpets.  He wants to see and learn some American repair techniques and also he wants to learn more English.  So, please, when you see Kyogo, please talk with him in English.  It will be good practice for him.  I hope he will enjoy experiencing American life.

When I talk with people, I often receive this one important question.  “What does Namo Amida Butsu mean?”

Do you know the meaning?  When I was a high school student, I did not know anything about Jodo Shinshu Buddhism.  And, there were no Dharma school services in Japan.

So, when I entered Ryukoku, which is a Buddhist University, I did not know “the meaning of Namoamida Butsu”.  So, I asked my professor “what does Namo Amida Butsu mean?”

First, he said “nowadays many Japanese people do not know the meaning of Namo Amida Butsu, although they may belong to a Jodo Shinshu Temple.  They do not know.”  And then he asked me “can you write Na Mo A Mi Da Butsu?”  I answered “Yes”.  I wrote the Japanese Kanji Characters of Na Mo A Mi Da Butsu.  I prepared it today for all of you. 

I showed my professor the 6 Kanji characters of Namoamida Butsu.  He asked me “do you know our Jodo Shinshu 7 masters?”  I said “yes.  They are Nargarjuna, Vasubandhu, Tan-Luan, Dao-Chuo, Shan-Dao, Genshin and Genku.”  Our Betsuin has their pictures on the scroll on the far left side of this altar.

 My professor told me “the 5^th master from China, Shan-Dao described the meaning of Namo Amida Butsu.  The expression, Namo Amida Butsu, has 2 parts.  One is Namo.  The other part is Amida Butsu.”

 Some of you may know the greeting phrase commonly used in India.  In the United States, we say “Hi, how are you?  How’s it going?  Or what’s up?”   We use these greeting to each other.

 In India, they say “Namaste” with Gassho.  Have you heard this?  It means “I thank you” or “I respect you”.  “Namas” means “gratitude”.  “Te” means “you”.

 The word of “Namo” is related to the word “Namas”.

 “Namo” means “I take refuge”, “I am grateful” and “I have respect”.  And “Amida Butsu” means Amida Buddha.

 So, in a way, saying “Namo Amida Butsu is the same as saying I take refuge in … I am grateful for and I respect Buddha!

 Since I came to the Sacramento Betsuin, I have read “the three treasures” with our Sunday Dharma school service every week.

 The meaning and feeling of “Namo Amida Butsu” is also the three treasures. I take refuge in, I respect and I am grateful for the Buddha, because the Buddha taught us theDharma and gave us this karmic opportunity to meet everyone.

 “Namo Amida Butsu is also taking refuge in respecting and being grateful for the Dharma; because the Dharma shows us how wonderful our life is… just as it is.

 Namo Amida Butsu is also taking refuge in respecting and being grateful for the Sangha.  Because of all of our members, helping and supporting each other.  We are able to keep our Betsuin and our Dharma tradition alive and strong…

 I really feel gratitude for all of our Betsuin Members, because you are here today to attend our Dharma school service.  I know your lives are so busy, but you come each chance you have.

 Thank you everyone.  Please know that I really appreciate all of you.

Gassho

 When we read the “Three treasures”, we are also saying “Namo Amida Butsu.  We are saying - I take refuge in Buddha… Namo Amida Butsu…

I respect the Dharma… Namo Amida Butsu…

I am grateful for the Sangha… Namo Amida Butsu…