WAIMEA — Kaua‘i Buddhists celebrated Bodhi Day on Sunday, commemorating the day they believe the Buddha discovered the sources of suffering and experienced enlightenment through meditation and practicing the noble truths. The Rev. Leonard Abeshima, the abbot of Waimea Shingon
WAIMEA — Kaua‘i Buddhists celebrated Bodhi Day on Sunday, commemorating the day they believe the Buddha discovered the sources of suffering and experienced enlightenment through meditation and practicing the noble truths.
The Rev. Leonard Abeshima, the abbot of Waimea Shingon Mission, was joined by six other monks from around the island to co-celebrate and offer flowers, incense and prayers with a community of faithful.
Bodhi Day commemorates the day that the Buddha, Siddartha Gautama, experienced enlightenment. The Indian prince renounced his throne at age 29 to seek the meaning of life, and after six years of seeking answers, he sat and meditated under a Bodhi tree.
“After seven days and nights of meditation, it was on the eighth morning that he came to the realization of insight into man’s suffering, its nature, its cause and its cessation,” Abeshima said. “It was the eighth day of the 12th month in 538 BC, that he became the Buddha, the Enlightened One, at the age of 35.”
Abeshima said the enlightenment is a series of three stages. The Buddha discovered his past lives and the circle of rebirth. Then he discovered the law of karma and the importance of living an eight-fold path. Finally, he discovered the four noble truths.
The path is about learning the steps, but it is with applying that learning to our experience that becomes knowledge and leads to an enlightened path, Abeshima said.
Buddha was raised by servants and he left the castle on separate occasions to witness the birth of a child being, the sick, the elderly and a funeral. The experiences prompted him to leave the temple and seek the meaning of life, Abeshima said.
There are volumes of works on Buddhism today, but Abeshima said the Heart Sutra of Perfect Wisdom is the source that is derived from that original enlightenment.
“It is just five paragraphs and 262 words, but it is the whole of Buddhism,” Abeshima said. “All of the Buddhas of the past, present and future rely on Perfect Wisdom to attain perfect awakening.”
The bodhisattva is attained with practice as the way of life. The dharma is the way of enlightenment, as water that flows down to the ocean, Abeshima said. It is giving first and the benefit will come back to you. The incense used in the service is to introduce the idea of rule and order, just as the layman recites the 10 precepts, he added.
American Buddhists number just under 1 percent of the population, while in Hawai‘i the number is closer to the worldwide percentage of 5.8 percent, making it one of the world’s major religions.
In many Asian countries where Buddhism in a predominant religion, Abeshima said you will see evidence of the faith in the customs and traditions of people in everyday life. Bowing is one tradition used as a way of showing respect, he added.
The Rev. Kazunori Takahashi, of Kapa‘a Hongwanji Mission, offered the Aspiration prayer. It is meant to teach that along with desire must come temperament and thoughtfulness for others.
The Rev. Bruce Nakamura, of Lihu‘e Hongwanji Mission and West Kaua‘i Hongwanji Mission, delivered the Vandana and Ti-sarana. The first is a salutation to Buddha, and the second are three refuges of guidance, teaching toward the ideal of enlightenment, and of building a community.
Other monks present included the Rev. Noriaki Fujimori of Waimea Higashi Hongwanji; the Rev. Shoyu Akiya of Kapa‘a Jodo Mission; Lama Tashi Maclaine of Kaua‘i Tibetan Dharma Center; and the Rev. Kosen Ishikawa of Koloa Jodo Mission.
The congregation joined in with sutra chanting and songs. A luncheon followed the service.
The mind and body need to be in balance, Abeshima said. Making sure the stomach is not too full will keep the mind working and meditating better.
“Please remember we are here today for the service but we should give consideration, a prayer, for those who cannot be here today,” Abeshima said. “That is bodhisattva way of thinking and shows that where we do that we all together can make this world a peaceful and harmonious world.”
The event was sponsored by the Kaua‘i Buddhist Council. Its one of two annual events where they all get together, the other being the Buddha Birthday on April 8.
• Tom LaVenture, staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 224) or tlaventure@thegardenisland.com.
