Dharma Talk for August’s Newsletter

In this issue, I would like to share with you the third element of the Four Noble Truths. It’s the extinction of suffering. How do we make your sufferings extinct? Before we find the answer, let's review what we have learned so far. Please refer to the reverse side of your today's service program. First, we learned what the Four Noble Truths are. They are the truth of suffering, cause of suffering, extinction of suffering and the path that leads to Nirvana. Then, we learned the truth of suffering. What was the truth of suffering? Yes, there are four sufferings. They are birth, aging, sickness and death. Then, we learned the cause of suffering, which was called the three poisons. They are greed, hatred or anger, and ignorance. Then, today, we are going to learn the extinction of suffering. In order to make your suffering extinct, you should understand the Three factors. In Buddhism, it is called the Three Dharma Seals. They are impermanence, non-self, and nirvana.

First, let's think about the impermanence.

Do you know Winnie the Pooh? It describes the dream world of a boy named Christopher Robin. In one of the programs, all stuffed animals are trying to build their own houses, and Eeyore, who is a donkey, tries to build his own house with logs. However, a strong wind came and his house fell down. And, Eeyore said, "Nothing lasts forever." Yes. Nothing lasts forever. That's the impermanence.

However, we, human beings, think or want to think that everything lasts forever. That's the problem. That turns into suffering. For example, suppose you get a cute kitty or puppy as your pet. You want it to be cute as it is forever. No, it can't. They grow up. And, you want them to live forever. No, they can't. A big dog's life is about ten years and small ones about 15 years. If they live long for over 20 years, they are probably going to look miserable. If you get married to a very beautiful woman or very handsome man, you want him or her to be beautiful or handsome forever. It's impossible. Finally, you want to live forever. It's impossible.

Another example. Before I came here, I traveled to many countries, such as Laos, Nepal, China, etc. I have seen several famous places designated as the World Heritage by the United Nations. I don't really agree to the idea of the World Heritage program. Once a certain place is designated as the World Heritage, they cannot even fix or repair anything without permission and it is really hard and takes time to get the permission from the United Nations. This is because the UN wants such places to stay as they are forever. However, in fact, everything is changing. Yes, nothing lasts forever. But people are so attached to such buildings or nature that they have lost the ability to see the truth.

You should understand that everything is changing. If you understand it, you are not going to be disappointed or suffer. That's the truth of impermanence.

Next, non-self. Non-self doesn't mean that there is no self. There is the self. Shakyamuni Buddha did not deny that the self exists. In India, they call the self "atman". Non-self means that you should never be self-centered.

Buddha Shakyamuni said that "As you respect yourself, respect others because they have themselves, too".

Let me tell you a story from an ancient sutra.

Once upon a time in India, a king and queen were on the lanai (balcony) on at a full moon night. The king said to the queen, "You are the most precious to me, queen." Then he asked her, "Who is the most precious to you in this world"? Of course, the king was waiting for her answer of that "Of course, you are the most precious to me." However, her answer was different from the one the king expected. She said, "Of course, I, myself is the most precious to me. Isn't yourself the most precious to you, king"? The king, who was waiting for a romantic answer, was disappointed and said nothing. The next morning, the king went to Buddha's place and told him what happened the night before. Buddha told the king, "Yes, that is the truth for anyone, that you, yourself is the most precious to you. As you think so, others think the same way. So, you should never harm anyone else because they, themselves, are the most precious to them just as you are."

Lastly: nirvana. Nirvana is not a name of a rock music group. Nirvana means the spiritual state of peace and emancipation from all attachments in your mind. If you understand impermanence and non-self, your mind becomes very peaceful and will not suffer from anything because you know the truth that never changes. The truth that never changes is called the Buddha Dharma. And, I tell you that there is nirvana in everyone's mind. There's no one who doesn't have any chance to be in nirvana because we all have Buddha-nature in our minds. Everyone equally has Buddha-nature. How can you feel that in your daily life, then? Why don't you just try to be in nirvana one minute a day first? Just feel that everything is changing around you, and feel yourself as an object of respect. Then, you are going to increase the time of staying in nirvana for 3 minutes a day, 15 minutes a day, one hour a day by confirming the Buddha Dharma you've learned. Believe your Buddha-nature and feel the nirvana inside you. You can just meditate calmly or you can chant Namu-myohorengekyo while you are in nirvana. That's the practice you can do from today on. Let's practice for being in nirvana together.