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BCC Update September 2006
From the Office of Bishop

May this update find you in good health and spirit in the Boundless Compassion of Amida Buddha after busy and hot summer and also in gearing yourself in the preparation for the new season in September.

In our tradition the month of September reminds us of Higan Service which implies the shore of Nirvana/Pure Land in the west. Although we encounter big challenges in how to explain Nirvana/Pure land to the questions from the general public; such as What is Nirvana? Where is the Pure Land? Why is it in the west?

Universal understanding is that the East is the direction of sunrise which is the beginning of life, growth, prosperity, while the West is the direction of sunset, the conclusion of life and the result of all the activities. The Pure Land is where everything returns and where Amida Buddha, our spiritual parent, welcomes all of us as we are. It is the realm of let-go and settlement. I recall one of my teachers in the spiritual journey told us young students that although he himself couldn't believe the physical existence of the Pure Land, as he got older, the idea of the Pure Land gradually came into reality and got closer and closer to him.

When you close your eyes, I am sure you have several people in your mind whom you miss and desire to see and talk to again, such as your parents, grandparents, good friends.

In Jodo Shinshu (one of the Pure Land schools) you can not see them physically anymore, but meet them whenever you cherish them and recite Namoamidabutsu, which is the link between Nirvana/ Pure Land and yourself.

So the Nirvana/Pure Land is not far away, but maybe near you. Or you are within it.

Namoamidabutsu, orai fujikawa