Embarking on a Spiritual Journey
It is 5:00 in the morning at Nishiyama Betsuin, a serene training center nestled in Kyoto, Japan. The tranquility of the early hour envelops the aspiring Jōdo Shinshū Buddhist priests, who are already awake, anticipating the nostalgic melody that will soon drift through the loudspeakers at 5:30. This is the rhythm of tokudo shurai, the ordination training that marks the beginning of a lifelong spiritual journey. In these eleven days, we are not merely learning to wear the robes of a priest; we are stepping through a threshold into a life dedicated to service, study, and the teachings of Shinran Shōnin, the founder of our Mahayana Buddhist lineage.
The Role of Hanchō: A Lesson in Leadership
Upon arrival at Nishiyama, I was handed two name tags. One bore my name, and the other, the title of hanchō, or group leader. This unexpected responsibility felt daunting at first, akin to being handed a boulder while drowning. My Japanese fluency had singled me out to coordinate our international group, a task that added layers of duties to my already full schedule. Assigning chores, ensuring everyone practiced different roles in rituals, and conducting quiet health checks on my teammates became my daily routine.
Yet, this role turned out to be a blessing. Focusing on the needs of others provided a steadying force amidst the chaos. My own anxieties diminished in the face of shared challenges, echoing the Mahayana principle that ease in the world arises from caring for others. Even at five-thirty in the morning, without the solace of coffee, this truth held firm.
A Diverse Community of Seekers
Our group was a tapestry of cultures and backgrounds, with members from Hawaii, mainland US, Japan, Canada, Spain, Argentina, Vietnam, and Belgium. Alongside us were forty Japanese trainees, ranging from twenty to eighty years old. For many in Japan, priesthood is a family tradition, a mantle passed down through generations. However, others, like a college student who found Shinran ‘cool,’ sought ordination for deeply personal reasons.
The international group mirrored this diversity in motivation. Some aimed to staff temples lacking priests, while others aspired to establish new sanghas where none existed. My own journey into Buddhism began nearly thirty years ago as a teenager in Tennessee. This path, winding through academic pursuits and cultural immersion, eventually led me here, to the heart of Jōdo Shinshū practice.
The Path to Ordination
My journey into Buddhism was sparked by curiosity and sustained by a deepening commitment to practice and study. After majoring in Religious Studies and Japanese, I moved to rural Japan, where I encountered Jōdo Shinshū as a vibrant cultural force. These experiences inspired me to pursue a master’s and PhD in Buddhist studies, and to engage in community building within my own locale.
The decision to undergo tokudo training was not taken lightly. It was driven by a desire to integrate my roles as a scholar, community leader, and family man. During the training, our electronic devices were locked away, allowing us to focus inward and reflect on our motivations. For me, the deepest motivation was to bring back something meaningful to share with my family.
A Kinder, Gentler Tokudo
Having heard both inspiring and troubling stories about priestly training, I approached tokudo with a mix of anticipation and apprehension. Stories of harsh training methods in various Buddhist traditions had left me wary. However, the Nishiyama training center promised a ‘kinder, gentler tokudo,’ and I was eager to see if this was true.
The training was indeed rigorous but never cruel. Our teachers were demanding, ensuring every chant and bow was executed with precision. Mistakes were met with guidance and encouragement, fostering an environment of growth rather than fear. This approach aligned with the Mahayana teaching that the sacred is encountered through the mundane, a lesson reinforced in every aspect of our training.
Daily Life at Nishiyama Betsuin
A typical day at Nishiyama began at 5:30 AM, though most of us were up by 5:00. The morning routine included brushing teeth, donning robes, and attending the morning assembly. Chores followed, with tasks like scrubbing toilets and sweeping floors. After a silent breakfast, we engaged in lectures on doctrine and history, ritual training, and chanting practice.
The pace was relentless. Ritual practice required frequent changes into formal robes, and we moved as a group, never alone. This collective movement underscored the bodhisattva path’s insight that the goal is not personal liberation but collective awakening. Even mundane tasks like cleaning toilets became part of our spiritual practice, reminding us that everything is tokudo.
The Ordination Ceremony
The ordination ceremony on the ninth day was a profound experience. As we approached the Nishi Hongwanji temple, the sun greeted us with a warm embrace, marking our entrance into a sacred space. Inside, by candlelight, we recited the three refuges with the Gomonshu, Kojun Ohtani. Each touch of the razor to my head felt like a transmission of light, connecting me to a lineage that stretches back to the Buddha.
This moment transcended the daily concerns of training. I was now part of a river of tradition, flowing with teachings and practices that have been passed down through generations. The ordination was not an endpoint but a continuation of a journey that had begun long before I stepped into the temple.
Living the Teachings
Returning to Nishiyama Betsuin for the closing service, we were reminded of our ongoing journey. As new priests, we were tasked with waking even earlier the next day to perform our chores, a practice meant to instill humility and ‘beginner’s mind.’ This lesson echoed the words of former Bishop Umezu, who humorously advised not to ‘make it a thing’ upon receiving our Buddhist names.
This philosophy permeates the Mahayana tradition, where the dharma is realized in the ordinary, not apart from it. Everything is tokudo, a perspective that sees life as an interconnected whole. The challenges and joys of daily life are not distractions from spiritual practice but integral to it. This understanding, deeply rooted in the teachings of Shinran, guides me as I navigate my roles as a priest, family member, and community leader.
Everything is tokudo.
Fonte: www.lionsroar.com