A New Year’s Reflection: A Life of Gratitude

Thus bad men never appreciate kindness shown them, but wise men appreciate and are grateful. Wise men try to express their appreciation and gratitude by some return of kindness, not only to their benefactor, but to everyone else. - Shakyamuni Buddha

As I walked from the betsuin, there was a satisfying stillness hanging over Los Angeles today. It was the complete opposite of last night, when torrential rains, threatened to drown us and our city as we struck the temple’s massive bonsho. Peel after peel was dampened by the sound of the storm. Yet we managed to smile and persevere through all 108 strikes. Soaked through, we shared a meal of warm soba and hot tea in reflective, silent fellowship afterward. Yet this morning, it was laughter and eager chatter that made the delicious ozoni taste even better following our Shusho-e. Tummies and hearts were truly filled.

I could not help but stop and reflect. What a difference just one day can make! Surely a whole year - like we just experienced - can result in even more and greater changes. How incredible and how rare is it to experience the passage of so many of these years. It struck me that there can be no greater blessing than to open our eyes on a new day and embrace its opportunities. The causes and conditions required to get us through just one fleeting moment are unfathomable. It is humbling to even try to contemplate how many it takes to live a whole lifetime!

Knowing this, how can we possibly not live each and every day with gratitude? And not just for what we have, but for everyone and everything that had a part in getting us to this day and station. This neither a Buddhist thing nor a sentiment that is unique to any system of faith or philosophy. Gratitude is a universal expression that transcends any school of belief or practice. It is in our DNA. But we must choose to express it. May we never lose sight of the immense web that connects us to each other. Most of all, may we never forget to start and end each day with gratitude. The Nembutsu lives not only in our words or hearts. It reverberates also in the actions by which we spread and return the compassion, bounty, and kindness we receive.

Happy New Year, my friends! Namo Amida Butsu.