Yearly Archives: 2018

Why do we light candles at Obon in honor of loved ones who have passed? How did this tradition start?

Obon is traditionally the time to remember and honor loved ones. By legend, it is said that our loved ones come back from the land of the spirits to visit us and to “check up” on us to make sure that everyone has adjusted.

In Japan, the traditions of Obon are very local. In many parts of Japan, if there is a river or a lake, memorial boats made of paper with a candle are put into the water to light the ancestors on their journey back to the land of the spirits.

In Kyoto, there is a big festival and parade with floats and music. And as a finale, there are five mountains that have a bonfire with five different characters to light the path so that the ancestors can find their way back to the land of the spirits.

In California, where it does not rain during the summer, some temples write the name of a person who has passedon a short banner that is then hung from the chochin (the paper lanterns).

Here at the Midwest Buddhist Temple, we wanted to start a new, local tradition for us with some way to remember our ancestors. Using small cups with a candle seemed like something that would be possible, and then we decided to put a label with the person’s name.

And if we had a record, we would print their Homyo (Buddhist Name) on each cup. These candles are displayed on the balcony ledge during the Obon Odori (dancing) on Saturday, July 7, as well as during the Obon/Hatsu-Bon Service on Sunday.

If you are interested in having a memorial candle for Obon this year, please contact the MBT Office. We ask for a $10 donation for each name.

What is the Buddhist way to handle when somebody publicly attacks you (verbally, (not physically)?

As always, when attacked, one should deflect that energy back to the person attacking.

When attacked verbally, the first reaction is no reaction. One must determine if the attack is even worth some kind of response; often the attack will look foolish if there is no reaction. There are times when a response is needed. At these times, the calm and quiet manner in which one responds is as important as the response itself.

After careful thought and consideration, the response should reply to the foolishness of the attack.

Why come to MBT?

At the Midwest Buddhist Temple, we encourage people to come as they are and stay a while.

As Shin Buddhists (Jodo Shinshu), there are no requirements to come to the temple and become a member. We would like to share the Dharma (Teaching) with everyone.

As Shin Buddhists, we don’t have a dogma (no set required beliefs), and we want everyone to be just the ordinary people that we all are.
As a Sangha (a group of “fellow travelers”), we learn from each other and we come to treasure some simple values: Profound Gratitude, Great Kindness and True Humility.

It is most interesting that these are values that cannot be taught as such. One can read about them, but it does not mean anything without the experience.

We learn these things by observation and by coming close to these experiences. For example, there are people who have turned sorrow and anger into gratitude when perhaps a young daughter passes away before the mother. The mother can transform that sorrow into gratitude for the few years her daughter shared (Profound Gratitude) … we know there are children as young as 8 years old who would use their allowance, without prompting, to purchase shampoo to donate to the Sarah’s Circle shelter (Great Kindness) … and there are people who can bury their ego and just say “thank you” for just a smile (True Humility).

These are things that come about only by being part of MBT. The organization allows the Sangha to be the vehicle to share the Dharma. We are “fellow travelers” on this path of life.

Rev. Ron, what do you say to someone when they sneeze?

There are a variety of explanations for why people say “God bless you” or “bless you” when someone sneezes. Among them is the belief that it is said to prevent the devil from stealing your soul because it once was believed that a sneeze separates the soul from the body.

According to Wikipedia, National Geographic reports that during the plague of AD 590, “Pope Gregory I ordered unceasing prayer for divine intercession.

“Part of his command was that anyone sneezing be blessed immediately (‘God bless you’), since sneezing was often the first sign that someone was falling ill with the plague.” By AD 750, it became customary to say ‘God bless you’ as a response to one sneezing.

The other common response to a sneeze is “gesundheit,” which means to wish someone good health when they sneeze and hopefully to forestall the illness that the sneeze portends.

But these explanations don’t relate to any Buddhist beliefs or those in Asian cultures and, thus, as a Shin Buddhist, there is no need for a “blessing” when someone sneezes. But as an American, it is certainly appropriate to respond to a sneeze with a “bless you” or “gesundheit” out of cultural politeness—just realize that it is not a Buddhist thing.

If a person reaches enlightenment, will she or he know it? And, if so, how will they know it? Will others?

This is a trick question . . .

Yes, each person will know (or sense) for him- or herself that things have changed, and one would sense a change in oneself. And it would be a very humbling experience. And the sense of self (i.e., the ego) will change.

We have to remember that full Enlightenment (Pari-Nirvana) will occur only after death. While one is alive, we can experience Enlightenment (reach Nirvana) in a limited way. One is still human, so one is still limited.

One does not know if one has reached Enlightenment, but it is more of a sensing that things have changed, and that that person has changed. There is no way to describe that experience; there are no words to express that experience; there is no lightbulb that suddenly goes on. There would be a sense that things have changed and, yet, nothing has changed.

Others will know, again, only by sensing it, feeling it, or somehow know to be in the presence of someone very special. The key characteristic would be a deep and profound humility. There is also a great sense of Oneness and peace.

But trying to describe something that is indescribable is fruitless. Each person is unique and thus each person’s Enlightenment is unique, which makes trying to describe this experience impossible.

Maybe, we should reverse it and remember that anyone saying “I am enlightened” is proof that they are not. As soon as that person says “I,” we know they have not let go of their ego.