A Chicken In Every Pot

G Sakamoto

In 1928 when Herbert Hoover ran for president, ads supporting previous Republican administrations pointed to their success at reducing poverty by having put "the proverbial chicken in every pot". The phrase did not originate with Hoover but probably began when the king of "seventeenth century France; Henry IV reputedly wished that each of his peasants would enjoy 'a chicken in his pot every Sunday.'"(Answers.com). Putting a chicken in every pot was a measure of national prosperity. By the time we arrived at the Oakland Buddhist Temple, nearly fifty years after the Hoover campaign, chicken had become inexpensive and readily available. It was no longer a luxury.

There was a time, while serving at the Oakland temple, when we were pretty much eating chicken all the time. Not that we wanted to eat chicken or chicken leftovers every day, but because chicken was cheap. A whole bird could be the inspiration for curry or soup or shoyu chicken. I still have the sheet of paper with a typed recipe for chicken curry I received from an Oakland Fujinkai member. After a few months I realized there were other approaches to eating economically.

I think everyone can look back to a time when we had to make do with what we had. Making do meant meeting and responding to circumstances. How we respond to circumstances can determine what we experience. If we think, "What do I have to give up.", then we most likely we will experience some discomfort with choosing what to give up and then being separated from what we've given up. If we can think of ways to do things with what we're presented, the experience can be very different. Circumstances are always changing. How we respond to and experience things can be shaped by how we see things. If we do not see things as they are we cannot respond appropriately and we will encounter difficulties. If we can see things as they are, without judgement, we may be able to respond without the burden of difficulties.

When Shinran was found guilty of crimes and sent into exile, he thought of his sentence as an opportunity to spread what he had learned from Honen. Far from being burdened by his circumstances, he saw this next phase in his life as an opportunity to share the Dharma. He most certainly faced grave challenges that must have caused him discomfort, but I think his core belief of the importance of the Dharma and the nembutsu sustained him in those circumstances. From the relative comfort of Kyoto to the hardships of Echigo, Shinran's core beliefs helped him respond to changing circumstances.

Our circumstances continually change. Whether economically or through death of a loved one or through having to move, if we are able to return to those things that are fundamental to our well being, family, friends, temple, sharing, then perhaps what we experience may be less difficult.

May you, in whatever circumstances you find yourself, see and respond to life that is true and real.