How Great The Compassion

K. Ken Fujimoto

One of my favorite quotes has been, “Magic is science that has not been discovered yet.” This was a statement made by Dr. Strange, a Marvel comic character who was a magician. I read this when I was in high school or early college and it has stayed with me over the decades. Just because we do not understand something does not mean that it cannot be real. This is true for many things and we need to remind ourselves that we should be open to possibilities.

This seems especially true in the area of religion. We often face things that we cannot see or hear in the normal sense, but it does not mean that it is not happening or does not exist. Not being able to see or visualize something makes it difficult for us to accept its existence. This is something that we all face frequently in any discussion of religion. However, there are often hints or clues as to the existence of something that can help us see the reality.

We seem to have no problem in believing in the reality or existence of the wind. We cannot see it, but we can see its effects and we can feel it. We see it rustling leaves, blowing dust, and swaying trees. We can even harness the power of the wind with windmills and such. We have means to gauge the winds direction and force using what we have experienced with the wind in the past.

We also seem to have no problem with gravity. In fact, our belief is so total and ingrained that we do not even think about it in the course of our daily lives. How many people worry about floating away if gravity were to cease or about being pulled down if it were to suddenly get stronger?

There are undoubtedly other many, similar examples that we experience in the course of our daily lives, but what we need to consider is why we are willing to accept things like this as being real and while there are other things that we do not seem to be willing to accept? Why do we doubt the existence of the infinite compassion that we call Amida? Why do we not see it at work in our lives? Are we looking at the right things?

People tend to think that they need to see or experience large, mystical, wondrous events for evidence of religious concepts at work, but Shinran Shonin looked more within than without and saw a multitude of little things that gave him the evidence he needed to see the reality of Amida’s compassionate-wisdom at work. This is something from which we can all learn.

Recently, I have seen and heard about many of my former classmates, friends and acquaintances in Japan ascending to important and prestigious positions within the Hongwanji, universities or other institutions and my personal responses to reading or hearing about those shows me my personal limitations. I can be truly happy about some of them, indifferent to others and incredulous about others. I sometimes find myself thinking, “How is that person qualified for a position like that?!?” It usually depends on how close I am to and how well I like that particular person. My feelings about a person doing well or not doing well in their line of work are dependent on many factors and conditions that actually are not directly linked to the situation at hand. This shows the limited nature of my compassion. In contrast, Amida’s compassion is boundless and extends equally to all, even if they are polar opposites. We should be able to see and recognize how great that compassion must be when we compare it to our own.

To feel equally about all people, regardless of whether we like them, dislike them or are indifferent to them is virtually impossible for a person like myself. To try and imagine a compassion that embraces all is incomprehensible. However, those very limitations within me can be seen as proof that great compassion exists and is at work. That compassion is not only a possibility, but exists and is constantly beingextended to me and embracing me. With my limitations and internal contradictions, I am enabled to express my appreciation of the Buddha-dharma. Because of those limitations and contradictions, I am embraced in that compassion. I am embraced by compassion, so magnanimous that it includes one such as I. Such compassion must be great and all embracing.