HEAVEN, THE EARTH, AND PEOPLE


Nice Weather, Ideal Location, and Friendly People

Rimban Hoshu Y. Matsubayashi, Ed.D.



There is a Japanese saying that “When the three conditions of heavens (beautiful weather), the Earth (ideal location), and people (harmonious and friendly) are met, an event becomes successful.” The Seattle Betsuin 77th Annual Obon Odori Festival was held very successfully under all three wonderful conditions.

In hot summer weather, the cool wind blows from the Cascades to the Seattle Betsuin Temple. All dancers and spectators are exposed to the breeze from Elliott Bay. They all enjoyed nice and comfortable summer weather.

The Seattle Betsuin Temple is an ideal location in the global city of Seattle, and the Obon Odori Festival was part of the Seafairs Celebration. Obon Odori was well advertised in this community and the street in front of the Betsuin Temple was closed to traffic and was filled with thousands dancers and spectators.

Friendly people, including dance instructors, dancers, spectators, and Betsuin Sangha members, all harmoniously enjoyed with the spirit of Maudgalyayana (Mokuren), who rejoiced in his mother’s compassionate heart when she was released from sufferings. People from across the community enjoyed the Obon dance with one spirit of harmony and friendship.

The Japanese saying reminds us that “When three conditions of the heavens, the Earth, and people are met, an event becomes successful,” this year’s Betsuin Obon Odori Festival was a great success. Thank you all for your participation.

A year long NHK (Japanese Broadcasting Cooperation) TV drama for this year is called “Ten (Heaven), Chi (the Earth), and Jin (People)” by Masashi Hisaka. This story was based on Collected Words of Kenshin Uesugi. Kenshin Uesugi was a great Samurai Lord in northern Japan during the age of civil wars in the 1500’s. He stated in his book that “if three conditions of ‘Heaven, the Earth, and People’ are met, an event will succeed and the war will be won.” With his war philosophy, he became a powerful Samurai Lord and was respected very highly by people in his district.

The origin of this Japanese saying of the three conditions of Heaven, the Earth, and People came from The Works of Mencius by the ancient Chinese thinker Mencius. He was a follower of Confucianism and stated in his book that “Opportunities of time vouchsafed by Heaven are not equal to advantages of situation afforded by the Earth, and advantages of situation afforded by the Earth are not equal to the union arising from the accord of Men.” Mencius emphasized the value of harmonious people as the most important condition among the three conditions.

The NHK drama, “Heaven, the Earth, and People,” tells the story of Kagekatsu Uesugi, who was adopted by Kenshin Uesugi to succeed the Lordship of Uesugi Family, and his Chief Retainer Kanetsugu Naoe, who tried to govern their Echigo District people in harmony with the teaching of righteousness and benevolence during the age of civil wars in Japan according to the late Lord Kenshin Uesugi. Chief Retainer Kanetsugu placed a word of “Love” in front of his Samurai helmet (Kabuto). This decorative word “Love” was an unusual word for Samurai helmets in battles. However, he was following the teaching of benevolence (true love) with righteousness in Confucianism.

The word “Love” in Buddhism is normally interpreted as “craving (Skt. Tanha)” as we see the 8th term “Ai (craving)” of the Twelve Links of Chain of Causation. It is considered as a selfish desire of an unenlightened mind.

The meaning of benevolence (true love) in Confucianism is stated in The Confucian Analects, Chapter 28, that “Now the man of perfect virtue, wishing to be established himself, seeks also to establish others; wishing to be enlarged himself, he seeks also to enlarge others.” Confucian encourages the people of benevolence (true love) to act for the benefit of others. The Confucian Analects, Chapter 12, also states the meaning of benevolence (true love) in a negative expression that “not to do to others as you would not wish done to yourself.” Christians also teach benevolence (true love) in The New Testament, Matthew, vii, 12, that “So whatever you wish that men would do to you, do so to them.”

The Buddhist Obon Festival is filled with the compassion for the benefit of self and others. Obon provides us a great opportunity to reflect on our own lives, which are blessed with countless conditions. When we realize this, we call Obon a Gathering of Joy in gratitude. Obon is certainly the Global Obon for everyone, because it is based on the spirit of universal true love. Namo Amida Butsu