“KISG! Keep It Simple, Graduates!”


And

“KISB! Keep It Simple, Buddhists!”

Rimban Hoshu Y. Matsubayashi, Ed.D.

One of the most unforgettable keynote speeches in my life was the keynote speech at my son’s college graduation ceremony. My oldest son graduated from the College of Engineering of the University of California at Berkeley on May 23, 1987. The ceremony was held at the Hearst Greek Theatre with over 10,000 people in attendance, including professors, graduates, and guests. It was a day before the 50th Anniversary of Golden Gate Bridge, which was built in May 1937.

The keynote speaker was Professor John R. Whinnery of the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences. Prof. Whinnery graduated from U.C. Berkeley in 1937 with a B.S. in Electrical Engineering. He was awarded the campus’ highest scholastic honor, the University Medal, presented to Berkeley’s top graduating senior. He became a microwave and laser expert and received the National Medal of Science from President George Bush in June 1992.

The title of his speech was “KISG: The Poetry of Einstein, Maxwell, and Joseph Strauss.” He explained that “The Poetry” is like a Japanese Haiku poem, the shortest and simplest poem. I asked my second son, who was sitting next to me at the ceremony, “What is KISG?” He told me that it came from “KISS” and it means “Keep It Simple, Graduates!” I learned that Prof. Whinnery was encouraging the graduates to use the vast knowledge they had acquired at the University to achieve simple designs and to avoid unnecessary complexity.

Albert Einstein was the greatest scientist in the 20th century. Einstein’s discovery of the Mass Energy Equation, “energy equals mass times the velocity of light squared,” became the foundation stone in the development of atomic energy.

James Clark Maxwell discovered the basic equations of electromagnetism. Joseph Strauss was Chief Engineer of the famous Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco and he was the man who built the bridge that many people thought that it was impossible to build. The Golden Gate Bridge faces Pacific Ocean and he had to consider wind patterns, currents, gravity, and other numerous conditions before he designed the Bridge.

Prof. Whinnery praised Mass Energy Equation, the equations of electromagnetism, and the Golden Gate Bridge as the poetry of Einstein, Maxwell, and Joseph Strauss. These achievements were the result of simplicity from vast knowledge.

After I heard Prof. Whinnery’s keynote speech, I came up my own understanding of the teaching of Shinran Shonin’s Jodo Shinshu Buddhism. “KISB: The Poetry of Shinran Shonin.” That is “Keep It Simple, Buddhists! The Poetry of Shinran Shonin.” Shinran’s equation theory is “Namo = Amida Butsu.” We are equal with the Infinite Light and Life of Amida Buddha when we are awakened to the great compassion and wisdom of Amida Buddha.

It is said that Shakyamuni Buddha taught 84,000 different teachings according to the need of the people who want to attain enlightenment. After Shinran Shonin studied numerous teachings of Shakyamuni Buddha and seven masters in India, China, and Japan, he discovered that only the Nembutsu, Namo Amida Butsu, is the true way to attain enlightenment for ordinary people.

Shinran’s equation theory of the Nembutsu, Namo Amida Butsu, will assure us to become the Buddha, Enlightened One. Gassho