●Teachings of HONMON BUTSURYUSHU

6. How to Invite Happiness:

a. Mystery of Relationship (En) and Delight:

From 1980 to 1983, I, Reverend Fukuoka, travelled first from my former post in Hawaii and then from Japan, to perform religious services at the homes of HBS parishioners in California. With every trip, I met new faces and members, and it provided a source of pleasure for me to participate in the services.

My last service in California from Hawaii was in late March of 1983. The service was held at the home of Kazuko Hiromoto whom I initially met at the age of 2, but certainly I have no recollection of it. Coincidentally, we met again in March after a lapse of 35 years. The story of our relationship is as follows:

I first met Kazuko Hiromoto, then Yonehara, when she was living in Kumochi, Kobe, Japan. Her parents were HBS parishioners, but, they were not affiliated with a specific temple due to chaotic conditions after the war. They practiced in their own home. About that time, Kazuko became seriously ill. However due to lack of medical facilities, she was unable to get proper medical care. Her parents fervently prayed for her recovery but to no avail. The Yoneharas were losing their sense of hope when they received a call from an unknown parishioner. It was a call of invitation to join the caller's HBS temple. The Yoneharas graciously declined the offer at that time, since they were in the midst of caring for their critically ill daughter. The caller said, "Let's appeal to the scripture and pray for her recovery. I will join you." With that they began to pray. A miracle, then, happened during their vigil prayer. Kazuko regained her consciousness and received a divine favor. The unknown caller was then an official of the Shoboji Temple in Kobe. His name was Mr. Takeo Suga, who later became a priest at the Shoboji Temple.

After regaining health, Kazuko began visiting the newly constructed Shoboji Temple, which was headed by Reverend Nichiju Fukuoka, my father. I, apparently, met Kazuko at the temple from time to time, but since I was very young then I have no recollection of our meetings. Kazuko, however, remembered well. She said she took care of me during the praying session to restrain me from making noises. The Yoneharas later transferred their membership to their original temple, the Butsuryuji Temple, where her father served as the chief representative of the parishioners.

I feel that my meeting with Kazuko 35 years later was not a mere "coincidence". According to Carl Jung and Allen Boone, nothing happens through mere coincidence (Boone). In the principle of cause and effect (Ichinen-sanzen), events that appear unrelated are, in fact, interrelated and have harmony (Jung). These unforeseen cause and conditions (Inga) are described as "synchronicity" by Jung.

Boone said, "The real happenings which occur around us are not unrelated and do not exist arbitrarily and our consciousness is producing them every now and then. Every person possesses information of the entire universe, so if the hidden consciousness is well used, it is possible to draw out one's maximum capabilities and open the way to a new life."

These synchronicity theories may appear strange and perhaps contrived, but to a person who has some knowledge of Buddhism's Lotus Sutra teachings, founded by the Great Master, Tendai, the theories of Jung and Boone are not entirely new or foreign.

Next. [Teachings] 6-b. The Micro World and Macro World: