Gautama Buddha taught “Right View” as one of the Eightfold Path of the Noble Ones, which is the path of discipline followed by monks single-heartedly pursuing nirvana, the “extinguishing” of “thirst” (tanha or craving), awakening to the Truth, Reality-as-it-is, thus becoming a buddha, an “awakened being.”  

In Jōdo Shinshū Hongwanji Teachings, Right View is being brought to see reality “as-it-is”—unfiltered and unclouded by our self-centered Ego-attachment, which causes dukkha (dissatisfaction, discontent, unhappiness) in our lives.

As bombu ordinary human beings, we find ourselves addicted to the sensory pleasures of samsara, the realm of human confusion and delusion, utterly unable to “extinguish” the “thirst” of self-centered craving—our utterly human Ego-Self always wants “I look good, I feel good, I am good” all the time, and to be recognized as such by people around us now and forever!

When the Winds of Impermanence blow, we are reminded that we are not the exception: born human, our minds and bodies age, decay, and inevitably reach the end of life. This shatters one’s sense of “reality” resulting in fear, anxiety, and existential dread and thus we desperately seek ways to delude ourselves.

But the Winds of Impermanence, the Truth of Constant Change, can also wake us up to reality-as-it-is. 

This morning, on this day of an unrepeatable life, I woke up to the sun rising over Haleakala, and the sound of baby chicks chirping as they follow their mommy hen around the garden. 

In other words, I didn’t wake up dead, which is a good thing from my perspective, LOL!

This moment of seeing reality-as-it-is—the circle of life continues on naturally and I remain Karma’s Fool—makes me put my hands together in gasshō, bow my head in gratitude, and say “NamoAmidaButsu!” in joy at seeing both the truth and my silliness.

If I do nothing else this day, I will have experienced the working of Amida, kindness and gratitude beyond words, in the simple act of opening my ears and eyes, and waking to NamoAmidaButsu!

But, being bombu, just an ordinary ego-centric, self-centered human being despite my pretensions, I immediately pat myself on the back for “being a good Buddhist” and feel vaguely disappointed that no one is around to see what a “good” Buddhist I am!

I know—I’ll write about Nembutsu as repeated experience of “I get it!” immediately followed by “I don’t get it!” in this month’s newsletter. So I turn on my computer and up pops this photo of our five-year-old grandson taking delight in “fooling” people with the old schtick “bury your legs in the sand, use grandpa’s slippers to make your legs look really long, then stand up!”

Every kid should have a silly grandpa to teach them the important stuff in life: “Life’s a beach and then you’re born in the Pure Land.” NamoAmidaButsu!

Thus, “right view” is more than simply seeing things from a Buddhist perspective—the Path to Mindfulness of Amida (nembutsu) is a dynamic, continuous, experiential journey of personal transformation, a “turning of the heart-mind” (eshin) away from relying upon one’s limited human perception and comprehension of “reality” toward the “heart-mind of no doubt” (mugishin), absolute conviction that one is embraced by Amida, kindness and gratitude beyond words, thus realizing one’s going forth to Birth into the Pure Land, becoming a buddha, and returning in oneness with Amida to this world to guide others.

As a creative writer, as a strategic consultant, as a humorist, I know from decades of experience that the harder you “try” to come up with a great idea, the more painful the creative process will be. While it is Ego that drives one to keep pushing ahead, it is letting go of Ego that allows one to see things from a new perspective, to connect two dots that have never been connected before, or connect previously connected dots in a different way (note: all actual techniques used by professionals in creative industries—I’m available to consult on creativity for a reasonable fee, LOL).

This “turning of the heart-mind” becomes “shinjin”—living in a state of being called the heart-mind of no doubt, absolute conviction of one’s Birth in the Pure Land, even though we cannot fully comprehend it or explain in words other people can understand. And yet we try! NamoAmidaButsu!

Sounds good but how do you cultivate “Right View”?

I am such that I do not know right and wrong
And cannot distinguish false and true;
I lack even small love and small compassion,
And yet, for fame and profit, enjoy teaching others.

—Shinran-shōnin, founder of Jōdo Shinshū

Hymns of the Dharma Ages, verse 116

Collected Works of Shinran, Vol 1, page 429

Shinran would say, by ruthlessly pursuing Total Self-Awareness no matter what! This hymn was written later in Shinran’s life, after completing the Ken Jōdo Shinjitsu Kyōgyōshō Monrui (kyōgyōshinshō), the doctrinal foundation of Jodō Shinshū, and having established himself as a religious leader even after being exiled—and yet he laments he is motivated solely by egocentric pursuit of fame and fortune.

When you read the entire body of Shinran’s writings, you begin to see just how acutely aware he was of his ego-self filtering and clouding his perception of reality, and his profound gratitude in understanding that being able to truly see oneself in the Light of Wisdom, to see one’s “self” just as-it-is, while humiliating and embarrassing, is the working of Amida guiding us to the Faith of Shinjin, assuring our Birth into the Pure Land.

The Path of Nembutsu is ironic: you never actually “arrive” at the Pure Land in this unrepeatable life but rather you learn to truly appreciate the journey itself, with its many ups and downs, joys and sorrows, and moments of insight into one’s self, one’s reality, and the reality-as-it-is of Kindness and Gratitude Beyond Words working in this moment of this day of an unrepeatable life. NamoAmidaButsu!

May your day be filled with Aloha!
Rev. Kerry

(originally published in Makawao Hongwanji Temple Newsletter, July 2025)