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Ekoji Buddhist Temple
10301 Burke Lake Rd., Fairfax Station, VA (703) 239-1200

Today I visited the Ekoji Budhist Temple for the celebration of the birthday of Siddhartha, the Buddha of twenty-five hundred years ago who renounced his life of royalty and wealth for the life of an ascetic. I enter the temple and remove my shoes. I take a bracelet of crystal prayer beads from a basket and sign the guest book. A piano player sends music throughout the sanctuary intermingling with the soothing smell of incense and the soft glow of sunlight penetrating the sanctuary’s many windows. Children roam as their parents smile and greet one another. The sound of a gong reverberates and the people silently take their seats. I close my eyes, as the echoes of the gong (reminding me of Tibetan singing bowls) and the aroma of incense sends me deeper into myself to a place of balance and peace.

The service adopts a western like style in alternating Japanese chants with English songs, all in praise of the Buddha. Children actively participate in the service, bringing offerings of flowers and anointing the onyx statue of Buddha, situated under a beautiful flowered canopy, with incense and sweet tea.

The Reverend Honda sermonizes about the importance of the Asian-Tibetan greeting, of folded hands close to the heart and the word, ”Namaste,” meaning, “my spirit respects your spirit.” His sermon details the four stages of life considered to be social custom in ancient India. He does this to defend the actions of the Buddha Siddhartha, who leaves his wife and son to live a life of poverty in search of enlightenment. I have also wondered about the righteousness of this act given my opinion about the sacred nature of marriage.

Reverend Honda’s gentle yet wise manner has a powerful impact on me and I am reminded to respect the essence of life as imperfection. To be perfect, according to the Reverend, is to be dead, for life is always imperfect and consequently there is always growth. As long as we learn we grow. All stages of life involve learning.

After the service, a woman introduces me to Gordan, an elder member of the congregation of Euro-American descent. He invites me to see a room adjacent to the sanctuary, the “Nokutzdo,” that houses the ashes of deceased members of the temple. A small altar, the “Obutsudan,” is situated on the left of the wall with the ashes of the deceased. I leave the sanctuary and enter the room where a potluck is taking place. I am surprised to discover that meat dishes are served, along with a few vegetarian items. Gordon joins me and I ask him how he became involved in the temple. He reluctantly explains his introduction to Shin Buddhism, focusing much of his answer on the felt experience of the “Amida Buddha,” the practice of this form of Buddhism. Ekoji, stemming from the root word “Eko” holds many meanings in Buddhism and is consequently a word holding tremendous power. The Ekoji temple is the church of the Gift of Light, with the Buddha Shinran as its’ founder. Shinran spoke of the “pureland,” one of the many Buddhist heavens that represents the presence of wisdom and compassion existing for each of us. Gordon speaks of a profound sense of gratitude for the joys around us as well as the inadequacies. He sees no purpose in comparing the different sects of Buddhism other than intellectual folly. Gordon conveyed to me the emotional impact of his religion as a duel relationship between the head and the heart. His path is both easy and difficult for the same reason. There are no requirements of Shin Buddhism, no set of rituals to follow, or rules to abide. The feeling of gratitude survives in the recitation of “Namo Amida Budtsu” or Thank you.

I left the temple with a sense of appreciation. I was touched by the gentle energy of the temple and the unity of its’ members. How refreshing to see the elder bow to the children and the children bow to the elder. My life consists of my two children, a teaching job in an American public middle school, children’s sports events and home. I miss the influence of wise elders. I left the temple feeling both a sense of sadness and Joy. My life at present can be compared to that of a rock climber in the process of climbing a steep mountain. As I drove down the rode, I reflected on the challenges I have before me. The Buddha Siddhartha left behind him the life of royalty to discover enlightenment. Siddhartha also left his wife and child. I too am making a sacrifice similar to Siddhartha. In my efforts to improve myself for the betterment of my family and society, I separate myself from the every day accomplishments of my children. I’m here for them in body, but my mind is focused on completing my academic objectives. Unlike the Buddha, Siddhartha, I struggle constantly as my job and my academic ambitions conflict with the spiritual identity I hope to realize upon completion of this segment of my studies.

The gong rings in my memory as the perfume of the incense penetrates my heart. I understand the “Buddha” to be inside of me as I understand the “Buddha” to be inside of everyone. Whatever the practice, or the chant, the feeling remains the same. I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to sit in meditation with elders and youth both wise and innocent. I experience the joy around me amidst my own inadequacies and regardless of my circumstance, I recite the words, “Namo Amida budtsu,” or “Thank You.”

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