The Story of Shakyamuni's Enlightenment: Facing Māra

​

December 8th marks the day of Shakyamuni Buddha’s Enlightenment, also known as “the Day of Overcoming Māra.” This day commemorates the moment under the Bodhi tree when Shakyamuni Buddha attained awakening. However, before reaching enlightenment, he had to face a profound challenge:the confrontation with Māra, the personification of inner obstacles and distractions.

​

This story is not just a historical account; it is deeply relevant to our daily lives, as it illustrates how we can face and overcome the inner challenges that trouble us.

​

As Shakyamuni meditated under the Bodhi tree, Māra appeared and tried to prevent him from reaching enlightenment. Using fear, doubt, and temptation, Māra unleashed a series of attacks, questioning the Buddha's right to attain awakening and aiming to shake his resolve. These challenges resonate with us even today. Feelings of anxiety, attachment, anger, and self-doubt often arise, disturbing our peace of mind and pulling us away from clarity.

​

In response to Māra’s challenges, Shakyamuni did not waver. Instead of reacting, he calmly touched the ground with his right hand and declared, “The Earth shall bear witness to my awakening.” This simple act of touching the Earth symbolizes grounding oneself in truth and finding an unshakable foundation in the face of inner and outer turmoil.

​

From the perspective of Jodo Shinshu Buddhism, this story carries an important message. While Shakyamuni Buddha confronted Māra with unwavering strength, we, as mortal beings, often lack the ability to overcome our inner struggles through sheer willpower. As taught by Shinran, we are bonbu—beings full of worldly desires and limited by our own nature. However, the great compassion of Amida embraces us as we are, without demanding perfection or the elimination of our flaws.

​

This is the essence of Amida’s vow: guiding even those who are deeply entangled in doubt and desire. Rather than expecting ourselves to conquer our inner challenges, we are encouraged to entrust ourselves to Amida’s boundless compassion and reflect inwardly on our true nature.

In our daily lives, feelings of anxiety, anger, and self-criticism often arise unexpectedly. Instead of resisting or trying to force these emotions away, we can take a moment to acknowledge their presence and let them pass. Much like Shakyamuni’s act of touching the Earth, we can ground ourselves in the teachings and recite the Nembutsu—“Namo Amida Butsu”—as a way to reconnect with the infinite compassion that supports us.

​

The story of Shakyamuni’s enlightenment is not just a tale of the past. It is a reminder that even in moments of doubt or struggle, we are held within the embrace of Amida. By accepting this compassion and entrusting ourselves to it, we can find solace and clarity in our lives.

May we all find comfort and stability in Amida’s boundless compassion, and may it guide us through the challenges of our hearts and minds. 

 

Namo Amida Butsu

​

An Old Japanese Tale
(for students)

​

A long time ago, in a small village, there lived a kind old man and his wife.  As the New Year was coming, they decided to make straw hats to sell so they could buy some rice cakes for the holiday.

​

The old woman said, “It would be nice to have some mochi to celebrate the New Year,” and the old man nodded with a smile. 

​

The old man went to the market to sell the hats, but no one bought even one.  Feeling sad, he started walking home.

​

On his way, he saw a row of stone Jizo statues standing quietly in the snow.  Jizo are kind and gentle protectors who watch over children, travelers, and people in need.  They are often found standing along roads or in quiet places.  The Jizo looked so cold, covered in snow, that the old man stopped and said to himself, “I couldn’t sell the hats, but maybe I can help these Jizo stay warm.”   

​

The old man gently placed a hat on each Jizo’s head, brushing off the snow and making sure they looked cozy.  When he finished, he had no hats left, but he felt happy inside.  He bowed to the Jizo and hearded home.

​

That night something incredible happened.  The old man and his wife heard a loud noise outside.  When they opened the door, they found piles of rice, vegetables, and coins!  They couldn’t believe their eyes.  And then, in the distance, they saw the Jizo walking away, smiling at them.

Isn’t that nice for the old man shared his hats with the Jizo?  He just wanted to help them.  Kindness is like that-

it makes everyone happy.  So, let’s all be like the old man and the Jizo, and try to bring warmth and joy to people around us.  Who knows?  Maybe a little bit of magic will find its way back to you, too!

​

​

See Japanese message in the December, 2024 newsletter.  Click here.