Spirituality

Many people have asked me if I was “religious” and I have always answered that I am spiritual but not really religious.  My stated goal is to simply live a good life.  Recently I was given a piece which, I feel, clearly mirrors my feelings on this matter.

Earl Ikeda, a resident minister of the Shin Buddhist temple of the Puna Hongwanji Mission, offered the following thoughts during one of his sermons:

“Is there a Buddha or (a) God? As a human being…I will honestly say that I do not truly/really know.  I have learned that if you’re looking for something that you can touch, see, smell, hear or taste you may not find it.  But I do know that the teachings of the Buddha have given me great strength, courage, and comfort in understanding who and what I am.  I have come to some understanding of my strengths and weaknesses…the teachings have helped me cope with them.  The teachings have led me upon the path of gratitude….I believe in love, helping others, caring, feeling sad or laughing…I know that I am not perfect and have many faults…I do not have the ability or strength to say that I do not doubt nor can I say that I truly believe.  Reflecting on the many ups and downs…of life, I can say that I am truly grateful for having the teachings to reflect upon and to guide me….Life is too short to contemplate on whether there is a Buddha or a God….I only know that there is this moment…given this opportunity and gift of life, we should try to make a positive impact upon the lives of others….I believe that this is where the Buddha (or God) truly exists.”

For edification, the Buddha Shakymuni did not discourse on the existence of God evidently because he did not speculate on matters that could not be proven.

Although I have taken some editorial license in making minor omissions or additions to the text of the Minister’s speech, I do not believe that I have fundamentally altered the message the speech was intended to give.

I will be interested in your thoughts on these matters.