Yoga Onion

"Namu (Namo), As it is, As it is" Hiro Sachiya 

Hiro Sachiya (b.27 July 1936 - d.07 Aprl 2022 ) is a Japanese religious analyst & Buddhist philosopher.

[The following is an excerpt from an interview with Hiro Sachiya.] 

“I think your strength lies in your ability to believe in the ‘teachings of Buddha’, but the people around me who committed suicide were so desperate for the world that they couldn’t even believe in God or Buddha?” 

To which he replies:

“It can’t be helped—Japan is full of bogus religions. Most of them are just “faith in divine blessings,” aren’t they? Any religion that claims, ‘If you believe in your faith, you will be saved from sickness and suffering,’ is a lie. True religion is that which gives people the courage to go on living—even while remaining poor or sick.

A young man I met at a lecture asked me, "I've become a *hikikomori (=social withdrawal)*—what should I do?" I replied, "If you've become a *hikikomori*, then just stay that way for a little longer." I remember how his face lit up when he heard that. Then I told him, "If things ever become truly unbearable, I’ll teach you a wonderful phrase. Just chant 'Namu (Namo), as it is, as it is,’ three times.”

The word "Namu (Namo)” means “I leave it to you” in Sanskrit. Please understand that “Namu (Namo), just as it is” is an expression of one's resolve to entrust everything to the Buddha.

ーひろさちや

ひろさちや（1936年7月27日 - 2022年4月7日）は、日本の宗教評論家、仏教思想家。

[以下はひろさちや氏のインタビューの一部]

“「仏の教え」を信じられるところに、ひろさんの強さはあると思いますが、私のまわりで自殺していく人たちは神や仏も信じられないほど、世の中に絶望していたんじゃないでしょうか？”という質問に氏は答える：

いたしかたないのは、日本はインチキ宗教ばかりです。ほとんどが「ご利益信仰」でしょ。「私たちの宗教を信じれば病気や苦しみから救われますよ」という宗教はウソです。貧乏な人が貧乏なまま、病気の人が病気のまま生きていける勇気を与えてくれるのが本当の宗教です。

ある講演会で出会った青年から「僕はひきこもりになったんです、どうしたらいいんですか？」と言われました。私は「ひきこもりになったら、もうすこしひき こもりのままでいなさいよ」と。それを聞いて青年の顔がすごく明るくなったのを覚えています。青年には「どうしても苦しくなったら、いい文句を教えてあげよう。『南無そのまんま、そのまんま』と三度、唱えるんだよ」と。

「南無(なむ、なも)」というのは梵語で「お任せします」という意味です。「南無そのまんま」は、仏にすべてをお任せしますという意思表明だと思ってもらいたい。

"We all possess Buddha-nature as our true essence, yet we are unaware of it. To awaken us, the Buddha shocks us and guides us towards enlightenment." Kukai

"Notice the quiet presence"

A million roses make a song, and under the cherry blossoms in full bloom there is a great deal of drinking and singing. People are attracted to transient glamour in the same way as they follow fads.

On the other hand, the 'pine' tree, which remains unchanged, 365 days a year, evergreen is not talked about at the right time. However, its powerful appearance and verdant vitality are wonderful.

You will come to realise that there are those who quietly savour life without being swayed by the ever-changing phenomena of the world.

Pine trees always look the same green, but in fact, in spring, young, tender yellow-green shoots emerge and the dark green leaves gradualy turning brown and fall off.

Even though it may look unchanged, the status quo cannot be maintained by sitting still.

バラは百万本で歌になり、満開の桜の下では飲めや歌えの大騒ぎ。流行を追うのと同じように、人は一過性の華やかさに集まる。

一方、365日変わることのない常緑樹である「松」は、今ひとつ話題にならない。しかし、その力強い姿と青々とした生命力は素晴らしい。

移ろいやすい世の中の現象に振り回されることなく、黙々と人生を謳歌している存在があることに気づきたい。

松の木はいつも同じ緑色に見えるが、実は春になると黄緑色の柔らかな若芽が出て、濃い緑の葉は徐々に茶色く変色して落ちていく。

変わらないように見えても、じっとしていては現状は維持できない。

"The Buddha correctly discerns the true nature of things and resolves problems for good. Through his various teachings, the Buddha reveals the causes of your delusion and shows you the path to overcoming it." Kukai