VOLUME 5 • ISSUE 3 • September 2025
BISHOP’S CORNER
Gratitude on the White Path
As we welcome the autumn Ohigan season, a time when the lengths of day and night are nearly equal, we are reminded of the balance and harmony found in nature. It is also a time for us to quiet our hearts and reflect on this harmony in our inner lives.
When we hear the word Ohigan, many of us might recall the parable of the “Two Rivers and the White Path” by Master Shan-Tao. This well-known story symbolically represents the path of our lives and the journey of those who follow the Buddhist way.
In brief, the parable describes a traveler who encounters a terrifying scene: On either side of the road ahead are rivers — one of raging fire and the other of rushing water. Between them stretches a narrow white path. The path is so thin that any misstep could lead to being engulfed by flames or waves.
Behind the traveler are bandits and wild animals in pursuit. Then, a voice from the far shore calls out, “Come this way, do not fear,” while another voice from behind encourages, “Go forward without hesitation.”
Hearing these voices, the traveler feels a sense of peace and begins walking along the white path.
This traveler represents each of us. In our lives, we face many obstacles — like fire and water — that cause us to lose sight of the path ahead. Yet through the Compassionate call of Amida Buddha — “Come to me” — and the guiding voice of Shakyamuni Buddha, we come to realize that this white path is, in fact, the true and unshakable path that supports our lives.
What once seemed like a narrow and frightening path becomes a radiant path filled with light. With this realization, our steps shift from fear to peace, from anxiety to confidence.
The Buddhist path (butsu-dō) is one without graduation. It’s not something we finish or master by saying, “I’ve learned enough; that’s it.” Like chadō (the Way of Tea), kadō (the Way of Flowers), or kendō (the Way of the Sword), anything with the word dō — “the Way” — is meant to be walked throughout one’s life.
Through that journey, we come to see a new world we couldn’t see before. Our inner perspective and our view of life itself begin to transform.
The same applies to the Buddhist path. The white path shown to us by the Buddhas is one we walk step by step through our everyday lives. This path is not just something we “study” — it is an ongoing process of “awakening” and “deeply experiencing.”
For example, the teaching that “life is impermanent” might not have resonated with us when we were young, but as we grow older and gather more life experiences (and wrinkles), that truth gradually sinks in more deeply.
This past June, during a trip to Japan, I visited my hometown of Hiroshima and spent time with my father. He has grown older and is no longer the strong, energetic man I remember, but simply sharing a quiet conversation with him after a long time brought me joy.
That evening, I had dinner with my father and siblings. It happened to be my 47th birthday, and they celebrated with me. I hadn’t spent my birthday with my family in nearly 30 years. It brought back warm memories of my childhood.
When I was young, birthdays were all about me — my special day. But this time, my heart was filled with deep gratitude toward my father and my family. While I know parting is inevitable, I also feel profoundly grateful to be walking this white path, illuminated by the Light of Amida Buddha, together with those I care about.
This joy I experienced is perhaps something I could only have truly felt because of the Buddha-Dharma I’ve encountered.
Even when we hear the same teaching, how we feel about it today may differ from how we felt yesterday. That is one of the true joys of walking the Buddha’s path.
Buddhism is not something we understand instantly; instead, it develops gradually over time, revealing its depth as we continue on our journey. It can even transform our outlook on life, giving us the strength to overcome hardship.
Ohigan is a time to reflect on the “Other Shore” — the world of enlightenment. It is also an opportunity for us, who live on this shore, filled with delusions and attachments, to take a step closer to that distant shore. It is a time to reexamine and reaffirm our journey on the white path.
I hope each of you will find the white path that is already laid out at your feet.
With a feeling of joy and gratitude for being illuminated by Amida Buddha’s Boundless Compassion, let us continue walking this white path together.
Namo Amida Butsu.