Reverend Fujii’s Monthly Message
Gi - False
The weather in Toronto this winter has been very strange and, in fact, we haven’t had any major snow fall here yet so far. However, I started complaining that it doesn’t feel like winter now, so I’m not in the mood to go skiing. At the same time, if there were lots of snow, I might be saying that I was getting tired of clearing off my car, or that it was too cold and slippery outside. It is so sad, but it is so true that my Monku, complaining will never run out!!
For this month, I chose one Kanji character, (presented above) for our better understandings of Jodo Shinshu. This character is pronounced as Gi, Nise and Itsuwari, which literally means false, fake and counterfeit. Also, antonym of the character is truth and reality. Actually, Jodo Shinshu means that the true essence of the Pure Land way, so it teaches us the true essence in our lives. In other words, the teachings tell us what is true and false.
Have any of you had a similar experience that if you do something for someone with good intention, but it is ended up with your action bothers the person? Each one of us have different points of view, thoughts or ideas, so sometimes I cannot judge by only my ability what is good or bad. Therefore, Buddhism gives us what is true and important.
However, I sometimes think how much I, myself, truly follow the Buddha’s teachings as a Jodo Shinshu minister? The good example is the Eight fold Paths, Right Speech, Right View or Right Conduct. With regrets, I realized that I do not completely follow any of these. One of the important scripture in Jodo Shinshu, Tannisho (A Record in Lament of Divergences) in the postscript part, Shinran Shonin states:
Almost all of what we have been doing is false because there is always a possibility of our attachments and egos being mixed into our actions, but only the true and real is the Nembutsu, the teaching of Jodo Shinshu. Shinran Shonin is telling us that we should ask Amida Buddha what is good or evil, important or useless, truth or false.
In gassho
Rev. Tomofumi Fuji
Biography
Background & Work Experience
Reverend Tomofumi Fujii was born in the family member of Jonenji Temple, Moriyama-City, Shiga-Prefecture, JAPAN. When he was a child, he observed and participated in many services at his father’s temple in Naijin (Alter area). From the time he was 9 years old, his father who was a Jodo Shinshu minister started taking him to services at the homes of other members. When he turned 16 years old he received TOKUDO ordination and then the following year, he joined Hongwanji Youth Exchange Program and came to Canada. During his time in Canada, he had an opportunity to visit a few temples and stay at the home of a members house. This was the beginning of his journey to becoming a KAIKYOSHI minister overseas.
He attended Ryukoku University to study Jodo Shinshu Buddhism, and he read the course of propagation of Jodo Shinshu. When he was in his fourth year at the University, he took the KYOSHI session and passed. After graduating from University he was qualified to attend the KAIKYOSHI training session. He also attended a special study facility of Hongwanji, Dendoin school for Dharma Lecturer (FUKYOSHI).
In December 2005, he was assigned to the Toronto Buddhist Church as a resident minister. Reverend Fujii has a strong work ethic and a passion for the teaching of Jodo Shinshu Buddhism. Since his arrival at the Toronto Buddhist Church he has dedicated much of his time to the younger members of the temple, sharing the Jodo Shinshu teaching as well as his passion for music.
Post Secondary Education
2004 BA in Jodo Shinshu Buddhism from Ryukoku University, Kyoto, Japan
2004 Dendoin School of Hongwanji (Resident Minister Course)
Personal background
• Born in 1981 in Moriyama City, Shiga Prefecture, Japan
• Married to Naoko in May 2008
• Enjoys skiing and watching car races, especially rally