jodo shinshu buddhism and black lives matter
This week, he has put out two videos, one for the regular Sunday service and another on Wednesday to speak specifically on the Black Lives Matter movement. Both videos encapsulated the connection to the current happenings of our American cities and Jodo Shinshu Buddhism. I think what our reverend, Matt Hamasaki, had to say was important.
In his Dharma Talk, or message, this week was all about the values we cherish the most in Jodo Shinshu Buddhism can easily be applied to how we can become involved in helping amplify black voices and why we should. In our sect of Buddhism, we are taught about interdependence and to cherish wisdom and compassion.
Within interdependence, he explains, comes the understanding when one person suffers, everybody suffers. This reminded me of a quote by Martin Luther King Jr. a prominent civil rights leader during the 20th century: “An injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” There can be no true justice or freedom when their is a fault in the system. As though a jacket cannot truly do its job to protect when their are holes.
The holes in our jacket of justice and true freedom is the systemic racism present in America, especially in our police system. With the centuries of racism prevalent in the US, these systems developed to uphold the common social belief among Americans of the time― white good, POC bad. Practices such as “Redlining”, where banks and insurance companies would outline parts of a map that was desirable, the white neighborhoods, and undesirable, the black neighborhoods, for investments. For the police system developed similarly; they are people in power who are told to uphold unjust laws. Personal implicit biases also affect many on the job which allows police officers to racially profile POC. This leads to a greater amount of black drivers pulled over, incarceration rates, and high numbers of unarmed African Americans being subjected to police brutality.
When big cases such as historically Rodney King’s and more currently George Floyd’s come to light, protests and riots start to occur as we have been seeing all over the media. Black people have said they are and have been tired of nothing being done, so many black community leaders have staged protests. Most are peaceful and some turn violent, which seems to unsettle many people. I’ve heard many people voice they believe it is terrible George Floyd was murdered but the rioting and looting is unacceptable. Comments like these show why we need compassion.
Compassion is one of the virtues we cherish as Jodo Shinshu Buddhist. As Rev. Hamasaki explains, compassion is vital to understanding why black people are angry and have taken to the streets in these ways. While we do not condone violence, it is important to remember our understanding of the world around us will shape what we see.
In a previous post, I talk about what it means “being right” in Jodo Shinshu Buddhism regarding the Eightfold Path which says in order to reach a life of no more suffering, we need to live life in the “right way” One of those ways is having “right view”. Right view is the idea we need to see the world as it is, not clouded by our own hard judgement or with rosy-colored tint. We need to understand what is truly in front of our eyes― in this case, the death of a black man due to police brutality.
With our right view, we are able to not only understand what is happening right now, but why it is happening. That comes with wisdom. Wisdom in Jodo Shinshu is not just being smart. It is valuing the idea we are human and have our own ignorance to certain parts of the world. That is what happened with Prince Siddhartha― he realized he was ignorant to what was truly going on in the world, sickness and death, as he was sheltered in a world of fortune. So, as he did with his own ignorance, we need to sit with these hard ideas of systemic racism, implicit bias, and educate ourselves. Google is free. If you are reading this, that means you have a device and internet access. Look up the history of slavery, black people after the civil war, Jim Crow laws, the Civil Rights movement, the effect of systematic racism. This can only help you to further understand and find compassion within the Black Lives Matter movement.
With wisdom, it is also not just about having it. In the Eightfold Path, with “right view” come “right action”. What actions can you take with this new knowledge and understanding? True wisdom is understanding with knowledge comes power. You have the power to help spread awareness and information. You now have the power to help the Black Lives Matter movement by amplifying black voices that need to be heard.
And the best part is when you realize this isn’t for you to prove yourself to someone. This isn’t for a pat on the back or a thank you. This is because you have these principles of interdependence, compassion, and wisdom this religion, Jodo Shinshu Buddhism, has given you, and you have faith in them. You practice them, and that helps change the world for the better, for everyone.
I would like to end with a quote by Reverend Hamasaki. “Saying ‘All Lives Matter’ denies the reality black people are treated as though their life does not matter… ‘All lives’ cannot matter until black lives do.’”
I know I said we do not speak up because of pats on the back, but I am proud to be able to say “Reverend Matt Hamasaki is the reverend at my temple”. Thank you for all the work you have done during quarantine, and speaking out about important topics to set an example for many other Jodo Shinshu Buddhist.
If you would like to watch the Sunday service videos you can check out @revmatthama on Instagram or the Sacramento Buddhist Church’s Facebook, Youtube, or website.
Sacramento Buddhist Church website: https://www.buddhistchurch.org/watch-dharma-message
Links to where you can sign petitions, important updates on protests, e-mail templates to demand justice, phone numbers to call, where you can donate, things to read to educate yourself: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-0KC83vYfVQ-2freQveH43PWxuab2uWDEGolzrNoIks/mobilebasic
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