|
|
|
Dharma Message - February 2012
Nirvana in Football
Rev. Hoshu Y. Matsubayashi, Ed.D.
We find a few Buddhist Sanskrit terms in English dictionaries nowadays. One of the most popular Buddhist Sanskrit words is "Nirvana." The Webster's New World Dictionary gives two definitions of the word "Nirvana" according to Hinduism and Buddhism. Newspaper reporters or other writers often use Buddhist Sanskrit terms in order to describe the complicated situations with a single word.
When my two sons were attending the University of California in Berkeley in 1990, there was a big cross-bay football game between Berkeley and Stanford. It was their 93rd meeting and Berkeley's Memorial Stadium was packed with more than 75,000 spectators, which included students of both universities.
In the past, these games often became wild with excitement. One such exciting game was in 1982. Stanford was winning the game until the final seconds. However, Stanford band members came out on the field before the game was actually over, and a Berkeley player rushed with the ball among the Stanford band members and made a touchdown. Berkeley reversed the game in the last few seconds with a dramatic win. It was a kind of comical. Later, the last scene of the game was designed on a T-shirt with the title "Play."
Almost unbelievable things happened again in the final 12 seconds of the 1990, 93rd big game. Berkeley was leading Stanford 25-18 with 12 seconds to go. I recall that Berkeley made a touchdown and some of the Berkeley fans came out on the field before the game is over. Then, with penalties, Berkeley lost the game with a score of 27-25. Berkeley lost 9 points in 12 seconds. The 93rd big game was called the biggest of the big games.
The following day, Spender Art, sports writer of the San Francisco Examiner, wrote, "A touchdown in the football game is Nirvana." The touchdown, which decided the big game in the last seconds, was the final and ultimate goal, which lasts forever as a winner.
When Siddhartha Gautama attained enlightenment at the age of 35, his enlightenment was the final goal of Nirvana. Then, he was addressed as the Buddha, the Enlightened One, or Shakyamuni, a sage of Shakya clan. Nirvana, which he attained at age of 35, was called Nirvana with physical body. He gave his first propagation of the Dharma as the Buddha, which is known as the "First Turning of the Dharma Wheel."
After forty-five years of the propagation of the Buddha Dharma, Shakyamuni Buddha died at the age of 80 on February 15th according to the Mahayana Buddhist tradition, and his death was called Nirvana without physical body. Nirvana after his death was called Nirvana of No Abode, which means Nirvana in everywhere.
Thus, Nirvana in Buddhism means the final goal and at the same time Nirvana means the beginning of its activities as the Buddha endlessly. Because of this Nirvana, we can appreciate the compassion and wisdom of Amida Buddha anytime and anywhere.
Death (passing away physically/Nirvana) in Buddhism means the birth into the Pure Land of the Buddha. It is a beginning of the activities of the Buddha. Shakyamuni Buddha's Nirvana Day is just round the corner. Let us all reflect on the meaning of Nirvana of No Abode and appreciate that the Great Wisdom and Compassion of Amida Buddha guide everyone in anywhere and anytime. Namo Amida Butsu
|
|
|
