Thread by @EngagedPureLand

"My Socialism: Labor Day Notes on Jodo Shinshu Martyr Takagi Kenmyo"

Takagi Kenmyo's Pure Land conscience was activated when he became Josenji's head monk in 1899, coming into contact with the social and economic suffering of the many burakumin (outcastes) in his congregation.

He campaigned against the oppression of burakumin, women, and the poor, and advocated pacifism rather than the rising imperialist militarism of Japan. In 1910 he was jailed on trumped-up charges and sentenced to death (commuted to life imprisonment). He died in jail in 1914.

The Higashi Otanji branch of Jodo Shinshu, which had experienced over four decades of intense government pressure, abandoned him, but some of his work was preserved and in the post-war period he became an important figure. The denomination restored his status in 1996.

His primary work "My Socialism" was drafted in 1904. He shared elements of it with colleagues and audiences but was couldn't publish it in the oppressive environment of his own day. It was published in 1959. Here are some excerpts (adapted from Robert F. Rhodes' translation):

"I do not feel that socialism is a theory, but rather a kind of practice...I think we need to reform the social system rapidly and change the social structure completely from the ground up...I consider socialism to be related much more deeply to religion than to politics.

The object of faith [in my socialism] is Namo Amida Butsu. Even though it is working to provide peace and comfort to intellectuals, scholars, government officials and the wealthy, Amida's main concern is with the common people.

Namo Amida Butsu is truly the absolute transcendental compassion. It is the Buddha's universal love...In short, I think that Namo Amida Butsu refers to peace and comfort as well as salvation and happiness provided equally to all.

The ideal person [in my socialism] is Shakyamuni...He abandoned his elite privilege to become a begging, wandering monk, all for the purpose of removing suffering from and giving happiness to people. He spent his life with only 3 robes and a begging bowl, and died under a tree.

At the time of Shakymuni's death, even birds and animals wept in sorrow. Wasn't he a great socialist of the spiritual realm?...In Japan, people like Saicho, Kukai, Honen, Shinran, Ikkyu, and Rennyo all reserved their deepest sympathy primarily for the common people.

I realize that Shinran was not only deeply sympathetic towards the common people, but that he was without a doubt a socialist who realized a life of nondiscrimination in the spirital realm...I declare Buddhism to be the mother of the common people and the enemy of the nobility.

I consider the Pure Land to be the place in which socialism is truly practiced...The practitioners in the Pure Land [are equal to Amida...] and become beings who continually fly to other lands in order to save people...In truth, socialism is practiced in this Pure Land.

We have never heard that beings in the Pure Land have attacked others. Nor have we ever heard that they have started a great war for the sake of justice. Hence I am against war. I do not feel that a person of the Pure Land should take part in warfare.

We live in a country where the common people in general are sacrificed for the fame, status, and medals of one small group of people...Are not the poor treated like animals at the hands of the wealthy?

There are people who cry out in hunger; there are women who sell their honor out of poverty; there are children who are soaked by the rain. Rich people and government officials find pleasure in treating them like toys, oppressing them and engaging them in hard labor, don't they?

This is truly the world of defilement, a world of suffering, a dark night. Human nature is being slaughtered by the devil.

However, Amida Buddha continuously calls to us, "I shall protect you, I shall save you, I shall help you..." I believe that [people who have discovered this light of compassion] have been released from the anguish that makes them turn away from the world and have gained hope.

[Encountering it,] our thoughts cannot but change completely: "I will do what the Buddha wishes me to do, practice what the Buddha wishes me to practice and make the Buddha's will my own. I will become what the Buddha tells me to become." This is the time of great determination!

Next, practical action. Since the revolution in thought discussed above is the result of a profound empathy with the Buddha's universal love, we need to open ourselves up to the Buddha's mind of compassion. We must practice it.

The only thing I wish to accomplish through my great energy and human labour is progress and community life. We labour in order to produce and cultivate our minds so that we can attain the Way.

But look at what's happening! We cannot but lament when we hear that religious functionaries are praying to gods and buddhas for military victory. Indeed, a feeling of pity arises in my heart and I am sorry for them.

We must take our stand within this world covered over by darkness, and propogate the saving light, peace, and happiness of Namo Amida Butsu. Only then can we fulfill our great responsibility

My friends! Please recite this Namo Amida Butsu with us. Cease taking pleasure in military victory and shouting "Banzai!" This is because Namo Amida Butsu is the voice that leads everyone equally to liberation.

My friends! Please recite this Namo Amida Butsu with us, cast off your elite pretensions and cease looking down on the common people. This is because Namo Amida Butsu is the voice expressing sympathy with the common people.

My friends! Please recite this Namo Amida Butsu with us, remove all thoughts of the selfish struggle for existence from your minds, and exert yourselves for the sake of community life. This is because people who recite Namo Amida Butsu are included among those of the Pure Land.

Inasmuch as this is what the nembutsu signifies, we must proceed from the spiritual realm and completely change the social system from the ground up. I am firmly convinced this is what socialism means."

#laborday #LabourDay #labourday2021 #jodoshinshu #Socialism #solidarity #buddhism #buddhist #buddha #pureland #nembutsu