From Heaven to the Earth I Alone Am the Most Honored One (Let's try to imitate him)

April 2020

Sacred Words

This triple world is my property. All livings beings therein are my children. There are many sufferings in this world. Only I can save all living beings.

(Chapter 3 of the Lotus Sutra)

From Heaven to the Earth, I Alone Am the Most Honored One

Rev. Shokai Kanai

April 8th is Sakyamuni Buddha’s birthday. This is also “Buddha Day” in the State of Hawaii. It was established in 1963 (Hawaii Revised Statute 8-4). There are many Buddhist in Hawaii; therefore, the state recognizes and respects our activities.

It was about 2,500 years ago in northern India, there was a kingdom call Sakya. The king was gentle and brave, and the people of that country loved him very much. The king’s name was Shuddhodana and the queens’s name was Maya. They did not have children for a long time.

One night, the queen had a strange dream in which she saw a white elephant entering her body. Queen Maya was going to have a baby! As the delivery day approached, she tried to return to her parents’ home for the baby’s birth.

One the way, she and her entourage rested in beautiful Lumbini Garden. She suddenly felt the baby coming! She reached out her right arm to pick one of the beautiful flowers. At that moment, a baby like a shining jewel was born.

Surprise! The cute and solemn baby stood up, raised his right index finger pointed towards heaven and his left index finger pointed towards Earth. He walked seven steps and declared with a clear voice, “From Heaven to the Earth I Alone Am the Most Honored One.”

Of course, everyone was surprised because babies were supposed to be born crying. However, this baby of the king and queen said, “From Heaven to the Earth I Alone Am the Most Honored One.” And also, “The triple worlds (the worlds of those who have feeling, those who do not have feeling, and those in the spiritual realm) are full of suffering, but I alone am able to be free from these sufferings.” This means that the Buddha is the most respected person from heaven to earth because he can save all living beings of all realms from heaven to hell.

How wonderful he is! We can hardly be like the Buddha, but we can imitate him just a tiny bit. Let us all strive to be like the Buddha and make others happy. Continue this practice every day.