Blog Nog - A Buddhist Christmas
A Buddhist Christmas. Sounds like an oxymoron. Christmas is such a pervasive aspect of Western culture that its meaning has morphed well beyond its Christian roots as the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. To the chagrin of many Christians, the Christmas holiday season has been appropriated in so many non-religious ways that its significance has been, if not forgotten, obscured.
Christmas has been usurped by many for their own purposes, and the biggest culprit is, of course, commercial retailers who use the holiday gift-giving craze to fuel everyone’s desire to possess more things. This year, ad campaigns began before Halloween and market forecasters are anticipating a robust season for retailers, despite reports of supply chain shortages and lower inventories in stores. The reasons include a relatively healthy economy, a desire to travel again, and people are looking for relief from the Pandemic. The message seems clear, “Buy Now and Buy Big!”
Despite the rampant commercialization of the Christmas holiday, there is nonetheless a special feeling we get at this time of year where a spirit of giving and good cheer pervades the air. Something about the end of the year brings nostalgia and a mindset of reflection to look back over the past year. This is a time to think about all the ways we have been supported and helped, human and otherwise.
As a Shin Buddhist and a third generation American of Japanese ancestry, I was immersed in the Christmas spirit growing up in Southern California. Back then (1950’s), Orange County was very un-diverse, our family being one of two ethnically Japanese families at my public elementary school, no Black families, very few Hispanics, very few any other ethnic group. No one thought twice about the Christmas carols our music teacher taught us or the Christmas projects we eagerly engaged in. Today all our institutions are much more aware of the diversity in society and inclusion of all groups is the watchword.
Nonetheless, I loved (and still love) the yearly parade of movies that featured wonderful Christmas themes. The reality is that America is a deeply Christian country and as Rev. Mas Kodani, retired minister of Senshin Buddhist Temple in Los Angeles, has told generations of Jr. YBA high school students, “You are all Christians.” Rev. Kodani’s statement underscores the depth of the influence that Christianity plays in our lives because we live in America. Growing up Buddhist, I was concerned by this realization in other matters, but surprisingly, it didn’t translate into any conflicts in how my family celebrated our own version of Buddhist Christmas.
Buddhism is nothing if not a recognition of true reality, just as it is. Here in America, we do live in a deeply Christian culture and even more than Easter, Christianity’s most important day, Christmas pervades our society at all levels. Growing up, it was easy to adopt the Christmas tree and presents, to appreciate the many Christmas themed stories, songs, movies, decorations, holiday cheer and families being together. It all made us very happy. Today, Christmas is the reason our sons come home in December.
That said, I and other Shin Buddhists have made Christmas our own. Oseibo was a tradition from Japan that is an end-of the-year gift-giving tradition recognizing our appreciation of others’ kindnesses during the previous year that fit nicely into Christmas. Dana, selfless giving, is an important tenet from the Six Paramitas that is cultivated and emphasized, especially now. In the intention to practice selfless giving we recognize how truly difficult it is to accomplish. Our founder, Shinran Shonin, would say that dana is an impossibility for we foolish egocentric human beings, and thus our need to rely on the compassion of Amida, the power beyond the self, for our liberation.
I appreciate the story of Jesus’s birth, but it is for me, just that, a beautiful story and not the birth of my savior. After my marriage and children, Christmas was a way to honor my husband’s family’s religion and to create our own family traditions. Most importantly, I’ve incorporated Christmas into my Buddhist practice in a way that helps me better understand who I am and what is important in my life. Truth is not exclusive to any religion, philosophy or way of life and I’ve freely borrowed from the places where it’s found in forging my own path to awakening. It is my hope that is true for you as well. Wishing you all a heartfelt and happy holiday season…..Namo amida butsu.
