Sakura - cherry trees bloom once a year in spring. You cannot miss it. There are more than 100 kinds of Sakura that people can enjoy. You may know the planting of cherry trees in Washington DC originated in 1912 as a gift of friendship to the people of the United States from the people from Japan. People in Japan wait for the Sakura to bloom every spring, and appreciate its beauty. Some cities hold a Sakura matsuri (festival) to celebrate the Japanese culture. The significance of the Sakura tree in Japanese culture goes back hundreds of years.  

Sakura represents the fragility and the beauty of life. It’s a reminder that life is almost overwhelmingly beautiful but that it is also tragically short. The Japanese culture is deeply rooted with the teaching of Buddhism. People in Japan thought that the Sakura represents the three seals of Buddhism which are dissatisfaction (Pali; dukkha), impermanence, and non-self. Even though there are many adversities which create dissatisfaction, for the Sakura, it maybe be a shortage of rain because of the global warming, Sakura entertains us every year by blooming beautifully. After a short life, Sakura falls without attaching to their existence. We should reflect on this lesson in our cycle of birth and death, living in the world of samsara. 

Blooming Sakura shows us that all sentient beings live in the moment. We should try to take it all in. We should try to pay attention to everything that we experience. It is hard to focus on every little thing, but don’t let your mind wander to what’s coming next. Let’s cherish this moment and give it our best. Don’t let tomorrow make you rush through today, otherwise too many great moments will just go to waste.

Shinran, a restorer of Pure Land Buddhism and the founder of Jodo Shinshu, called Shin Buddhism in the West, left the famous phrase – “Don’t postpone my Buddhist ordination until tomorrow, because the Sakura may fall tonight.” At nine years old, Shinran received Tendai ordination. When he arrived at the Mount Hiei, it was already evening. The Tendai Master Jichin welcomed Shinran and said, “It is late tonight to officiate your ordination ceremony, so we will do it tomorrow.” Shinran told Master Jichin, “Let’s do to it tonight, because you never know if the Sakura might suddenly fall due to an unexpected rain storm tonight.”

We are all living this life, representing the three seals of Buddhism - dissatisfaction (Pali; dukkha), impermanence, and non-self, while we cherish every moment and all things that guide us to the Buddha-Dharma.  

Namo Amida Butsu