Japan

Tokyo

We reached Tokyo in the morning at about 10 o’clock. At the airport three Japanese friends came to meet us. They belonged to a spiritual movement called ‘Seicho-No-Ie’ of which a saintly personality, Dr. Masaharu Taniguchi, was the leader. We had contacted these friends through correspondence, being introduced to them by Mr. Schmidt of Reutlingen, Germany. Sri B. R. Abhayanker, an officer in the Indian Embassy, to whom we had written for arranging accommodation in a hotel in Tokyo, could not be present at the airport. But the arrangements requested for had been duly made by him. We went to the hotel escorted by the Japanese friends.

Tokyo is the capital of Japan where the Emperor lives. Our first impression on passing through the streets of Tokyo and looking at the buildings and people was that the city must have very badly suffered in the last world war. We know the great tragedy of Hiroshima which was destroyed by an atom bomb dropped by the Americans during the war. Several parts of Tokyo were subjected to destruction by bombs and the city seemed to have put on a sombre mask significant of a sense of frustration and economic distress. There was, of course, the usual activity, the busy thoroughfare, the motor cars rushing along the roads and the populace engaged in their various occupations. But the spirit of joy, peace and harmony was lacking.

The Japanese friends who met us at the airport were extremely kind and gracious to us. God’s ways are mysterious. We did not know any friend in Tokyo before we landed there. God gave us these friends who all along our stay were extremely helpful. They, in consultation with us, drew up a programme which we followed.

Buddhist Temple

On the first day we did not know where to go as we could not contact the Japanese friends who led us to the hotel. We went out in a taxi sight-seeing and on our suggestion, the taxi driver brought us in front of a Buddhist temple known as “Honganji”. We got down and wended our way to the temple which was a pretty big one. We peeped in and found that about sixty to seventy monks clad in long robes were engaged in prayers. They were also singing in chorus in their resonant voice some scriptural verses. We entered the temple and sat down on the benches provided for the visitors. The whole ceremony of prayer was serene, august and inspiring. We remained inside the temple for about fifteen minutes and then came out.

Tea Ceremony

On the following day we visited “Go-kokuji”, another Buddhist temple. Here the Japanese friends were our guides. We found ourselves in front of the huge temple, before which there was a big image of Buddha in the open-air in a sitting posture. To our left there was a set of rooms where we were led by the friends. Having removed our shoes we got in and after passing through a corridor and one or two rooms, we came upon a small apartment in which a few Buddhist devotees and monks were seated on a carpet spread out on the floor. Welcomed by the priest, we also sat down along with them.

After waiting in the room for about fifteen minutes, we were asked to go into the adjoining room where we were the honoured guests at what was known as the Tea Ceremony. A few Japanese ladies present prepared green tea and served it along with some eatables. The beauty of the function consisted in the calmness, serenity, perfect courtesy and slow movement that marked the whole ritual. The ladies who served us walked about without producing the least noise and in a most respectful manner. Whatever may be the other peculiarities we observed, this courteous behaviour, accompanied by the loving, reverential way with which we were entertained by them, was a unique experience. After the ceremony was over, we left the place, bidding good-bye to the chief priest and thanking him for his kind hospitality.

Prof. D. T. Suzuki: Zen Buddhism

Next day we arranged for an appointment with Prof. D. T. Suzuki, of whom we had heard much in the U.S.A. He is a well-known exponent of what is called Zen Buddhism. This is understood to be a particular Buddhist sect, the followers of which claimed to practise the pure teachings of Buddha. The founder of Zen Buddhism was Bodhidharma. He has a large following in Japan and other parts of the world. Some prominent disciples of the founder have started in different parts of Japan monasteries for training and guiding seekers to the supreme goal of Nirvana.

The methods of spiritual practice followed in these monasteries are in many respects similar to those observed in old hermitages in India. It seems the rigorous discipline and self-mortification which the aspirants have to pass through are very rigid, hard and exacting. The mode of training, it is said, is by a process of shocks which are expected to still the aspirant’s mind and grant him the awareness of the immortal Spirit within. Ramdas was eager to know something about Zen Buddhism which was spoken of in high terms by its votaries in Switzerland and the United States. Hence the appointment with Prof. Suzuki.

The Professor told us over the phone that we could meet him at a certain hotel on a morning. Accordingly we went there and met him. He was a short-statured elderly person dressed in immaculate European dress. A young American lady, who was his secretary, was also with him. We sat together round a table and talked for about half an hour. Prof. Suzuki told us he was only a lay man and not a Bhikku or a Monk, who has dedicated his life for the attainment of Nirvana. Some questions which Ramdas put to him and his answers are given below:

Zen existed before Buddha

Ramdas: Would you kindly tell us what Zen Buddhism stands for?

Suzuki: Zen was developed in China, but according to Buddhist tradition the teaching or practice of Zen is based on the historical fact that Buddha obtained enlightenment under the Bodhi tree through the practice of Zen some 2,500 years ago. How we obtain that enlightenment is what Zen teaches.

Ramdas: Had Zen existed before Buddha?

Suzuki: Zen existed even before Buddha came and will exist even after the world comes to an end. Buddha was but an instrument to tell us what Zen is.

In the course of the conversation Prof. Suzuki remarked that mainly four religions prevail in Japan. These are Shintoism, Confucianism, Taoism and Buddhism. The first stands for harmony, the second for reverence, the third for purity and the fourth for tranquillity. Prof. Suzuki was kind and affable. He talked to us in a most friendly manner.

Mention may also be made here of the visit to our hotel of a French lady who had lived for some time in a Buddhist monastery. She came specially to see Ramdas on hearing about him. She told Ramdas about the mode of life in a monastery—the strict disciplines which the seekers or aspirants are enjoined upon to observe. It cannot be denied that the great Truth, call it by any name you like, can be experienced or realised only through hard and continuous self-discipline. Nothing can be gained in the spiritual field unless we put forth all the power, physical and mental, we possess, for self-control and self-purification with the sole object of attaining supreme inner freedom and peace.

Dr. Masaharu Taniguchi: Seicho-No-Ie

Another day, we visited the Seicho-No-Ie—an institution which propagates the principles of universal religion. Its members stand for world brotherhood. The leader of this movement is Dr. Masaharu Taniguchi. We were happy to meet him, his wife and son at ‘the Home of Infinite Life, Wisdom and Abundance’ which the term ‘Seicho-No-Ie’ means. Our Japanese guides were also members of this association and held Dr. Taniguchi in the highest reverence as he was their spiritual guide and master. Dr. Taniguchi is a man of middle age, dressed in the European style. On his face we found a lustre of calmness and serenity. We sat together on sofas round a table after the usual greetings and bowings. The Japanese way of offering salutation to another is to bend down pretty low before the person respected. Dr. Taniguchi does not know English. So one of his disciples acted as an interpreter. Ramdas answered several questions put to him by the Doctor. We had indeed a quiet and happy time with him. A few of the questions and answers are given below:

Ramdas wants to be reborn

Dr. T: When did you begin to get into religion?

Ramdas: Thirty-three years ago, when Ramdas was thirty-eight years old.

Dr. T: Why did you enter religion?

Ramdas: God made him enter it. He drew him towards Him.

Dr. T: Have you any other real reason for entering into religion?

Ramdas: No.

Dr. T: How did you know God called you?

Ramdas: Ramdas felt it within. There is no other reason. If there are any external reasons in the eyes of others, they are not real.

Dr. T: What about reincarnation?

Ramdas: Yes. There is reincarnation or rebirth for those who have not reached spiritual perfection. Those who have reached spiritual perfection are not born again. When desires are gone, one cannot be reborn.

Dr. T: Do you want to be reincarnated?

Ramdas: Yes, to tell everybody to think of God and love all. Ramdas has attained liberation and there is no need for him to come back again. But for the sake of serving humanity he would wish to come again.

In the afternoon Ramdas was taken to the same building, but to another hall where a group of about twenty to thirty Japanese had assembled to hear Ramdas’ talks. Here again another Japanese friend became the interpreter. Ramdas talked for about an hour an “World Religion and Brotherhood” and the interpreter gave his translation in Japanese. A pleasant hour was spent in this most delectable company. It was clear that all those who were present there were real seekers of Truth and had shed all narrow denominational views of religion.

A Pathetic Sight

On the last day of our stay in Japan, in response to an invitation which we received from the emperor’s palace at the instance of our Japanese friends, we went to the palace grounds. At the huge gate of the palace park we were greeted by the Japanese friends headed by Dr. Taniguchi. We entered a vast enclosure extending for a few miles, with long curving roads and pathways, beautiful gardens and groves, and waterways over which bridges were built for easy crossing, studded here and there with houses and buildings. We saw the scenes within mostly going in motor cars. We reached at last a big plot of land on which we found only beds of beautiful flowers. Here at one time stood the palace of the emperor, which was destroyed by bombs during the war. The sight was really a pathetic one. The pomp, grandeur and suzerainty symbolised in the palatial structure had all vanished!

After walking over the land on which the palace stood at one time, we went round to see other sights. We saw a building in which the remains of the departed members of the Japanese royal family were kept. According to Shintoism, which is the State religion, the highest worship is offered to the dead kings and heroes. Similarly, at another place we found a huge temple-like building which was meant only for the preservation of the remains of the past emperors. Here crowds of people come daily to offer their worship and reverence to the departed souls. Everyday, a large number of volunteer workers, both men and women, who possess great devotion to the royal family, come and serve in the grounds for clearing dry leaves and other debris that accumulate there from day to day. The number of these self-appointed servers may come to about 200. For them, indeed, the service of the king is worship of God, because to them kings are verily gods.

One other rare sight which we witnessed was a garden in which there were stunted dwarf trees not more than four to five feet high, which, we were told, were one to two thousand years old! The trunks of these dwarf trees were so twisted that we could find out easily they were of considerable age. All through our wanderings in the palace grounds we were accompanied by Dr. Taniguchi, his wife and son, as also the other Japanese friends. We understood that the present Emperor who did not wish to build a new palace for himself, owing to the depleted condition of the Government treasury, was living in a small building which was used during the war days as an air-raid shelter. This is a highly commendable example of patriotism which other heads of States will do well to follow.

Japan’s Destiny

Japan rose and fell like a meteor. The Japanese are one of the most intelligent and industrious people having the capacity to learn things rapidly. Their quick power of grasping and adaptation raised them at one time to the industrial, administrative and scientific level of the western countries of Europe and America. They drew their inspiration from these nations and by close association learnt the secrets of modern technical arts and science from them and rapidly rose in power and prosperity far above the other nations of the East. But war, the great leveller of proud persons and nations in the world, brought about a revolutionary change in Japan. The turning point in a man’s or nation’s life comes when God in His mercy humbles them to the dust by destroying their pride, ambition and lust for false power and glory.

Every nation has got its own high traditions and ideals. So Japan can also be proud of hers. For courtesy, hospitality and fine manners Japan compares well with other countries of the world, if she does not stand on a higher level. Japan should rise again and carve out a great future for her people in which the principles taught by the four great religions prevalent there should dominate and guide her destiny.