Masao Abe: A Bodhisattva’s Vow

Abstract

About ten years ago, enjoyed a fine Japanese lunch with my friend and teacher, late Masao Abe. gathered with him and his wife, Ikuko, in a traditional restaurant in Kyoto. Abe Sensei had been somewhat pensive and withdrawn for most of meal. Mrs. Abe and had been bantering about how late tsuyu rains had been that year and effect was having on Kyoto's hydrangea. Suddenly Sensei began to speak with an unusual tone of voice, as if saying something of great importance to no one in particular. It is enough, he said. Mrs. Abe and fell silent and attentive. He repeated himself in same voice: It is enough. knew immediately what my teacher was talking about. In his old age and after a long and distinguished career of teaching and lecturing about Zen in West, Abe Sensei was talking about a Buddhist teaching dear to his heart, the standpoint of emptiness. Out of politeness, did want to indicate that understood his meaning so directly and sat wondering what should say in response. Finally, settled on something like this: I will continue to study; Sensei, please continue to teach. spoke in most formal Japanese could muster out of respect for my teacher and friend. Sitting on tatami mats in that restaurant in Kyoto was only time that Sensei has ever said it is enough. In April 1942, four months after beginning of Pacific War, Masao Abe entered Kyoto Imperial University to study philosophy of religion. He was twenty-seven years old, buffeted by criticism for enlisting in military, and fearful of power of nihilism at work in his homeland. In Kyoto, he was much attracted by lectures of Tanabe Hajime, who was already filled with foreboding over Japan's impending defeat and looking to Pure Land Buddhism for guidance. Tanabe's comment is far from here brought Abe to weep inconsolably in realization that was he who was moving away from Amida even as Amida was moving toward him. Even still, Sensei would eventually find Pure Land path not enough for resisting forces of nihilism in world and in himself. After war, Abe joined a Zen meditation group that met at Myoshin-ji in Kyoto. The group was directed by Hisamatsu Shin'ichi, a Zen layman and lecturer on Buddhism at university. In December 1951, Abe had a violent encounter with Hisamatsu that people still talk about. Zen had begun to erode Abe's Pure Land faith and threat of nihilism had returned in force. One evening, in great agitation,