On Lady Takeko Kujo

By Marissa Wong | She/Her/Hers | Seattle Betsuin Youth Minister's Assistant

Originally Published: February 9th, 2020

I would like to talk today about Lady Takeko Kujo. Takeko Kujo sponsored various humanitarian efforts throughout her lifetime and founded the Buddhist Women’s association. She was dedicated to social outreach and participation in her society, which was particularly interesting to me because I am a social work major. While researching Lady Takeko Kujo, I became fascinated with her poetry. One poem that struck me in particular is called “Splendor of an evening sky”

Splendor of an evening sky,

Who can ever fathom its timeless mystery?

Million eyes, when sparkling bright In the sable sky,

Touch my heart, my lonely heart with serenity.

More than all the countless sands

Ganges river holds

Are the infinite Buddhas who fill this universe,

Ever watchful over us,

Throughout day and night.

Hearing this, my lonely heart,

Fills with lasting peace.

This poem reminded me a lot of our interdependence. Although we may sometimes feel lonely, we are in fact interconnected with all other sentient beings. As she writes in her poem, there are infinite Buddhas who fill this universe. My philosophy professor Dr. Wirth, always says that we are all Buddhas in our own right. The infinite Buddhas who fill this universe are in fact the infinite sentient beings that we are interconnected with. As the last lines in the poem suggest, once we come to this realization that we are interdependent with all living creatures, we may be filled with peace. Because we are all interdependent, none of us are ever alone.

Lady Takeko was also known for her Dana. Dana is the ancient Pali word describing generosity arising effortlessly from deep gratitude. In other words, Dana is the practice of selfless giving. For example, she engaged in social welfare work in the Tokyo slums, undertook activities to aid the seriously injured and the orphaned after the great Tokyo earthquake of 1923, and established the Asoka hospital in Tokyo. Dana gives one an opportunity to practice gratitude, which arises from the awareness of the interdependence of all sentient beings.

“Lady Takeko was also known for her Dana. Dana is the ancient Pali word describing generosity arising effortlessly from deep gratitude. In other words, Dana is the practice of selfless giving.”

I see a lot of connections between Dana and “the Greatest Happiness Principle”, which is a principle developed by John Stuart Mill that I learned about in my political economy class. The Greatest Happiness Principle holds that actions are right in proportion as they tend to promote happiness and wrong as they tend to produce the reverse of happiness. We can see the Greatest Happiness principle at work in Buddhism in texts such as the Juseige, which can be translated to; “If I should not become a great benefactor// In lives to come for immeasurable kalpas// To save the poor and afflicted, //May I not attain perfect Enlightenment.” Here, the Bodhisattva declares his intention to fill his Vow to provide happiness for all sentient beings for an immeasurable amount of time. This is an extreme example of Dana, which the rest of us do not need to attempt to reach in order to attain Nirvana. Instead, we can focus on our own ways of practicing Dana, which can be small or as big. The size or amount of Dana does not matter, what matters is the practice of itself of selfless giving. Donations to the temple are a great example of Dana. Donations do not even have to be monetary. They can be donations of time, when we volunteer to set up and take down events, run fundraisers, activities, and everything else that goes on around the temple in order for it to function smoothly. When we practice Dana, or selfless giving, we practice being aware of our interdependence with all sentient beings. In practicing Dana, we promote the “Greatest Happiness Principle” as we act in a way to promote the happiness of all.

"More than all the countless sands Ganges river holds Are the infinite Buddhas who fill this universe, Ever watchful over us, Throughout day and night. Hearing this, my lonely heart, Fills with lasting peace."

Namo Amida Butsu