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In 1984, I arrived in Maui. I was startled to notice that members of various Hongwanjis seemed long-lived and retained faces and auras, respectively, vital and bright.
Over time, I have had personal relationships with many members of this branch of Buddhism.
Members of any religion or other organization will tell a keen observer a lot about their institution or teaching. Members of this form of Buddhism have stood out throughout the years as remarkably conscious, virtuous and vital members of this community.
I don’t know many particulars of this form of Buddhism, but the people have obviously been transformed into beings of greater light, virtue, responsibility, consciousness, community-orientation and understanding of what it means not only to be human, but humane, and what a spiritual life of service looks like.
There is a quality to these people that is both necessary for a positive and purposeful life and very rare.
How would one describe this quality? Selfless, soul-infused, possessed of an illumined awareness, an alignment with their higher selves, and a moral and ethical attitude towards.
and relationship with nature, higher power and others.
These neighbors know something, practice or live by something I would describe as the return of the soul from exile.
They communicate well, with kindness, compassion, and understanding. They collaborate well. They are cooperative.
And best of all, they are conscious of their duties, responsibilities, interdependence and essential relationships.
Raphael O'Suna
Haiku