Ichimi 一味

“If the Single Thought of Joy is awakened in one’s mind, though passions are not severed, one will attain Nirvana.  When ordinary men, sages, grave sinners, and abusers of the Dharma are all converted, they are like various waters turned into one taste on entering the sea.”[i]

There are many references to the term “Ichimi” which has been translated here as one taste.  This quote by Shinran Shonin comes from his “Shoshinge” or hymn of true faith.  We also find it in the “Shozomatsu Wasan” Hymns on the Last Age. 

“Into the waters of the ocean of Amida’s Wisdom-Vow the waters of entrusting to that Other Power flow completely, so that, by the nature of the true recompensed land, afflicting passion and enlightenment have one taste.”

For most of our readers the term “Ichimi” is the name of our temple monthly newsletter.  I am not sure who selected the name of our temple newsletter, but it is a wonderful name for many reasons. 

First of all, the reference to one flavor or one taste as understood by Shinran Shonin is that at the moment one is awakened, at the instant moment of faith we enter into the ‘sea’ that turn into one taste.  The metaphor of many rivers, streams, bodies of water that flow into the ocean all become part of the great ocean.  Shinran uses the metaphor to illustrate Amida’s Original Vow that embraces all of us.  We all become one in the same in Amida’s embrace, thus the term “Ichimi”.

Another way of looking at the term “Ichimi” is that as members of the Watsonville Buddhist Temple, as followers of the Nembutsu practice, we are all one family. We are like travelers on a train going in one direction with the same goal.  This is the beauty and wonder of being a part of the Watsonville Buddhist Temple.  We all share in each other’s lives; we cry with each other’s sorrow and celebrate with each other’s moments of joy and triumphs.

One of the Three Treasures we recite on Sunday is the Sangha. “May we together with all sentient beings, become units in true accord, in harmony with all things.” Together as a Sangha, fellow travelers on the road to Enlightenment, we find harmony in our lives thanks to our temple family. 

Shinran uses the term Ichimi in reference to people of true faith after being born in the Pure Land.  One with absolute faith without any mistrust.   Together with the mind that rejoices over and appreciates Amida’s compassionate embrace, we enter the great ocean and become one.

All of us, if we hear and believe in the Vow of Nembutsu, the Buddha praises us and refers to us as pure white lotus flowers together and one.

[i] The Shoshinge – The Gatha of True Faith in the Nembutsu.  Translated under the direction of Dien Fugen, Ryukoku University, Kyoto 1961 pg.23