Not all of you are fathers, but each one of us has or had a father. I would like all of us to think of our fathers. We have learned many important lessons from our fathers.
I would like to share with you some of things I learned from my father. He told me, "You should be willing to share in the raising of your children!" He said that I did not have much ambition when it comes to raising my own children. He told me that in comparison to me, "You had little desire to help in raising your children." I told him, "One of the Buddhist teachings is not to have desire, isn't that so, Dad? In that, you are a Buddhist priest, you must tell me and others not to have desire." At that time, my children were in grade school, and I was in my early 40s, but I still objected to my father telling me to be more willing in my desire to help raise my children; when I believed that "Desire" was against my Buddhist teaching.
My father got married at the age of 36. In the next 18 years, he raised 2 daughters and 6 sons. This was during the period of following the war and it was very difficult time to raise even one child much less eight. There was little food, no money, and very few appliances. At that time in Japan, parents had to pay tuition and lunch money even though their children went to public schools. But my parents paid all the necessary cost for the education for me and my brothers and sisters from the first grade through college.
In comparison, I paid none of the cost of educating my three children during the compulsory period of grade school through high school. I only paid the cost of learning to play the piano, swimming, tennis, and skiing. We also are paying for their college education which include room and board for the next three years. They must pay the remaining cost of their support themselves. You may probably believe that this is the way it should be here in American. However, when compared with my father's willingness to completely educate all of his children with me and my wife contributing to only my children's college tuition this may be incorrect
Besides that, I left for Japan by myself when my eldest son was 16 years old; second son, 14, and the youngest, 12. I remitted just enough amount of money for tuition and boarding. My wife, Kumiko, took all responsibilities to educate and to raise three boys at the time when they needed the strong influence of their father.
"Have desire to educate your children!" My father really practiced what he said.
Not To Have Desire is one of fundamental teachings of the ancient Buddhism. In Mahayana Buddhism, it teaches us to control our desire. Without desire, there is no civilization. Without desire, there is no salvation. The Lotus Sutra says in Chapter 16, "Have desire to see the Buddha with all your hearts, then the Buddha will appear before you." We must have desire or a strong wish to do something; otherwise, nothing will be materialized. If you destroy your desire, only death comes to you. Avoid selfish desire, but have desire for something good for others. It is one of the most important teachings of Mahayana Buddhism.

Namu Myoho Renge Kyo - Namu Myoho Renge Kyo

Namu Myoho Renge Kyo

Thank you...

With Gassho,

Kanai Shonin