Rev. Ko’e Umezu on George Teraoka: ‘Grandpa Had Many Inspiring Qualities’

Editor’s note: The Wheel of Dharma asked Rev. Ko’e Umezu about her thoughts, comments and remembrances of grandfather, the late George Teraoka. The Wheel of Dharma is honored to publish Rev. Ko’e Umezu’s remembrance.

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Wheel of Dharma: How would you describe your grandfather — what qualities about his persona or character stood out for you? 

Rev. Ko’e Umezu: “From my perspective, Grandpa had many inspiring qualities. He was someone who was devoted to his family, his community at large, and his temple community. He was someone who was a lifelong learner of anything that may have piqued his interest, whether it be in the field of history, economics, farming, Buddhism, etc. If it interested him, he set out to learn more about it.

“He was also one to challenge any adversity that life may have thrown at him. If he perceived something to get in his way of living his fulfilled life, he would do his best to figure out a way to overcome the challenge. 

“Sometimes that meant trying to tackle a task from different angles, and sometimes that meant knowing when to surrender to the truth of impermanence or the attachment to self and letting things go.”

Wheel of Dharma: What did his being a lifelong Shin Buddhist mean to him — and why was it important?

Rev. Ko’e Umezu: “From what I heard from him, learning about the Buddha-Dharma for Grandpa was to learn about the ego of the self. It was the ego of the self that made life difficult for people, and not life itself. Entrusting in Great Enlightenment itself, the Nembutsu, is what gave him the capacity to face and overcome life’s adversities.  

“Later in his life, he had a phrase that he wished to make popular: “EIO” (Energy + “I” = One).  His appreciation of the Buddha-Dharma was that if one sees themselves apart from the dynamic Energy of Amida Buddha, then they can not understand the truth of non-duality and live harmoniously with life instead of against it. To actualize this in his own life was always his aspiration. It was also his aspiration that this be shared with anyone and everyone who was open to listening to Buddha’s teaching. 

“It was his dream that Jōdo Shinshū be shared not just within our temples, but also throughout our communities, throughout the country, and throughout the world. He truly felt that this teaching could help all people, no matter their background or identity, and wished it to be so.”

Wheel of Dharma: What is a telling story or anecdote or memory about your grandfather?

Rev. Ko’e Umezu: “A story I would like to share about my grandfather is about a moment we shared together about one month before he passed away. 

“While I was visiting him, I had wanted to go visit my grandmother’s grave, but it became too late to do so, as the cemetery closed already. I suggested to my Grandpa that we do o-mairi at the family Obutsudan instead. 

“Although he was having difficulties walking around at that time, he quickly got up from his chair in the dining room and joined me in his living room chair in front of the Obutsudan.  He was also having difficulty hearing, so I chanted ‘Juseige’ loudly. Although I chanted loudly, I was not sure if he could hear me. But, as I chanted Nembutsu and eko-ku, surprisingly, he joined in chanting with me. In particular, he chanted loudly: 

GAN NI SHI KU DOKU

BYŌ DŌ SE ISSAI

DŌ HOTSU BO DAI ISSHIN

ŌJŌ ANRAKU KOKU

The meaning of this passage that we chant every week is:

May the virtue that leads to Enlightenment

Be shared equally with all beings

May we awaken the Bodhi Heart-Mind together

And be born in the realm of peace and joy.

This is the last time I chanted Nembutsu with my Grandpa.