Today, while I was at work, a customer said, “It's strange that they even give ranks to monks in the color of their robes. I heard you say, “Originally, Buddhism should not discriminate against people,” and I had doubts, so let me ask you a question.
by a monk? There are differences in denominations, but why are there ranks in different colors?
Also, who can judge, and decide that?
“If you receive the commandments of sentient beings, that is, you are in the rank of the Buddhas, you are like the Grand Master, and you are truly a child of the Buddhas”
Funerals are a ceremony called “baptism” where the deceased becomes a disciple of the Buddha (originally, of course, it is performed while alive, and you can receive this ceremony called “baptism” while alive), but it is a word chanted by the mentor right after the deceased received the Buddhist precepts.
It means that if everyone undergoes this ceremony to become a disciple of the Buddha, they are equally children of the Buddha.
All of us who have been given the Buddhist precepts are equal. But really, there is no unity when it comes to equality. Even the “family,” which is the smallest organization in the world, has “ranks,” such as parents and children, siblings, etc.
The world of monks cannot be formed as a religious organization without someone to guide and organize them. Therefore, I think there are “ranks.” So, if you say “I'm in the upper class and smart,” it doesn't mean that they wear colored things; they are recommended by people around them to become a predetermined class, and I think they wear colored things.
So I think the meaning of “order” is greater than “class.”
Actually, there may be many things, but since it's the internet, that's all (laughs).
“Dogen Zenji,” the founder of the Soto sect, was ruled in black throughout his life without wearing colored clothes even when presented.
If religion discriminates against people by color, Dogen Zenji would have to wear colored clothes, but he didn't dare to wear them.
Originally, there should be no discrimination in religion. Clothes are color-coded as a distinction! There are also monks who discriminate against each other, but the general public tends to look at color as a standard.
It is also certain that there are various monks, and ideas from various denominations also exist. This world is moving with all kinds of things gathering together. On top of that, there's the fear of judging by appearance. What about you?
Please try to tell the difference between the contents and the mind rather than distinguishing them by color.
What did Dōgen Zenji want to say?
“Color is the sky” is born in this world with appearance and shape, and the existence of this world is confirmed with the body, and eventually everyone visits, they greet Desperate, disappear, and return to the world “sky” before they were born.
“Sky is color” is exactly the opposite, and is born from the “sky” world to the “color” world.
In the world of Buddhism, what can be seen and what cannot be seen at any time is taken as a single world rather than another world, and I think Dogen Zenji also wanted to convey this through clothing. If you are too particular about what you can see in this world, there are things you overlook. Take a look at everything, good and bad, regardless of color. That's Buddhism!
If there was a grade, would everything be identity discrimination... that customer's idea has penetrated... There is no system of instruction depending on the color of clothing. Rather, it's like an honorary color with almost no honorary position for anyone other than the greatest person. Even the greatest person feels like the emperor's symbol system. In the first place, I only wear it when I'm playing a role at a big event...
People who are stingy will be stingy no matter how they fall. Let's think about what would happen if they were all the same color. “There were about 50 monks, but they all looked the same, so I didn't know who played the leading role and who was the supporting character! They say there is a famous ○○ teacher, so I went there (angry).” It looks like this.
There are also operational difficulties. “I'd like to have a memorial service meeting...” “Oh, the person in charge is Mr. ○○, so ask the teacher. It's the person in the yellow dress.” “I understand” is where “(omitted) ask the teacher. They say “they're around 80 years old and have a shaved head.” “No, there are over 10 people around that age...”
I'm not talking about monks, but it seems that when Mr. Higashikokuhara attended meetings or something overseas during his time as prefectural governor, only his secretary passed through, and Governor Higashikokuhara did not pass through. The security guard at the venue misunderstood the secretary and the governor, didn't they? Security guards may be punished if something like this happens, so it's good manners for great people to look bossy.
When it comes to who decides, the person himself/herself applies, and the religious affairs office, which is the headquarters of the denomination, examines and certifies the merits. In other words, everyone has an opportunity. However, the lower half doesn't change much, but most monks don't want to touch the upper half because the digits of the annual contributions change every year.
Finally, the Buddha did not discriminate based on social status or age, but he made a ranking of seniors and juniors in the order they became monks. If you have practical experience, this is a natural idea.
I'm sure it came from China that made it easier to understand with color coding, but in Japan, it's probably been around the time that Prince Shotoku imported it and color-coded the 12th rank. Rather than Buddhism... it's called an Eastern tradition; it's like common sense before Westernization.
There was a youthful trend of denying authority in Japan in the latter half of the 20th century, and the customer's thoughts smell like that. I have a red feeling. I think it's better to just listen to Tekito.
Ichigo-sama
This is Kawaguchi Hidetoshi. This is my humble answer to the question.
The famous TV anime “Ikkyu-san” is modeled after an actual Ikkyu Sojun Zenji, but there is an episode like the one below when Ikkyu Sojun Zenji was the chief priest of Daitoku-ji Temple.
When one of the richest people in Kyoto was asked to perform a memorial service by the famous Ikkyu Sojun Zenji at the time, the Zen master, who probably hadn't heard very good rumors about the rich client, first treated himself as a beggar and visited the front of the gate to ask for good fortune, but due to the client's instructions, he was smashed all over and driven away by the gatekeeper.
Then, it finally became a memorial service, and when I visited Kinran wearing a luxurious robe, the client came all the way to the front of the gate and was greeted politely. However, the Zen master did not move in front of the gate and said, “When I came here earlier to ask for good fortune, I was devastated and driven back. This time they were greeted with courtesy, but apparently it was not against me, but rather against this golden embellishment. There is a story about how they were told, “Then I'll put down this robe and go home.”
If anything, there is a sense of scolding against those who judge people based on their appearance, and it is a personal interpretation of humble life, but I think it was not just about reciting sutras or conversion in form, but I think it was to be tested and admonished whether they had the intention to accumulate merits that would be true chase for the deceased.
Appearance and distinction between top and bottom are also important, and there are cases where it is necessary, but above all else, I want to wear an appropriate level of truth (truth).
With a sense of self-reflection, too.
Incidentally, Josho Temple is an independent temple that does not belong to any of the main mountains, so I don't have to worry about the color of the coat or clothes at all. We have also received two types of clothing, an inexpensive black coat and a kaza (a color other than black), but we are not particular about any color, and we are able to use the cheapest one in the catalog. I appreciate the fact that it's an independent temple.
Kawaguchi Hidetoshi Gassho