Today, we gaze upon the sacred statue over which we pour the sweet sweet tea (Amacha). It represents the birth of Shakyamuni Buddha, the founder of Buddhism. Tradition tells us that upon entering this world, he pointed one hand to the heavens and the other to the earth, declaring: “Throughout heaven and earth, the only one capable of attaining Buddhahood is the ‘self’ (Ga).” This is the profound truth Shakyamuni revealed to us.

As human beings, we experience distress when we hunger and feel anxious when our material resources diminish. No matter what circumstances arise, we find it nearly impossible to stop thinking in terms of “me, myself, and I.” In the secular world, this self-centeredness is labeled as “ego”—something we are often taught must be strictly suppressed or forcefully corrected. In reality, however, this very vulnerability is the natural, baseline condition of our living existence. It is the inevitable metabolism of being alive.

Wherever a bright light shines, a dense shadow is invariably cast. A human being cannot survive by merely radiating brilliance at all times. We do not need to spend our days obsessively chasing after an artificial sense of purity, beauty, or moral perfection. On the contrary, it is precisely within this selfish, deeply flawed, and unpolished self—this seemingly unfillable hollow inside our souls—where the path opens.

When we finally surrender to our own fundamental imperfection and realize with total honesty, “Ah, I can only ever be exactly who I am,” a beautiful shift occurs. It is in that precise moment of surrender that the compassionate light of Amida Buddha flows in, completely filling that empty hollow. Just as we are, with all our flaws intact, we become one with the Buddha. This ultimate embrace is what we call salvation.

The gentle, subtle sweetness of the Amacha symbolizes the divine blessings of the Dragon Deis poured from the heavens. It represents a pure, unadulterated joy for having encountered this world and this life exactly as it is: beautifully imperfect. Let us carry this imperfect “self” with gratitude today, cherishing this shared day of reflection. Namandabu.