A Time of Memory, Lament, and Rededication

Each summer, we celebrate Obon as a time to remember our ancestors and offer gratitude for the lives they have given us. The enduring lessons they shared with us are the values by which we strive to live every day. During Obon, I recall my grandparents, Yasuo and Hatsuyo Higa, who were sugar cane farmers in Hilo, and how they instilled in me the values of family, hard work, and kindness. These values ground my life and inform the way I care for and treat others with dignity, compassion, and respect.

These are relatively common values that we all share as human beings, but recent events in our country have given me pause to question how our actions align with our values. Parents

and educators alike recognize that modeling appropriate behavior is the most effective way to instruct children. This places immense responsibility on parental figures and those in authority to lead by example. Obon reminds us that we are links between the past and the future, ever responsible for creating a meaningful world for future generations. Of how we are becoming good ancestors through all that we think, say, and do.

Over the past several months, we have witnessed the forced separation of migrant families through incarceration and deportation without due process, the activation of our military against American citizens, the deliberate targeting and harming of our hungry, our poor, our sick, our elderly, our disabled, our queer youth, and our most vulnerable in society, and the physical, verbal, and spiritual violence being wrought on those we disagree with; we need to deeply reflect on our values and the example we are setting for the next generation.

I recently heard of how some young people today think it is amusing to give the Nazi salute because they see it being done by those with influence and power. This kind of modeling is the exact opposite of what our ancestors would want for us. It diminishes our painful and dark history and disrespects the suffering of those who experienced genocide at the hands of an authoritarian regime. Becoming a good ancestor also means learning from our past mistakes so that history does not repeat itself. We have a responsibility to right past wrongs and to heal past traumas so we can build a more humane and just world for all who come after us.

Kuleana is a beautiful Hawaiian word that describes our deep sense of responsibility, our privilege, and our contribution to the community in which we live. It signifies a powerful and sacred relationship with the land and with one another, emphasizing our profound interconnectedness. It reminds us that authentic leadership is not about power but about the responsibility we have to act with integrity and consideration, guided by our shared humanity and values.

Sadly, many leaders today have forgotten the importance of shared responsibility and human decency that underlie proper behavior. From trivializing political violence to engaging in questionable personal dealings and showing a callous disregard for the suffering and harm caused by unmerciful policy changes, this lack of empathy and ethical conduct weakens our values and character as a nation.

In a teaching on the responsibilities of a leader from the Anguttara Nikaya, Shakyamuni Buddha offers the following wisdom:

When cattle are crossing a ford,

if the chief bull goes crookedly,

all the others go crookedly

because their leader has gone crookedly.

So to, among human beings,

when the one considered the chief

behaves unrighteously,

other people do so as well.

The entire kingdom is dejected

if the king is unrighteous.

When cattle are crossing a ford,

if the chief bull goes straight across,

all the others go straight across

because their leader has gone straight.

So to, among human beings,

when the one considered the chief

conducts himself righteously,

other people do so as well.

The entire kingdom rejoices

if the king is righteous.

As our spiritual ancestor, the Buddha taught us to turn our minds away from violence and hatred, to refrain from harmful talk, to use our words wisely, and to ensure our deeds are rooted in peace and goodwill. This timeless and universal wisdom about how we should live and treat others is part of the Noble Eightfold Path, which we strive to follow wholeheartedly. Our leaders have a responsibility to model these core human values for the benefit of everyone. How would we assess the actions of our current leaders in light of the Buddha’s sage advice?

Obon is a time for honoring our ancestors by reflecting on the values they passed down to us. I celebrate my grandparents by sincerely living and giving voice to the values they taught me. How are we honoring our family and our nation’s ancestors through the cruel and unjust ways we are acting today?

During this Obon season, may the lanterns of memory and lament illuminate our journey of self-reflection and rededication to living and sharing the values of our ancestors, so that we may fulfill our responsibility to leave this world a little better than we found it. May this celebration of joyful memory remind us of what good leadership is and who we can be if we hold true to our values. Namo Amida Butsu.