Editing SG32NNU-T (section)

==== Page 322 ====

<!--T:59-->
…sort of public enterprise.

<!--T:60-->
'''B:''' We’ll have to hear more about that another time. But for now, how are rural temples supposed to survive?

<!--T:61-->
'''A:''' First of all, they must fundamentally liquidate the bourgeois spirit. Temples and priests alike must throw themselves openly before the entire village, return to Buddhism’s original conviction of non-possession,<ref>Seno’o here converts the Buddhist ideal of “non-possession” (''mushoyū'' 無所有) into an explicit critique of temple property and economic exploitation.</ref> and take the lead in practical action toward the realization of communal society.

<!--T:62-->
If possible, priests should themselves begin farming, bring their lives completely into rhythm with those of the farmers, and vigorously plant in the soil of the village the ideal of agrarian society that we have been talking about.

<!--T:63-->
'''B:''' But that’s impossible. Most temple lands are leased out to tenant farmers. If the temple takes them back, the tenants’ livelihood is threatened; yet the tenants often cannot even pay their rents properly. The temples themselves are now in an impossible position.

<!--T:64-->
'''A:''' I know that. But it is precisely the karmic consequence of temples having forgotten the true purpose of Buddhism and spent so long living through exploitation. That is why I said “if possible.”

<!--T:65-->
In practical terms, what an ordinary rural temple can do is what I mentioned earlier: offer the temple to the village, and for the priest to resolve to become, so to speak, the village’s hired hand. Having made that radical commitment, he should do whatever he can for the benefit of the villagers.

<!--T:66-->
For example: daycare facilities; research and instruction in supplementary farm industries; leadership in various cooperatives; the establishment of Sunday schools and libraries; village schools aimed at educating young men and women; and, as work for the priest’s wife, instruction in sewing. Once you seriously start thinking about it, there is quite a lot that can be done.

<!--T:67-->
'''B:''' A village school sounds interesting. But calling the priest a hired hand is a bit much.

<!--T:68-->
'''A:''' Not at all. Anyone who seeks renewal must possess that kind of resolve. It is what the Bible means by “Whoever would be master must become a servant.”<ref>A paraphrase of Jesus's teaching on servant leadership; see Matthew 20:26–27 and Mark 10:43–44.</ref> It is the natural attitude of selfless love (''muga-ai'').

<!--T:69-->
'''B:''' Fine—but can you actually make a living that way?

<!--T:70-->
'''A:''' You can hardly make a living now! In the present circumstances, this is the one path that might allow you to do so. Everyone has tried to occupy positions of domination, and the result is the dead end of capitalist society. A communal society permits no dominating existence…

<!--T:71-->