Daily Creed of Jodo Shinshu
Memorial Services are an integral part of Jodo Shinshu
Buddhism and has been practiced since the death of the founder Shinran
Shonin. Recently, however, questions surrounding the traditional observances
such as why and when are being asked more frequently.
This publication will help try some of the answers
surrounding the question “when” should these services be observed?
This is a service that was
originally held prior to the imminent passing of an individual. This service
was intended to give the dying individual one more opportunity to listen to
the Dharma (Buddha’s Teaching) prior to their passing. Later, because it
became more and more difficult to judge when the last moment would occur and
because of some of the regulations surrounding critical care at hospitals
this custom is now typically observed after the passing of a loved one.
- Otsuya (lit. “through the night”)
The Otsuya observance finds
its most equivalent western observance in the wake service. It is during the
Otsuya service that family and friends gather together to share the Dharma
and share with each other their recollections of the deceased. In the
traditional Jodo Shinshu funeral service remembrances or eulogies are not
given because these types of testimonials have already been given at the
Otsuya service. It is often during this time that funeral planning occurs.
The funeral service is a rite
of passage. From the Jodo Shinshu perspective it marks the recognition that
because of the Power of Amida Buddha’s Vow that we are born into the Pure
Land of the Buddha and become a Buddha ourselves. The funeral service, then,
becomes yet another gift we receive from our loved one who is now sharing
the Dharma with us as a Buddha: a person who has transcended the world of
birth-and-death and who has returned to help us to hear the Dharma that will
allow us to transcend birth-and-death, the world of suffering, ourselves.
Traditionally a memorial
service was held after each of 7 days for 7 weeks (making 49 days in total).
The date of death is counted as the 1st day.
- Nen-ki (“yearly” observances)
Special memorial services
are held during particularly auspicious years following the birth in the
Pure Land of an individual. This tradition was established upon the entering
of Buddhism into China. The years chosen to observe these special
observances are based on the Chinese Zodiac system which also lays the
foundation for the often observed “kanreki (60 year)” birth day celebration.
- Isshuki (1st “cycle”; the first
year observance)
This service is scheduled
one year after the passing of an individual.
- Sankaiki (3rd “cyclic”
observance; third year memorial service)
The services following the 1st
year observance are counted a little differently. It is called “cyclic”
because it “anticipates” the observance and in English could be described as
entering “into” the 3rd year. Because of this the 3rd
year memorial service is observed 2 years from the date of passing.
In the West, this style of
counting is used in counting the number of centuries that have passed since
the sharing of the Western Calendar.
- 7, 13, 25, 33, 50, 100, 150 …
The other yearly observances
are held on years that end with a 3, a 5, or a 7. These numbers have
particular significance and because of this the 7th, 5th
and 3rd birthdays (or “shichi-go-san”) are especially observed.
In the list given above, not all the years ending in 3, 5 or 7 are given to
add space between the observances, but holding a 5th year or a 17th
year observance will still be significant observances. After the 50th
year observance memorial services are held every 50 years.
These are services that are
held monthly on the day a person passed away. Shinran Shonin, for example,
passed away on January 16, 1263. Because of this his Tsuki meinichi is
observed every month on the 16th.
These services are held on
the month and day a person passed away. Using Shinran Shonin as an example
again, his shotsuki meinichi is observed every year on January 16. This
service, because it is held in the observance of the death of the founder of
Jodo Shinshu, is also called “Ho-onko” or gathering to repay our
indebtedness.
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