I don't understand what it means for a doll or other object to have a soul, or what a soul is in the first place.
However, if there is something sacred residing within dolls and other such objects, I believe that it is the people who have owned them up to this day.
Dolls and other objects never leave their owners' sides, always accompanying them through their joys and sorrows. For people who have treasured dolls and other objects, facing them means facing their past selves and their whole lives.
Memorial services for objects, including dolls, are a way of facing your past self and engaging in introspection. By introspecting, you can see how you are now, based on the past, and think about what you should do from now on.
The other day, I held a memorial service for some very beautiful Hina dolls. All of the dolls had gentle expressions, and although the colors had faded over the years, they didn't look particularly timeless. They must have been very well cared for. Perhaps they were never displayed after the children became adults. Whatever their shape, the dolls stood quietly, as if they were the reflection of their past owners.
During the ceremony, we encouraged participants to face the doll, that is, their past selves, and quietly reflect on themselves, and at the end we chanted the Nembutsu.
After the ceremony, she asked if she wanted to take a photo of the doll before going home. When she readily agreed, she clicked the shutter with a happy look on her face and headed home.
We accept memorial services for dolls and other items that you have a special attachment to. Please feel free to contact us by email, phone, or through the Senshi Form.
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