Shuril 02

Iwabuchi Daikannon Body Cleansing Ceremony

On Wednesday, December 20th, Shurir, a group engaged in activities such as social education and community building, performed a cleaning of Iwabuchi Daikannon in their final activity of the year.

We would like to report on the event, which was attended by local residents, university students active in Shuril, and children and nursery teachers from Shokoji Nursery School.

First, we started with morning exercises. It is very important to warm up your body to avoid injury. We also played a brain training game called "rock-paper-scissors" where you lose by making a move later.

After the exercise, you move in front of the Kannon statue and purify yourself with incense.

Incense sticks are one of the "six kinds of offerings" in Buddhism. There are six of these, and I'm sure you've all heard of incense sticks.

Aka: Pure water offered in front of a Buddhist altar or grave

Zukou: Incense applied to the hands and body

Keman: a decorative item offered before the Buddha (such as a Buddhist altar accessory modeled after a flower)

Incense: Incense sticks and powdered incense

Food and drink...(Onjiki) Drinks and food

Toumyo: A light offered in front of a Buddhist altar

Take a pinch in your hand, then rub it into your left and right palms. Finally, clasp your hands together and spread them out in front of your chest to cleanse your whole body.

After the purification and offering of sutras, everyone will finally work together to clean the Great Kannon statue.

The university students supported the children at Shokoji Nursery School. They reached out to help the children and they did their best!

It looked like the adults could reach a little higher...! But they couldn't reach their faces, so they all smiled as they wiped the Great Kannon in the cold!

Kannon is said to be able to remove seven hardships and three poisons from people, and grant two wishes.
The body-wiping ceremony also serves as a memorial service to purify the Kannon Bodhisattva and thereby remove the impurities that have accumulated within ourselves over the past year.

I hope you all welcome the new year in good health and with peace of mind.

Shuril's activities for this year ended on this day.

We look forward to your continued support next year.