Joint grave

In progress

About the communal graves at Shokoji Temple

In order to live peacefully in body and mind in modern society, introspection and chanting the Nembutsu are very important because they are the most effective activities that make us aware of the important and essential things in life.

The Shokoji ossuary is the perfect environment to carry out these activities.

In an ever-changing social structure where it is no longer possible to stay in one place, the most effective foundation for people to reflect on themselves and chant Buddhist prayers in peace is the Shokoji ossuary, where their bones, one of the objects of their reflection, can depart for a new world at any time.

Preparing the ossuary at Shokoji Temple is not simply for the purpose of mourning the dead. Rather, it is for the living, for oneself. This is because it is the most effective environment for introspection and chanting of the Nembutsu in society, and Shokoji Temple is one of the temples that is most proactive in promoting these activities.

Shokoji's "introspection" is about reaffirming what is important and the true essence of things. Why is it called "reaffirmation"? Although we naturally come into contact with important things and the true essence of things as we live, we do not notice them, forget them, or even if we remember them, we are not able to put them into practice. Therefore, we aim to realize, remember, and put into practice the true essence of things through the reaffirmation activity of introspection.

It brings us stability of thought and peace of mind.