Visiting a Buddhist Temple

This past weekend, Adam and I were invited to a Buddhist temple for a fire ceremony.  We were picked up by an English speaking teacher and her mother and we drove to Inuyama.  I must say, that I don’t know much about Buddhism other than the little I learned from a religion 1000 course which, unfortunately, I’ve mostly forgotten.  I was also confused by learning just how many different types of Buddhism there are and combinations coming in from other religions especially Shintoism here in Japan.  All this to say, don’t take my experience as any definitive teaching about Buddhism.

The teacher we went with had printed some information off the internet to explain to us the deity Acala that this temple is dedicated to and the fire ceremony we would watch.  When we arrived, we climbed the stairs up to where the main hall was located.  There was a building where they wrote down their wishes on this paper and pay money to have the priests/monks pray for them.  You can buy different charms, etc. in there too. 

Outside of the main hall

Sheet that you write your wish on and select the amount of money you'll pay.

Wooden sticks that you write your wish on, these are burned during the Goma Prayer.

Once you've received your wish, you come back to the temple
and colour in the pupils on these heads.

The deity Acala is in the center.

Charms that you can buy.

 After they had written down their “wish,” we had a sweet cake thing and bitter green tea in a room adjoining the main hall.  Then, we went into the main hall for the fire ceremony.  We were told not to take any pictures inside, but I’m sure if you google “Goma Prayer” pictures will show up.

Green tea and sweet cake

 A monk dressed in a fancy robe came and talked to everyone.  Somehow, he noticed us.  Maybe it was because we were some of the only people seated on chairs instead of on the floor.  Or maybe it had to do with Adam having blond hair and me having blue eyes :P.  Anyways, he started asking us about differences between American pronunciation and Canadian pronunciation of “doctor,” “z,” etc.  We thought it was pretty funny, the rest of what he said we didn’t understand.

Once the ceremony started some monks processed in, all wearing special garments.  The “head” monk was seated on a raised cushion close to where the fire was.  The others sat at the back and did a lot of chanting/singing/drum beating.  The head monk seemed to lead the ceremony by hitting a singing bowl to begin and end the ceremony.  The head monk stacked the wood that people had written their “wish” on (wishes are for good health, prosperity, etc.) and then lit them on fire.  I couldn’t help but think that this ceremony and the like might have something to do with the number of temples that have burned down over the years, as sparks went flying.  While the fire was burning, other monks came with these boards which I’m assuming also had people’s wishes on them and “waived” them from the fire to their foreheads three times.  At another point, the monks took up everyone’s bags and put them close to the fire- this is supposed to help you get money. 

While we were there, I kept looking for the seeds of truth or similarities.  I found it interesting how they light candles to pray.  How they require someone (i.e. the priest/monk) to intercede for them, rather than praying directly.  How they need to give an offering which is usually money.  How special garments are worn during the celebration.    

After the fire burned down the monks processed out.  The ceremony was probably about half an hour long.

The Goma Prayer was interesting for us to see and to be able to ask a few questions about this sect of Buddhism.  

People also write their wishes on these and hang them by the temple.

You can see Inuyama Castle in the background.