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Shinnyo-en Holds Global Saisho Ceremony at Its Head Temple

April 19, 2025

An elder Japanese woman wearing bright orange robes and a white shawl sits at a table speaking before a microphone with her hands folded in a gesture of gratitude.

Her Holiness speaks to attendees at the Global Saisho Ceremony

On April 19, Her Holiness Shinso Ito conducted a saisho ceremony of hope, healing, and connection assisted by representatives of Shinnyo-en temples from around the world. The ceremony was held at Shinnyo-en’s head temple, Oyasono, where renovation work is ongoing to house the Shinnyo Masters’ relics.

The fire and water rite was performed using water drawn from the fresh-water spring onsite at Oyasono and fire brought from the eternal flame originally kindled by Master Shinjo, which is kept at Shinchoji Temple. To make the rite even more special, representatives from Shinnyo-en communities in Brazil, Mexico, Peru, Argentina, France, Ukraine, the Netherlands, Italy, Belgium, Spain, the United Kingdom, Sweden, Germany, Hawaii and the United States, Canada, Sri Lanka, Australia, New Zealand, Taiwan, Singapore, Hong Kong, Korea, Thailand, and from cities and regions all throughout Japan also brought individual offerings of water and fire from their respective sites to contribute to the service. Her Holiness performed a merit transfer rite during the saisho ceremony, as officiants in neighboring Temple I simultaneously performed a rite in sync before the Great Nirvana Image sculpted by Master Shinjo.

An elder Japanese woman wearing bright orange ceremonial robes with ornate brocade trim and a white lace shawl holds a bouquet of flowers as she greets a woman dressed in lay clothes; an altar-like shrine with many different candles, all alight, can be seen in the background.
Her Holiness receives a bouquet from a participant in the ceremony.

In a brief address following the chanting, Her Holiness offered heartfelt gratitude for all who participated. She referred to a teaching in the Nirvana Sutra that speaks of “the fulfillment of profound and exquisite merit through immeasurable spiritual wonders,” and expressed her wish for Oyasono to inspire people to make concrete efforts so that the merit of the place reaches out into the world. Speaking about the significance of the rite and what she hoped all who participated would take away from it, she said:

“Fire, which sustains civilization, and water, which gives us the blessings of life, symbolize wisdom and compassion, respectively. My mother, Master Tomoji, taught that it is important to transform whatever personal wisdom we gain into compassionate and loving action so that it brings warmth and joy to others. Wherever we as individuals make the most of our innate goodness, our own wisdom and compassion, and cultivate harmonious acts undertaken for the wellbeing of others, there the light of hope will illuminate the way into the future.”

A man bows, hands folded as a woman next to him reverently place a lit candle next to a bottle of water on a shrine-like platform; in the background others can be seen carrying offerings of water and fire as they wait their turn to place them on the shrine; seated elders in ceremonial robes sit with hands folded watching the procession.
Members from around the world offer water and fire as part of the ceremony.

Following the ceremony, Her Holiness attended a ribbon cutting ceremony at the Shinnyo Stupa,* officially opening the area for the community to enjoy. Before departing, her voice quavering with emotion, Her Holiness expressed her gratitude that so many people from around the world had attended the event. “I am sure the Shinnyo Parents are so grateful,” she said, “to see that their teachings have spread so widely throughout the world.” She encouraged members to continue striving to do their best to live up to the Shinnyo teachings.

* A stupa is a Buddhist memorial shrine, typically shaped like a dome or a bell, which contains sacred relics, often including the remains of venerated figures. They are usually built outdoors in temple grounds, and provide a sacred space for reflection and prayer while circumambulating.

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