This is a morning service at Sojiji, one of the highest temples of Soto Zen Buddhism in Japan. Anyone who has entered into Buddhist orders in Japan will be familiar with (and I daresay even nostalgic for) this elaborate 50-minute service which usually runs from 5am to 6am. None of these monks have had breakfast, which is served after the service is finished.
Hello, I lived a quasi-monastic life on the Antioch Buddhist Studies Program, but I haven't entered a monastery permanently, because I've found more exciting distractions in the meantime. As you may know, joining a Japanese Buddhist order does not mean meditating every day. It means learning a medieval liturgy and performing funerals. Still, I developed a deep love for the Japanese tradition on the study abroad program and I am writing books about Japan's esotericism today.
@大西高利10 жыл бұрын
感謝感謝
@nathanwatches9 жыл бұрын
I wish if there are people that can make this again with HD recording and new filiming technique, Dharma treasures should be preserved.
@zbf85297b6 жыл бұрын
It seems temple has been doing this every morning from over 80 years ago, but it might be difficult to record. However, you will be able to see this anytime by coming to the temple in Yokohama at 5:00 A.M.
@yepyHUN6 жыл бұрын
Can you tell me please what is this ceremony about ?
Can anyone please tell me what the monks are doing with those golden books? They open and close those books from minute 9:11 until 10:23...is it symbolical of the fact that they hold the knowledge or possession of the Sutras?
@brianavila103410 жыл бұрын
Those books, I believe, contain the names of deceased monks. The ritual takes the place of actually reciting their names (because it would take a lot of time).
@jizobosatsu110 жыл бұрын
Thank you very much...didn't know that
@Masterofxioen10 жыл бұрын
Actually an answer has been given by a commentor, but in Japanese, above. The act of flipping through the Sutra scripture is called " TenDoku" 転読. Ten stands for 'turning' while Doku is reading. The chant that you hear until the mentioned time before the flipping starts is the beloved and famous 'Heart Sutra' (Hannya Shingyou). But the entire volumes in front contain the much larger version of the same sutra called the Daihannya-kyo (Great Perfection of Wisdom Sutra) (Note 'Dai' meaning Great, alluding to the greater size) composed of, depending on which version is used, between 8000-25,000 lines(!), the sutra is not read out daily: it can't be. The smaller and essential Heart Sutra is read once and the flipping signifies the 'Reading/Chanting' of the entire bigger sutra. The act is pretty much a common sight in Japanese Buddhist liturgy.
@jizobosatsu110 жыл бұрын
Thank you for your very complete answer! I know that reading the sutra is very common in Buddhist liturgy....everyday I chant parts of the Lotus Sutra but I love the way these Zen monks perform their rites...very disciplined and focused on what they are doing...Thanks again!