funeral ideas, memorial ideas

A ceremony that is gaining popularity in the United States has its origins in Buddhism but is evolving into something much more universal.  The Japanese Obon festival has been held annually for about 500 years in Japan and within the past few decades has reached America. The largest of these festivals typically take place in Hawaii and California due to the high concentration of Japanese immigrants.  The specific aspect of the festival that is being adopted by non-Buddhists is the Toro Nagashi.

Floating paper lanterns that have been decorated with symbols and messages for the deceased are lit and set adrift down rivers en masse.  The actual date of the festival varies from one location to the next but the impetus behind it lies in the story of one of Buddha's disciples. Mokuren was a devoted follower and after many years had developed the ability to communicate with the deceased.  Learning of his own mother's situation in the afterlife he sought the Buddha's advice on freeing her from her suffering.  He was instructed to make offerings to the monks that had just finished their summer retreat.  Once completed a connection was established between Mokuren and his mother.  He was able to release her from the anguished realm and by doing so all of her past selfless acts toward her son were also revealed.  Every summer families gather to reunite with their ancestors.  The lanterns are a symbol of this connection and aids all future generations to remember their past and nourish the bond with the ones they have lost.  The warm feeling of community from the hundreds of floating lights is profoundly offset by the intimate flicker of the single soul represented in your personal tribute.  July 15th or August 15th are the traditional dates for the three day festival which includes dancing, fireworks, a feast and a reunion of family members in which the graves of the deceased are cleaned and cared for.  The location of the ceremony is typically the birthplace of the deceased which is also where their grave lies.  This is the spot where the dead are said to return every year to communicate with the living.

In the gradual process of assimilation traditions evolve and become more personal.  It is not uncommon to have your own personal lantern ceremony with friends and family.  These can be held in a river close to home or maybe a more sentimental body of water that you all remember fondly.  Dates have a deep significance for many people.  One that you select, such as the anniversary of your loved ones death or a time of year you typically reunited with one another may be more appropriate for you. Create and design your own memorial lantern boat using biodegradable products and dissolving paper and let your grief and memories float peacefully.

Adopting a ritual from another culture provides a new way in which to view our loss.  Without the shackles of our own religion we can take from a foreign tradition those traits that will help us heal the most.  This causes us to search within for the areas where the pain resides.  These targets can be your guide to creating a ceremony that is meaningful to you.