Buddhist sermon 報恩講

Tōkushōji 徳性寺, a Jōdoshin sect temple, is located in Kaga City, Ishikawa prefecture. The following images show the annual hōonkō 報恩講 (Buddhist sermon lecture).

The temple gate decorated with paper lanterns.

Wheeled walkers parked in the garden.

Opening the door to the main hall.

A row of offering baskets handcrafted from plastic colanders and bamboo rods.

Collecting offerings.

The priest guest lecturer gives his sermon.

Shōjinryōri 精進料理, no meat or fish.

Banquet.

Behind the scenes, cooking and cleanup in the kitchen.

Daruma Temple だるま寺

The Daruma Temple in Shiga Prefecture

The “Cancer Stifling Temple” がん封じ寺

In Mikawa City, Aichi Prefecture stands a temple named Muryoji 無量寺, which is said to have been established during the Heian Period (794-1185). It is widely known as a place that provides efficacy toward the act of fujiru 封じる (sealing, suppressing, blocking, throttling) against some negative aspect in our lives, for example, ending habits such as gambling or smoking. This temple is alternatively named  ganfuji-no-tera (the “Cancer Stifling Temple”) because of the belief in its power to cure or control illness.