Class #3 Buddhism

How is your daily life affected by Buddhism? What do you do and why do you do it? Please give 5 examples and make sure you explain why you think you do them!

I think Buddhism influence myself not only physically but also phychologically. Exactly, Buddhism involves in Shinto, Japanese oldest religion, which worship thousands gods, and plays an important role in Japanese people. Below is the five examples of our customs relating to Buddhism.

1. Obon (お盆) or just Bon (盆)
Obon means the the interval in August, when we honor the spirits of our ancestors. Many families and their relatives reunite at their hometown.

2. Butsudan (仏壇)
Many Japanese houses are equipped with at least one butsudan, which looks like a small box. Inside of it, there are one or three Budda, which represent the ancestors.
In Japan, there is a kind of thought that people will be Budda after they die. Every day, my father joins his hands in player in front of the statues to appreciate his health.

3. Joya no Kane (除夜の鐘)
On New Year’s Eve at midnight, Japanese have the custom of listening to the sound of gongs as many as 108 times. Japanese await the New Year listening to the sound.

4. Bon-Odori, Bon-dancing (盆踊り)
Bon-Odori, or Bon-dancing is held during summer. This was originally performed to go to the heaven in the next world, but now just for fun. All of us come together in the evening and dance ranging from the younger and the elder. Some of them enjoy wearing yukata, Japanese traditional summer cloth, in particular younger women.

5. When I eat traditional Japanese meal, like rice, soup, accompanying food. I start eating soup, which is the Buddhist way. Besides, starting to eat side dishes is the Shinto way.