The O-bon season comes to the heart of downtown Hilo on Saturday night at Taishoji Soto Zen Temple at 275 Kinoole St. The O-bon season comes to the heart of downtown Hilo on Saturday night at Taishoji Soto Zen Temple
The O-bon season comes to the heart of downtown Hilo on Saturday night at Taishoji Soto Zen Temple at 275 Kinoole St.
“Bon dancing is an exciting evening of traditional folk dances of many parts of Japan that arrived in Hawaii with the Japanese immigrant sugar cane workers a hundred years ago,” said Taishoji spokesman Walter Tachibana. “New songs and dances have also been added, for example ‘Pokemon’ and ‘Beautiful Sunday’.”
Originally a solemn Buddhist observance, O-bon is based on the Ullambana tradition, Sanskrit for “hanging upside-down,” meaning much suffering and pain.
As the tradition moved to China and Japan, it became “Urabon-e” and “Bon.” It is a time for paying respect and practicing charity to departed friends and relatives.
“In bon, the living express concern and gratitude to the departed, so that they will continue to rest in peace,” explained Tachibana.
About 2,500 years ago, one of the Buddha’s top two disciples — Moggallana (or Mokuren, in Japanese) — saw a vision of his own mother, recently deceased, suffering in the World of Hungry Devils (Hell) because of her wrongdoings in the previous life. Shocked and saddened by his discovery, Mokuren tried to save her from the unbearable suffering and pain by offering her some food in a bowl. However, as soon as she touched the bowl, the food turned into fire. In desperation, Mokuren, the dutiful son, went to the Buddha for advice.
The Buddha said that his dear mother had been so bad that Mokuren could not possibly save her by himself. However, since July 15 is the last day of monks’ training and, therefore, they will have a period of rest, Mokuren should invite them all and serve food to them.
“By the good action of your giving to others, your mother will be saved from the hell of hunger,” the Buddha told Mokuren.
Mokuren did so, and thus saved his mother. Being overjoyed by his experience, Mokuren learned that others could help their beloveds by doing something positive, such as positive giving. It would enable the dead to be reborn into a better and happier state of being.
Originally, bon dances were held at cemeteries to welcome back the spirits of the departed for a reunion with family members and relatives. Thus, it is to the departed, especially those who have passed away since the last Bon dance, that the Bon dance is dedicated.
“Today, we observe bon dance slightly differently. Bon dancing gives us a chance to think about the way we can live happily and harmoniously with our family members, living and departed, and with others in the community,” said Tachibana. “It is a time for us to harmonize physically with the rhythms of the music and spiritually with the lessons of Shakamuni Buddha.”
Taishoji’s bon dance will start at 7 p.m. with a short service in the temple and on the “yagura”, where the musicians stand. Dancing begins at about 7:30 p.m.
The exciting Taishoji Taiko group will perform live music for the popular “Fukushima Ondo” dance, and the drummers will stage a spectacular and special show at about 9 p.m. The public is welcome.
On Sunday morning, the annual O-bon Service will start at 9 a.m. and a special Hatsu-bon Service will be observed for the affected families at about 10 a.m.
At dusk on Sunday, Taishoji will conduct its traditional Toro-nagashi Ceremony at the Wailoa River Boat Ramp. Temple members will assemble their “floating lanterns” at 5 p.m. and the Taishoji Taiko will put on a drumming performance at 5:30 p.m. Then at 6 p.m., a short religious service and the strains of “Aloha ‘Oe” will set off the Parade of Floating Lanterns. Due to gasoline fire hazards in the small boat area, and because of environmental concerns, no outside floating lanterns are allowed. But the public is invited to come and watch.
For more information, please call the Rev. Myoshin Lang at 935-8407.
