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Click-a-Sermon 17: "Obon Homecoming"

Do you truly know "who you are?", "where you came from?" and "whence your going?" For generations humankind has been asking itself these questions. Attempts have been made by some to provide scientific, archeological or biological solutions; while others seek answers based upon religious faith. But the one thing that is clear is the fact that unless we satisfy ourselves with an answer to these basic questions regarding our true identity, humankind will not find true contentment and peace of mind.

Although some Japanese Buddhists celebrate the Obon (ancestor memorial) week in July, majority observes it during August. During this period it is reported that from the Tokyo metropolitan area alone, over 3 million people depart to their countryside homes to visit ancestral cemeteries and temples. Also, Tokyo natives visit their ancestral cemeteries and temples within the city. Perhaps some might view this massive migration of 70-80% of the Japanese to their native homes as a form of ancestor worship. But when we carefully examine the religious psychology of those involved in this annual pilgrimage to tomb sites, we realize that this is the manner in which Japanese seek out and confirm their very roots of existence. And by confirming their origins gives them a sense of comfort, satisfaction and peace of mind. The ancestor veneration represented by the Memorial Obon week is not merely ancestor veneration, whether we realize it or not for there is a far deeper meaning involved.

By visiting ancestral tombs, Buddhists look for and confirm their own roots of origin in the most tangible manner. And this looking to the past is not merely nostalgia or reminiscence of past generations but rather the involvement in understanding the "why of existence". It is also their unknowing search for the "where" as well. For the place where an ancestor lies may only be a matter of the past yet, unconsciously, we all know that is where we will join our ancestors in the future. In this respect, the tradition and rituals of Obon memorial week represent the endless human search to discover "who we are", "from whence we came" and "where are we going?"

American Buddhists are not yet familiar with the custom of ancestor veneration but as Buddhism has begun to take real roots in the US, Buddhist custom should be assimilated as one of the ways to discover one's true identity and contentment..