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One bone in particular, they hyoid bone (located in the neck), is not placed in this urn but transported to a temple for service. Sofía held this bone and shares that within it she could see the image of a seated Buddha. This is a very powerful part of the ceremony for the mourners and also a place where we can see how Shinto and Buddhism can coexist within a single ritual.
This memory has stuck with Sofía as it was her grandfather’s funeral and therefore very important. But how do you make all these different faiths live harmoniously within you? She says: “Even though I was raised Catholic with Jesus as my primary deity, participating in this ritual I felt like I was reconnecting with my Japanese roots. Even though I always thought that Jesus was the only God, I felt something special, I was moved not only by the people there supporting each other. Even if it sounds odd, you could feel the energy of something ‘beyond’…maybe the Kami to whom we prayed to that night, is the same God I’ve grown up with in Catholicism.” This ritual helped Sofía and her family have peace in knowing that her grandfather was ok, and finally resting. She also shares, “…this experienced broadened my horizons and my perception of religion. I’m proud to be able to say I’ve been raised in these two religions.”
Photo by Gakuro