Memorial Services for the Bereaved: The Role of Funeral Buddhism

• In Event: Buddhism beyond Temple Walls: The Everyday Engagements of Japanese Buddhists

Abstract

Nearly all Japanese Buddhist temples have a cemetery within their grounds with perpetual management of graves providing for the majority of a temple’s revenue. This pattern where it seems “graves are being held hostage,” has been the target of severe criticisms. [At present,] the number of graves, which succeeding generations are unable to care for, have been moved for reasons such as economic difficulties, and individuals who have severed relationships with temples are said to have increased.
However, this does not mean that individuals have rejected Buddhism. Rather, there is a strong belief that Buddhist memorial services are necessary for a peaceful afterlife. Now, for the first time, some temples have new efforts to meet the demands of such individuals.
In this presentation, I will first provide an overview of the problems surrounding temples and graves. Then I will introduce how temples are overcoming these challenges by providing an example of how urban temples in an attempt to spread Buddhist teachings have offered memorial services at secular and natural cemeteries.

Author

• Shiho Toishiba, University of Tsukuba