Our monthly Dharma discussions are always preceded by silent meditation (Zazen) and walking meditation (Kinhin) as well as chanting of the Sutras. Each week a senior monk will offer a Dharma talk on a wide variety of Buddhist topics.

This week The Monks of Jizo-an will offer a ceremony called Segaki

Segaki is an offering and remembrance to the Buddha Ancestors as well as those who have recently passed and especially those with an unfortunate life/death. The hungry ghost symbolizes an aspect of suffering experienced by so many humans. From its mildest form of dissatisfaction and confusion, to the extremes of living a 'hell on earth'. When one suffers, the natural desire or craving arises to be free from suffering...and so we seek 'things' in the world as an anecdote...unfortunately this only enhances our suffering because those 'things' are temporary.

Through the act of chanting and offerings, this specific prayer, its purpose is to relieve the suffering of the Hunger Ghost, whether the hungry ghost is still alive or has passed on and that our Buddha Ancestors help them through the transitions in life and death.

If you would like to add a name to the list we read aloud during the ceremony, please email us with the name as you would it like to be read.