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Season 124 (2009), 3rd of Hazuki (August)
The Buddhist Service for the Youkai at the Night of Summer
Anybody Could Be Cooled?
The Buddhist service held at Myouren Temple is on the topic of conversation.
Held for the first time at the very-new Myouren Temple built this summer, it is said that this Buddhist service is very thrilling and exiting.
Before we go further, what is a Buddhist service in the first place. A Buddhist service is a study meeting held for teaching the way of Buddhism. While it sounds nothing but dullness, what does it mean by being so thrilling and exciting? The chief priest Ms. Byakuren Hijiri talks to us.
"The way of Buddhism indicates the training to attain enlightenment. In another words, it will lead to exorcising evil spirits from the human soul. But in this case, our Buddhist service is done for a youkai, so..."
I guess she wanted to say, attending a Buddhist service itself would be a lead to deny your own existence, which is another aspect of evil spirits lurking in the human soul. Truly, that sounds like a thrill.
Though, Ms. Hijiri continues:
The state of enlightenment is "Form is the emptiness. Emptiness is the form", thus it is said to be a substance which is born by itself from the flawless soul. It may be that youkai are actually close to enlightenment, since having a denial of themselves is directly connected to the denial of their existence.
Unceasing inquiry has been made from the youkai to Myouren Temple. Why are the youkai, are willing to take part in the Buddhist service. I have questioned a youkai who was attending it.
"You know, isn't it just too hot these days? I came here 'cause I heard of a ghost stories meeting during the Buddhist service that was being held, but geez she sure is good. She is really good at story telling with pure fear, it really makes my heart 'n soul tremble for the best. The Heart Sutra was it? Boy, ghost stories couldn't have been better.
The Heart Sutra is the most famous sutra in Buddhism, and there are many others. After I told him that, he said "Buddhism, I like it. It sure knocks out horrors from the heart" as he shivered with joy.
(Aya Shameimaru)

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