I once asked a Buddhist priest, "Are annual memorial services (memorial services) such as those for the first and third anniversaries of a person's death absolutely necessary?" He replied, "Prosperous families properly perform ancestral memorial services." The scale and significance of annual memorial services vary depending on the region, the family, and the temple's beliefs. It's true that holding a memorial service allows us to remember our ancestors and express gratitude that we owe our lives to them. However, that doesn't necessarily mean that holding a memorial service brings any benefits. Shinran, the founder of the Jodo Shinshu sect, apparently didn't even hold funerals for his own parents. While visiting graves and holding memorial services are certainly ways of honoring ancestors, perhaps these actions also help us to regain a pure state of mind, such as by "giving thanks to things we can't see" and "being grateful to others."

Even in the spiritual world, it's said that "if we forget gratitude, things won't go well." It's said that loved ones can fall ill, your own health can deteriorate, and business can fail. There are many stories of childless couples who were blessed with a child after performing ancestor worship. We tend to think about the hearts of the living but not those of those who have already passed away. However, this doesn't seem to be the case. We should think that the deceased simply no longer exist physically, but their hearts remain.

In essence, it seems to be saying, "If you forget gratitude, nothing will go well!" It's true that if you forget gratitude and become self-centered, your words and actions toward others can unconsciously become careless. If you stop expressing gratitude, others may stop reaching out to you. Everyone wants to be cherished. If you no longer sense that from others, you start to not care about them. Conversely, perhaps this means, "If you constantly let those around you know you care, your environment will improve, so it's probably a good idea to do so."

When you visit a shrine, you'll find a mirror, which is said to symbolize "looking directly at yourself and your own heart." The Shinto belief that everything is divine seems to suggest that the key to living a successful life is to avoid the selfish mindset of "it's all good if I'm happy." The Shinto belief that people are also divine means that "gods and people have the same heart." If we were gods, it would only be natural to want to support those who express gratitude to us. Buddhism explains that all events are the result of the law of cause and effect. The law of cause and effect states that causes and circumstances produce results. It explains that when our behavioral patterns and the environment around us are aligned, certain results will occur. Both positive and negative outcomes are the result of the law of cause and effect. Learning the importance of gratitude is an important thing we should never forget, no matter the era. It seems wise to remember to be grateful to our ancestors, family, and the people around us.

"Forest scattering" is a natural burial where the remains are returned to nature. It is similar to "tree burial," which involves burial at the base of a tree, but is slightly different. While "tree burial" involves digging a hole in the ground and burying the remains in an urn, "forest scattering" involves grinding the remains into a fine powder beforehand and scattering them in the mountains. The remains are not buried underground, but rather scattered over the ground like the "Grandpa Who Made Flowers Bloom." In the wild, grass grows and bare ground is rarely found, so the white remains are not left in one place. The powdered remains gradually return to the soil as they are exposed to wind and rain. Furthermore, while in a typical "tree burial," the remains are exhumed and interred after a certain number of years, in the case of "forest scattering," the remains cannot be manually retrieved, so they rest there forever. Japan has a long tradition of "mountain worship," which views the entire mountain as a sacred object. ・・・

"Ocean scattering" is a funeral method that has become popular not only in Japan but around the world. Scattering ashes into rivers is not permitted in Japan, so this method seems to be gaining popularity. It is particularly popular as a way to say goodbye to a deceased loved one, and services such as chartering a motorboat or cruiser to scatter ashes offshore are popular. However, the drawbacks of this method include the fact that the ocean is easily affected by weather, which can suddenly result in a cancellation on the scheduled date, and the relatively high cost of chartering a boat. Our company, SANKOTSUYAMA, offers an "Ocean Scattering Plan," which uses our small boat, eliminating the additional cost of chartering a boat. All costs are included in the price. Furthermore, "ocean scattering" does not necessarily require the services of a specialized scattering company. Individuals are not prohibited from scattering powdered ashes into the sea. However, scattering ashes is prohibited near fishing ・・・