Reflecting on Our Interconnections During Obon Season by Rev. Anne Spencer


One of the first things that caught my attention when I visited IOBT in 2002 was the Buddhist teaching of interconnection, the insight that none of us is ever really alone.

My life today is only possible because of those who came before me. And what I do today makes a difference. My choices affect my life, the lives of people around me, and the people who come after me.

Obon season is a great time to reflect on this interconnection. Our annual Obon rituals matter because help us see first-hand that our community does really include people from the past, present, and even future. Visiting cemeteries reminds me that my life is the way that it is because of all these people. People buried in these graves, both marked and unmarked, made my life possible. They created the communities, the churches, the schools, the railroads, the parks, the farms and the businesses that nurtured us as we were growing up, that continue to support us now, and that lay the foundation for what will happen in the future. We have received so much from those who came before us.

Walking through a cemetery this time of year helps us feel grateful for what our ancestors gave us. And perhaps that will inspire us--just as others helped us, we can help others. Just as others taught us, we can teach others. But we may also look at graves and feel, pain, grief, or regret for mistakes made in the past. In this case, I hope these darker reflections will inspire us to remedy the harm that was done. Maybe we will figure out a way to move into the future with a bit more wisdom and compassion.

This Obon season I hope we are all inspired by those who have come before us, that we learn from their successes and failures. And perhaps we can use the insights gained from our ancestors to live a life that lays a healthy foundation for those who come after us – a life that is generous, open-hearted, creative, and kind.

Activity for All Ages: Visiting a Cemetery This Obon Season. In Japan, it is common to visit cemeteries in July or August. If you go to a cemetery this summer, here are some things you might want to notice:

1. What birds, bugs or other animals do you see? Did you see any dragonflies? If yes, what color were they?

2. Do you see a gravestone that was taller than you? How tall was it?

3. Do you see any gravestones that were written in languages other than English? What language do you think it was?

4. Do you find any gravestones for babies? How old was the baby? Did the stone include the baby’s name or did the gravestone just say “Baby”?

5. Do you see any gravestones that were for people that lived to be over 100 years old? How old were they?

6. Sometimes gravestones have little phrases like “Rest in Peace” on them. Write down 3 phrases that you saw on gravestones.

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Location: Ontario, OR 97914, USA

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