Search Buddhist Channel

Some Buddhist temples now accepting ashes through the mail

By SHIGEYORI MIYAMOTO, Asahi Shimbun, December 30, 2013

Tokyo, Japan -- A small number of Buddhist temples are being accused of blatant commercialism for providing burial services for cremated remains sent through the mail for one affordable and convenient fee.

<< Nyubutsuji temple in Iyo, Ehime Prefecture, accepts cremated remains through the mail and inters them in a charnel house. (Shigeyori Miyamoto)

Nyubutsuji temple in Iyo, Ehime Prefecture, has been providing such a service since 2011, although it was not officially approved by the city. Normally, temples in Japan only allow worshippers to bury the ashes of family members in purchased graves located on temple grounds.

The temple’s service accepts delivered cremated remains for 55,000 yen ($520) through the mail. A permit to have them buried is also needed. The fee covers storage at the temple's charnel house for a 50-year period. After that time, the ashes will be moved into a joint grave.

According to the temple, those who have used the service so far include women who have been placed in the awkward position of having to care for the ashes of their divorced husbands.

"While the women do not want to become too involved and do not want to spend too much money, they still feel better about having the remains looked after by a temple," said Kosho Yamada, the head priest.

The temple publicizes the service over the Internet and has received 500 requests so far.

However, the Iyo city office recently rejected the temple's request to establish the charnel house on the grounds the practice did not match the religious sentiments held by the public.

The temple filed a lawsuit with the Matsuyama District Court seeking to have the decision overturned, but lost the case in September. The temple is appealing that decision on the grounds the service helps those who have nowhere else to turn.

The district court’s ruling acknowledged that there is a demand for such a service especially due to the nation's declining birthrate.

However, the district court said the service gave the appearance of a commercial venture because the temple emphasized the service’s low cost and simplicity, in which the sender of the ashes does not even have to meet with temple officials.

Elsewhere, other temples have begun to accept ashes through the mail to be interred in joint graves.

One such temple, Kenshoin in Kumagaya, Saitama Prefecture, began the service in October.

The head priest, Eiju Hashimoto, said accepting delivered cremated remains was one way for the temple to open up to the outside world because the declining birthrate means there is not much future in relying on only those who worship at the temple.

Kenji Ishii, a professor of the sociology of religion at Kokugakuin University in Tokyo, said, "The family system in Japan, which had been based on holding memorial services for ancestors, is on the verge of collapse, and there has been an increase in the absence of families memorializing the dead."

We Need Your Help to Train the
Buddhist AI Chat Bot NORBU!
(Neural Operator for Responsible Buddhist Understanding)

Dear Friends in the Dharma,

We seek your generous support to help us train NORBU, the word's first Buddhist AI Chat Bot.

Here are some ways you can contribute to this noble cause:

One-time Donation or Loan: A single contribution, regardless of its size, will go a long way in helping us reach our goal and make the Buddhist LLM a beacon of wisdom for all.

How will your donation / loan be used? Download the NORBU White Paper for details.

For Malaysians and Singaporeans, please make your donation to the following account:

Account Name: Bodhi Vision
Account No:. 2122 00000 44661
Bank: RHB

The SWIFT/BIC code for RHB Bank Berhad is: RHBBMYKLXXX
Address: 11-15, Jalan SS 24/11, Taman Megah, 47301 Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Phone: 603-9206 8118

Note: Please indicate your purpose of payment (loan or donation) in the payment slip. Thank you.

Once payment is banked in, please send the payment slip via email to: editor@buddhistchannel.tv. Your donation/loan will be published and publicly acknowledged on the Buddhist Channel.

Spread the Word: Share this initiative with your friends, family and fellow Dharma enthusiasts. Join "Friends of Norbu" at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/norbuchatbot. Together, we can build a stronger community and create a positive impact on a global scale.

Volunteer: If you possess expertise in AI, natural language processing, Dharma knowledge in terms of Buddhist sutras in various languages or related fields, and wish to lend your skills, please contact us. Your knowledge and passion could be invaluable to our project's success.

Your support is part of a collective effort to preserve and disseminate the profound teachings of Buddhism. By contributing to the NORBU, you become a "virtual Bodhisattva" to make Buddhist wisdom more accessible to seekers worldwide.

Thank you for helping to make NORBU a wise and compassionate Buddhist Chatbot!

May you be blessed with inner peace and wisdom,

With deepest gratitude,

Kooi F. Lim
On behalf of The Buddhist Channel Team

Note: To date, we have received the following contributions for NORBU:
US$ 75 from Gary Gach (Loan)
US$ 50 from Chong Sim Keong
MYR 300 from Wilson Tee
MYR 500 from Lim Yan Pok
MYR 50 from Oon Yeoh
MYR 200 from Ooi Poh Tin
MYR 300 from Lai Swee Pin
MYR 100 from Ong Hooi Sian
MYR 1,000 from Fam Sin Nin
MYR 500 from Oh teik Bin
MYR 300 from Yeoh Ai Guat
MYR 300 from Yong Lily
MYR 50 from Bandar Utama Buddhist Society
MYR 1,000 from Chiam Swee Ann
MYR 1,000 from Lye Veei Chiew
MYR 1,000 from Por Yong Tong
MYR 80 from Lee Wai Yee
MYR 500 from Pek Chee Hen
MYR 300 from Hor Tuck Loon
MYR 1,000 from Wise Payments Malaysia Sdn Bhd
MYR 200 from Teo Yen Hua
MYR 500 from Ng Wee Keat
MYR 10,000 from Chang Quai Hung, Jackie (Loan)
MYR 10,000 from K. C. Lim & Agnes (Loan)
MYR 10,000 from Juin & Jooky Tan (Loan)
MYR 100 from Poh Boon Fong (on behalf of SXI Buddhist Students Society)
MYR 10,000 from Fam Shan-Shan (Loan)
MYR 10,000 from John Fam (Loan)
MYR 500 from Phang Cheng Kar
MYR 100 from Lee Suat Yee
MYR 500 from Teo Chwee Hoon (on behalf of Lai Siow Kee)
MYR 200 from Mak Yuen Chau

We express our deep gratitude for the support and generosity.

If you have any enquiries, please write to: editor@buddhistchannel.tv

TOP