Katrina Rosales
Incense burning is a common practice in many cultures and religions, including Buddhism. In the context of the Soka Gakkai International (SGI) community, incense burning during memorial services is often accompanied by chanting, silent personal prayers, and the sharing of stories and memories of the deceased. The SGI community, a subset of the Soka Gakkai movement, has been known to hold memorial services without the attendance of a priest, instead choosing to have fellow members recite sutras and pray for the deceased. This practice reflects a movement to modernize funeral ceremonies and reduce the financial burden associated with elaborate rites and donations expected by priests.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Incense burning memorial | A ceremony where incense is burned as a memorial for the deceased |
| Incense type | Direct-burning incense, or ""non-combustible" indirect-burning incense |
| Incense burning method | Direct: placed on a heat source or hot metal plate. Indirect: requires a separate heat source like charcoal or glowing embers |
| Incense vessel | Censer, incense burner, perfume burner, or pastille burner |
| Vessel characteristics | Varies in size, form, and material; may be simple earthenware bowls or intricate gold vessels |
| Cultural significance | Used in various cultures with spiritual and religious connotations |
| SGI memorial context | SGI members hold informal memorial services without a priest, often due to the extravagance and corruption associated with priests |
| Memorial activities | Chanting, sharing stories, displaying photos, open comments, reception |
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What You'll Learn
SGI members hold memorial services without a priest
Soka Gakkai International (SGI) members have been conducting funeral and memorial services without a priest, in line with the wishes of the deceased or their family. This practice has become common in SGI countries outside of Japan.
The absence of a priest at funeral ceremonies is not a new concept. In 1968, SGI President Ikeda, then Soka Gakkai president, acknowledged the growing desire among the Japanese public to modernise funeral ceremonies and move away from the traditional Japanese funeral rite. He referenced the emergence of a movement that aimed to reform the traditional Japanese funeral ceremony, which had become overly ritualistic and formal.
The involvement of Buddhist priests in funeral or memorial services is also a relatively modern development in Japan. During the Edo Period (1601-1865), policies mandating universal registration at Buddhist temples institutionalised the practice of priests conducting funerals and memorial services. This led to the term "funeral Buddhism", as these ceremonies became a major source of income for temples. However, the ceremonies themselves were not rooted in Buddhist teachings but were instead influenced by Japanese folk customs and religions such as Shintoism.
In recent times, the increasing elaborateness of funeral and memorial services and the corresponding rise in expected donations to priests have led to discontent among Soka Gakkai members. Many have chosen to hold informal services attended only by fellow members. This has resulted in backlash from some priests, who have made claims to frighten believers into feeling obligated to include them in such ceremonies.
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SGI President Ikeda supports modernising funeral ceremonies
SGI President Ikeda supported modernising funeral ceremonies, a movement that aimed to reform the traditional Japanese funeral ceremony, which had become a mere ritual or formality. This movement reflected the voices of those who no longer saw the purpose of elaborate funeral ceremonies, not wanting to burden their families with complex rites in the event of their death.
During the Edo Period (1601-1865), the policies of the Tokugawa shogunate mandated universal registration at Buddhist temples, institutionalising the practice of priests conducting funerals and memorial services. This led to the Buddhism of the established sects in Japan being derisively referred to as 'funeral Buddhism'. The involvement of Buddhist priests in these services was not established during the Daishonin's time, and many of the rites and rituals surrounding them were incorporated from Japanese folk customs and religions like Shintoism.
In recent years, the amount of money expected by priests for presiding over funerals and memorial services has become excessive, with donations reaching thousands or tens of thousands of dollars. This has resulted in many Soka Gakkai members opting for informal services conducted by fellow members without the attendance of a priest. Soka Gakkai General Director Kazuya Morita and SGI President Ikeda supported this, stating that it is not necessary to invite a priest to a funeral ceremony.
Ikeda, who passed away at the age of 95 in 2023, was inaugurated as the third president of the Soka Gakkai in 1960 and led the lay Buddhist movement's dynamic growth and international development. He became the president of Soka Gakkai International (SGI) in 1975 and was honoured with a memorial service at the Toda Memorial Auditorium in Sugamo, Tokyo, which was broadcast live across Japan.
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Buddhist temples emphasise funeral rites and memorial services
Buddhist funeral services are steeped in tradition and symbolism. Buddhists believe that death is a natural part of the cycle of life (saṃsāra) and that it leads to rebirth. This belief in reincarnation is a unifying principle across all forms of Buddhism. The rituals that take place around death and funerals are intended to help the deceased in their future life.
Funeral rites and memorial services are considered occasions of major religious significance for Buddhists. The involvement of Buddhist priests in these services was not established during the Daishonin's time but became increasingly emphasised during the Edo Period (1601-1865) in Japan. The policies of the Tokugawa shogunate mandated universal registration at Buddhist temples, institutionalising the practice of priests conducting funerals and memorial services. This led to the Buddhism of the established sects in Japan being derisively labelled as 'funeral Buddhism'.
The funeral ceremony is traditionally held in a monastery or at the family home. Buddhist monks are invited to lead the ceremony, reciting sermons and guiding chants or sutras (Buddhist funeral prayers). The body is presented in a simple open casket adorned with an image of the deceased and a picture of Buddha. Mourners may lay candles, fruit, flowers, and light incense around the casket. After the ceremony, the casket is sealed and transported to the crematorium, with friends and family forming a funeral procession behind. Cremation is preferred by Buddhists as it frees the soul from the body, aligning with their belief in reincarnation.
Memorial services are often held on the third, seventh, fiftieth, and hundredth days after death. These services provide an opportunity for the living to assist the deceased in their transition to a new existence through acts of merit. Buddhists believe that several stages of life, known as bardos, continue for hours or days after death, so cremation is usually delayed. During this time, monks visit the home daily to chant and are offered food to increase the importance of the deceased.
In recent times, there has been a movement within the Soka Gakkai community, particularly in SGI countries outside of Japan, to conduct funeral and memorial services without the attendance of a priest. This movement arose in response to the increasing elaborateness of funeral ceremonies and the excessive required donations to priests, which have been perceived as corrupt and insincere. Instead, fellow Soka Gakkai members recite the sutra and pray for the deceased, creating a simpler and more refreshing experience for mourners.
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Soka Gakkai members opt for informal memorial services
Soka Gakkai members have been increasingly opting for informal memorial services for their departed family members or friends. This movement reflects the desire to move away from the corruption and over-formalization of traditional funeral ceremonies. In the past, Buddhist priests in Japan have been criticized for their extravagance, insincerity, and excessive financial expectations, with some demanding donations equivalent to thousands of dollars for presiding over memorial services.
As a result, many Soka Gakkai members have chosen to conduct memorial services without the attendance of a priest, in line with the wishes of the deceased or the family. These informal services are led by fellow Soka Gakkai members, who recite the sutra and offer prayers for the deceased. This practice is consistent with the guidance condoned by the head temple and the fundamental spirit of Nichiren Daishonin, where funerals were historically conducted by laypeople.
The shift towards informal memorial services within the Soka Gakkai community has been met with positive impressions from participants, who have described the ceremonies as "refreshing" and "wonderful." This trend is particularly prevalent in SGI countries outside of Japan, where members have embraced a more modernized approach to funeral and memorial ceremonies.
Soka Gakkai memorial services are characterized by solemnity and dignity, often including the recitation of the Lotus Sutra and chanting of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo to honor the life and contributions of the deceased. These ceremonies provide a meaningful way for members to pay their respects and express their appreciation for the departed. Additionally, the Senja Soka Centre in Singapore houses the An-Le Memorial Hall, a columbarium that caters to the needs of Soka Gakkai members and their next-of-kin, maintaining the dignity and solemnity befitting Nichiren Buddhist traditions and practices.
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Incense burning has spiritual and religious connotations
Incense burning has been a ritual practised by various cultures throughout history, from ancient China to Indigenous Mexico and South Asia. The purpose and significance of incense burning have evolved over time and across different regions, but its association with spirituality and religion remain strong.
In many traditions, incense burning is believed to possess cleansing and purifying properties. The smoke is thought to purify the air, objects, and people, driving away negative energies and creating a sacred space. This belief is prevalent in various cultures, including Indigenous Mexican ceremonies that use copal resin smoke and the burning of cedar by indigenous tribes in the Americas.
The act of incense burning is often intertwined with religious and spiritual ceremonies. In South Asian traditions, incense is an integral part of worship and prayer, connecting individuals to the divine. Similarly, in Buddhism, incense burning has been incorporated into funeral and memorial services, with the smoke symbolizing purification and serving as an offering to the deceased. This practice was particularly prominent during the Edo Period in Japan, where Buddhist priests institutionalized funeral rites and memorial services as a source of income.
The sense of smell is closely linked to memory, and incense can evoke powerful emotional responses and spiritual connections. The unique fragrances of incense can help focus the mind, enhance meditation practices, and create a calming atmosphere. Different types of incense, such as bergamot, cedar, cinnamon, and clove, are believed to have specific properties, ranging from uplifting spirits to stimulating wealth and success.
The ritual of incense burning provides a sense of comfort and connection to something greater than oneself. It allows individuals to anchor themselves in the present moment and find meaning in the tradition. The act of participating in a ritual, such as incense burning, can create a sense of community and shared purpose, as seen in the Soka Gakkai movement, where members conduct memorial services for their departed loved ones without the presence of a priest, fostering a more intimate and personalized ceremony.
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Frequently asked questions
SGI, or Soka Gakkai International, is a Buddhist movement that began in Japan. It is common for incense to be burned during memorial services for the dead.
Incense burning is a spiritual practice that is believed to have religious connotations in many cultures. During an SGI memorial, incense burning allows each individual to offer up a prayer for the deceased's eternal life.
During an SGI memorial, individual sticks of incense are lit and then placed vertically into individual censers (incense burners).
The use of incense burners dates back to ancient times, with the earliest vessels identified as censers dating to the mid-fifth to late fourth centuries BCE during the Warring States period.
