September observance of 750th Memorial attended by European delegates
Sponsored by the International Association of Buddhist Culture (IABC), delegates from Europe gathered in Kyoto September 8-11 for Pilgrimage 2011, to attend the 750th Memorial for Shinran Shonin and European
Shin Conference held in Kyoto this year in conjunction with the memorial. Thirty-five delegates from 9 countries including Germany, Belgium, Switzerland, Hungary, Romania, Poland, U.K., France, and the Netherlands, joined their Japanese supporters for the 4-day program of lectures and paper presentations at the Tomoikiso seminar house (Ryukoku University), visitation to Mt. Hiei, and the memorial observance at Hongwanji.
Papers presented were based on the conference theme of Chigu (lit. encounter). On the closing day, delegates attending the memorial service conducted at the Goeido (Founder’s Hall), and 16 took part in the Confirmation Ceremony, receiving Buddhist names.
“We are grateful for the warm welcome and hospitality we received. Since there are not as many delegates from overseas, we are seen as a novelty. However, we are all equal in that the nembutsu goes beyond country, race, and ethnic borders. We would like to expand our nembutsu circle in Europe so that nembutsu followers from throughout the world can be seen in attendance during the 800th memorial.” shares Thomas Moser (EKO-Haus, Germany). The next European Shin Conference is scheduled for 2012.
For information on IABC: iabc@office.email.ne.jp.
(Excerpt from Hongwanji Journal, September 1, 2011)
