Seeking protection

The Shingon Mission expects to hand out some 3,000 good-luck amulets to members and visitors

In these uncertain times, protective amulets and talismans were requested throughout the year at the Shingon Mission -- not only at the start of the year, as is the tradition.

Members of the temple on Sheridan Street were "constantly, constantly getting omamori (amulets) for their loved ones," said Reyn Tsuru, director of ministry and translator at Shingon. "It was a really rough year for everyone."

Procuring good-luck amulets with a donation is a Shinto religion ritual, but one that is slowly spreading throughout Buddhist temples in Hawaii, Tsuru said.

Citing his temple as an example, he said Shingon Mission is a Buddhist sect but incorporates many of the Shinto rituals into its celebration of the new year. Shintoism is the indigenous, nature-based religion of Japan, according to Tsuru.

"Buddhism is flexible and is supposed to match the local culture. And locals love it (the amulets)," Tsuru said.

The congregation at Shingon numbers 200 families, but he expects the temple to hand out some 3,000 amulets to members, as well as visitors who come for the New Year's blessings and cleansing rituals. This would include the burning of "goma" sticks, on which people have written their prayers, in a purifying fire.

"Their prayers are literally transformed into smoke rising to the heavens, or if there has been a bad (year), it will be burned away," he said.

The Japanese call the amulets "omamori," derived from the verb "mamoru," which means "to protect." The first omamori in Japan were simple strips of paper (ofuda) that Shinto priests wrote spells on and handed out to visitors of shrines, Tsuru wrote in his temple's fall newsletter. Today, the paper strips are usually wrapped in small, elaborate brocade pouches.

Ofuda are for different rooms of the home, the front entrance, and for common needs such as traffic safety.

"Migawari" amulets are used as a substitute for the victim of misfortune, so that ill falls on the talisman instead of the person.

Yakuyoke omamori can be used as a general talisman to keep its owner safe from harm, but with some variation in deity symbols, is used specifically to protect those who have certain birthdays, or people who have trouble keeping others with "bad or negative vibes" away from them.

Tsuru said it would be a mistake for people to place all their hopes in the power of omamori.

"Rather, we all should look at the omamori for what it truly is -- a tangible manifestation of our faith and belief in our religion," Tsuru wrote. "What you get out of that omamori is truly related to what you put in, and that is your belief in a power that exists beyond what we can fully comprehend on our earthly plane. A power that cannot be easily explained, seen, or felt, except of course in its form as an omamori."

Shingon will hold its final 2006 service at 11:30 p.m. tomorrow, followed by the ringing of the New Year bell 108 times at midnight. The first service of 2007 will be held at 12:05 a.m. The temple will be open for visitation throughout the night and morning, and be open for omamori until Jan. 7.

2 Shinto temples offer prayers and amulets for New Year's luck

Thousands of residents of all religious and ethnic backgrounds make yearly vigils to two Shinto temples in Nuuanu to pay homage to the New Year and bid farewell to the old during the midnight hours.

They come to receive purification blessings, offer prayers, make donations and pick up amulets that ward off evil or bring good luck for themselves and their loved ones.

The Izumo Taishakyo Mission of Hawaii in downtown Honolulu, led by the Rev. Daiya Amano, and the Daijingo Temple of Hawaii off Pali Highway, headed by the Rev. Akihiro Okada, offer the rituals based on the indigenous Shinto religion of Japan over several days into the New Year.

Services at the 100-year-old Izumo Taishakyo Mission will be held from midnight tomorrow to 5 p.m. Monday; and from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday. Some 10,000 people are expected to attend. For more information, call 538-7778 or e-mail izumotaisha@hawaii.rr.com.

About 5,000 people are expected at the Daijingo Temple, where services will begin at 10 p.m. tomorrow with a purification ritual and the Joyasai service at 11 p.m. The temple will be open overnight to welcome the New Year and continue until 7 p.m. Monday.

On New Year's Day, from 7 to 8 a.m., the Saitansai ceremony will be held. Blessings and omamori will be offered the rest of the day. Dancing by the Hawaii Dagaku Association is scheduled for 2:30 to 3 p.m.

On Wednesday, a blessing ceremony for businesses will be held. The temple will be open all week from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. for New Year's blessings. Call 595-3102 for information.