The vibration of a struck gong could be heard until it disappeared into a whisper as a hushed crowd gathered yesterday to chant prayers to console the spirits of the dead.

The quiet service in the Shinnyo-En temple on Beretania Street contrasts with tomorrow's hubbub at Ala Moana Park, where 40,000 people are expected for the annual lantern floating festival.

The events reflect two faces of Shinnyo-En, one of 2,000 “;new religions”; founded in Japan in the 20th century. The sect leader, the Rev. Shinso Ito, led the water consolatory service at the Makiki temple attended by more than 600 people, a serene prelude to the shoreline spectacle. Rituals with incense, gongs and chanting similar to other Buddhist denominations were mixed with features that appeal to younger people not raised in the belief system.

There were dramatic touches not typical of your grandmother's temple: young women scattering flower petals and numerous laypeople acting as participants, carrying gifts of rice and water to sustain the spirits, candles symbolizing the teaching, flowers symbolic of perseverance.

The altar contains busts of the late Shinjo Ito, founder and father of the current Japan-based leader, and his sons with an image of Buddha, reclining to depict that Shakyamuni Buddha was nearing his death when he taught his last sutra, which is the basis of Shinnyo-En teaching.

This weekend's events are the perfect example of Shinnyo-En's success in crafting something new from old tradition. The summer Obon season, when spirits of the dead are welcomed and then sent back to the spirit realm with lanterns to light their way, is marked in all local Japanese temples. Shinnyo-En combined Obon with the American Memorial Day holiday 12 years ago, and it has grown to an extravaganza of rock concert stage and Jumbotron screens, guest entertainers and a sunset made spectacular with 2,000 lanterns. Thousands of non-Buddhists embraced the symbolism of lighting candles and sending prayers adrift for their deceased family and friends. The sponsors have extended the concept to encompass prayers for world peace.

“;To be with such a diverse group of people, all focusing on something positive, all the love that had gone into the prayers on the lanterns, it's palpable and it provides such healing,”; said Danielle Moskowitz, a vice president of Goodwill. “;You take it on to the next day and think what kind of a peaceful world it could be.”;

New to Hawaii and mourning her recently deceased father, Moskowitz went to the lantern floating two years ago. Her prayer attached to a lantern this year is also for her mother, who died in April and was lost to her before that because of dementia.

Moskowitz joined Shinnyo-En. “;It helped me personally, to let go of grief and focus on something positive. The tenets of Buddhism are what draw me, the altruism, that you help others, try to give back, promote healing and peace.”;

Yesterday's temple crowd reflected the multiethnic population of Hawaii; many also came from mainland and European sect branches. There are about 1 million members worldwide and about 2,500 in Hawaii, said the Rev. Given Tokunaga.

Tomorrow the crowd will include 2,000 people from Japan. “;They like to come here to see all those people from Hawaii and around the world,”; said the Rev. Shinji Hirashima. “;They feel something special, being part of a really big thing. Despite differences in culture, they feel oneness with others. It energizes us to keep going for the rest of the year.”;

Bringing a large crowd together for an arena event and the use of the dramatic arts draws comparison of Shinnyo-En to the new Christian churches. University of Hawaii religion professor Jay Sakeshita said that like Christian Pentecostal churches, “;the new religions in Japan were constantly splitting off to start their own churches.”;

Shinnyo-En is organized to keep members close, with mentors and the chance to rise in the hierarchy. “;They keep an eye on you, make sure you don't branch off,”; said Sakeshita, who wrote his doctoral dissertation on Shinnyo-En. New members are linked to “;spiritual parents”; and identified with the “;lineage”; of a teacher.

Members pay to attend “;sesshin,”; which translates to “;touching the heart,”; with a medium who points out their flaws. Tokunaga said a medium acts as a “;spiritual mirror,”; guiding members to realize their flaws and correct them. “;I sit in a circle with members and I don't know what will come out of my mouth. One time it came to me, 'You have a temper,' and a few days later, I had an experience that demonstrated that,”; he said.

That personal hands-on guidance is different from practices in other Buddhist sects. It can be uncomfortable, but, said Moskowitz, “;the reason we're here is to be the best person you can be.”;