Monday, July 31, 2006

Memorial Service


My wife and I with our daughter had a memorial service yesterday. For whom? For our rabbit, Aka. She passed away on July 30th of last year at age of 5-year-and-4-month-old, so now, just a year went by. We made a simple altar for her and read "HOLY SUTRA NECTAREAN SHOWER OF HOLY DOCTRINES," a sutra that is said to be condensed the teachings of Seicho-No-Ie. Since she favored melon very much when she was alive, we served a piece of melon in front of the altar. My wife and I felt she was really delighted.

Incidently, we named the rabbit Aka when Aka came to our home. At that time, we did not have children, therefore, we tried by using power of words to invite our children. I mean, every time we called the rabbit, we said, "Aka-chan, Aka-chan" or "Baby, Baby" in Japanese. We learn that words have power to create from the SNI's teachings, so we applied this principle.

As a result, my wife had fortunately carried a daughter two years ago. It had been eight years since we got married. We believe Aka called our daughter, Manami, to come this home. Thank you Aka and have a happy life in HEAVEN!

Tetsuya Abe