OUR TEMPLE
SLO BUDDHIST TEMPLE
6996 Ontario Rd.
San Luis Obispo, CA 93405
Ph. 805 595-2625
San Luis Obispo, CA 93405
Ph. 805 595-2625
ornaments worn around the neck and body of aristocratic men in ancient India. Shakyamuni Buddha denied the idea of nobility being the result of birth but rather nobility was a result of one’s deeds and not the result of birth. Our Yoraku pair that hang from the roof corners represent the attainment of nobility through noble deeds.
Tsuri Toro or “suspended lamp” are hung from the ceiling in front of the Gokuden. The lamps are metal and enclosed. They have distinctive floral designs around the outside. The lamp(s) are said to be derived from one made by Shakyamuni Buddha for his disciples when traveling at night. The lamp was used to light the way at night and to avoid accidental killing of insects and small creatures on the road.
Kiku Rinto “Chrysanthemum circular lamp” are suspended from the ceiling in front of the Shumidan and are made of bright brass. The Kiku Rinto are cleaned each year during Omigaki. Originally the lamp was an open oil lamp with circular bands over it. T his “Circle of light” represents Enlightenment, without a beginning or end. The bands are of a chrysanthemum pattern. Though the Kiku Rinto was originally open oil lamps they have been changed to electricity for safety. The Rinto is mentioned in the T’ang Dynasty records and was used in the Audience Hall of the Heian Court in Kyoto. The Kiku Rinto is particular to the Jodo Shinshu Hongwanji.
Maybe the next time you are waiting for a service to start you might reflect on the items on the Onaijin. It appears there has been a lot of thought put into the representation of each item.
We will keep moving on next month to the Uajoku or upper table. Until then.
With Gassho (Palms together)
Barry
Tsuri Toro or “suspended lamp” are hung from the ceiling in front of the Gokuden. The lamps are metal and enclosed. They have distinctive floral designs around the outside. The lamp(s) are said to be derived from one made by Shakyamuni Buddha for his disciples when traveling at night. The lamp was used to light the way at night and to avoid accidental killing of insects and small creatures on the road.
Kiku Rinto “Chrysanthemum circular lamp” are suspended from the ceiling in front of the Shumidan and are made of bright brass. The Kiku Rinto are cleaned each year during Omigaki. Originally the lamp was an open oil lamp with circular bands over it. T his “Circle of light” represents Enlightenment, without a beginning or end. The bands are of a chrysanthemum pattern. Though the Kiku Rinto was originally open oil lamps they have been changed to electricity for safety. The Rinto is mentioned in the T’ang Dynasty records and was used in the Audience Hall of the Heian Court in Kyoto. The Kiku Rinto is particular to the Jodo Shinshu Hongwanji.
Maybe the next time you are waiting for a service to start you might reflect on the items on the Onaijin. It appears there has been a lot of thought put into the representation of each item.
We will keep moving on next month to the Uajoku or upper table. Until then.
With Gassho (Palms together)
Barry
We are still exploring the ornaments on the Onaijin. The Sumi Yoraku or corner ornaments are the dangling ornaments on the ends of Gokuden. They are derived from particular
