Oshogatsu: New Year’s Eve Ritual & Celebration
Two Rivers Zen Community’s
8th Annual Oshogatsu
Thursday, December 31, 4:00 – 5:30 P.M.
76 Main St. 2nd Floor
Oshogatsu is the Japanese Buddhist New Year’s Eve celebration. On New Year’s Eve, In Japan, at the stroke of midnight, temple bells across the country toll 108 times. According to Buddhist teaching, we have 108 earthly desires, defilements or “sins” that cause us to lose our tranquility and results in suffering – and by chanting the Bonsho and listening to the bell’s toll, we can dispel each defilement, one by one. through which we banish the “108 troublesome defilements of human-kind,” to begin the New Year afresh.
Each New Year’s Eve, Two Rivers Zen Community hosts Oshogatsu, The Ringing of 108 Bells. Please join us as we ring the temple bell 108 times and chant the Bonsho for the benefit of all beings. The Two Rivers Zen Community would love to have you join us as we ring in 2020 for this meaningful and wonderful celebration,
RSVP by leaving a reply or comment below or by e-mail to tworiverszenc@gmail.com
This ritual of ringing the bell and chanting the Bonsho [“Bell Chant”], Joya-no-Kane, is a beautiful purification rite that encourages a spiritual fresh start for the coming year and for 2020, the new decade!
Sink into the beautiful spaciousness between each bell, as we sit together for peace, renewal and forgiveness. Come help us celebrate the peace of the coming year.
Oshogatsu Bonsho Chant
“May the sounding of this bell
dispel
the trials and tribulations
that plague all beings.”
“Come, come quickly New Year’s Day.”
Two Rivers Zen Community: 