Pittsburgh Setsubon

Welcome to the Year of the Ox! In Japan, the New Year is one of the most important holidays (called shogatsu or oshogatsu). This is partly because each year is viewed as separate from the proceeding year. Thus each new year provides everyone with a completely fresh start. The New Year is prepared by "year forgetting parties" that are celebrations for the purpose of leaving the old year's worries and troubles behind. Japan also celebrates the ancient New Year of the lunar calender, Setsubon. February is at the beginning of the ancient calendar, whilst January marks the end of the previous year. The praying for a year of health, wealth, happiness, and the dispelling of bad fortune is performed by many Japanese people in the month of February even today. Whether one celebrates the Solar New Year or the Lunar New Year, or both, a traditional practice across much of Asia is to visit a shrine or temple at the turning of the year, with the most popular temples and shrines attracting millions of people. However, it is rather expensive to fly to Asia to join the throngs of celebrants during the Holidays. This year, the tiniest of traveling temples will arrive in Pittsburgh. In particular, this New Year, as people all over the world struggle to find some balance amidst hope and fear, expectation and trepidation, present economic difficulties and concerns for a sound financial future, the idea of starting anew, refreshed, grounded, centered, and open to new possibilities and realizing potentialities, sounds like a very smart idea indeed. Here in the New World, in Pittsburgh, we invite you to celebrate the New Year at one of the smallest, brand new, most impermanent of shelters, an hourly rental of Ko Ryu Bujutsukai's Dojo at 5738 Baum Blvd, Third Floor, Pittsburgh, PA, 15206. The Dojo's space will be rented for a few hours by Jigan-in, a traveling hermitage of Ko Ryu Shugen, staffed only by Jikkai Hennum. He will be performing the ceremony of Sanko Goma, rarely seen outside Japan. Please come receive the benefits of having large troubles made small, small troubles reduced to harmlessness, negative things transformed to mere unpleasantness, and unpleasant things made positive and whole by the Holy Fire of Invocation. It is not necessary to be a Buddhist or Shinto or Omyodo Practitioner to participate. One can follow any religion or be an atheist or agnostic, and still take part. Belief is not required. All are welcome. Please, everyone come, relax and enjoy. With sincerity, Gassho, Hennum Sensei When: 9:00 - 11:00 PM Friday, February 27th, 2009. Ceremony will start around 9:15 PM. It takes a little less than an hour and is mostly in Japanese.  Where: Ko Ryu Bujutsukai's Dojo at 5623 Baum Blvd, Third Floor, Pittsburgh, PA, 15206. Participation: Materials will be available to write your name and wish for the coming Year. These will be read aloud and burned during the Invocation. Transport: Dojo is near the intersection of Negley Ave and Baum Blvd. By Bus: Take 71 A from downtown. Or call 412.361.1080 for information during evening hours from 7 to 9 PM. Refreshments will be served at the conclusion of the ceremony. How Much: Dana or Suggested donation of Ten Dollars, but no one is turned away for a lack of funds. The Buddha encouraged everyone to participate in Generosity practise as a method of building up Wisdom and Merit heaps. The important instruction is to give with an open heart. Your support is appreciated. Jikkai hennum studies and received his ordination from Koshikidate Soke, 96th generation Head Priest of Kannon Ji, located in Higashine City, Yamamgata, Japan. The Year 2009 is: Heisei 21: 21st Year of Heisei era Tsuchinoto : 6th of the Ji-kan or 10 celestial stems Ushi doshi: Year of the Yin Earth Ox Kyushi Kasei : Nine purple fire star