My father-in-law passed away three years ago, so we took the last his cremated remains to  Higashi Honganji Temple in Kyoto, Japan.

It was a rare opportunity, so my daughter and son’s families went with me.

We gathered in Kyoto.

We took the cremated remains and went to Higashi Honganji temple with a solemn feeling,

We listened to the priest sermon for 30 minutes and a sutra for 30minutes.

To my surprise, my three grandchildren sat quietly without crying or making a fuss.

I was very happy to see them burn incense.

After that, we had a vegetarian meal in a beautifully decorated room at Higashi Hongwanji Temple! Yuba, tofu, ganmodoki, simmered dishes…all their favorite foods, they said.

The lightly seasoned food with a good broth was very tasty.

We also chanted the words before and after the meal.

It was a time that made me realize how important it is to pass on Buddhist rituals like this to the next generation. I am grateful to my father-in-law and ancestors for giving me this opportunity.