Especially on a new year’s day, we should visit family graveyard!?

2009-01-02 No. 19


Yesterday, Aniki and I visited several shrines for paying our first visit of the year. (It is called “Hatsumoude”.)


When we were leaving a shrine and got our car, Kamisama said unusual comment…

G: Thank you for Hatsumoude. You must be tired.

D: No, not at all! I would like to thank you. Because of your grace, Kamasama, I prayed for my friends and family’s good health and happiness… also, I expressed my wishes for this year as well.

G: That is good, but is Hatumoude completed with that?

D: Yes! We are thinking to go home and drink some sake.

G: That is a good idea, but you want to thanks for only gods?

D: Ah? What do you mean? (Well, that means there is someone I have to express my gratitude…)

G: That is right. (He heard me!) Expressing your gratitude is the most important thing for Hatsumoude. And not only to the gods, you need to express your gratitude to ?

D: Of course! (I am pretending like I know the answer. This is my bad habit.)

G: Dragon, who gave birth to you?

D: Ah!!! My parents! But I stayed at my parents’ house yesterday.
G: Did you express your gratitude for the last year and say this year’s greeting? Did you pray by joining your palm together in front of a family Buddhist altar?

D: Umm…. No, I might not do a proper greeting. I didn’t even look at my family altar… but I feel strange to go back to my parents’ house…. My parents know we went to shrines for Hatsumoude.

G: Let’s go back to your parents’ house.

D: Yes! I was just thinking about it. (sharp turn!)

----At our parents’ house, they looked at us strangely, Aniki and Dragon said ‘We thank you for last year. We will continue our best for this year as well!’ Of course, we express our gratitude by our family altar by joining palms together. My parents seem to be happy with our proper greeting.

After we left our parents’ house, Kamisama said in my car…

G: Thank you. Your parents were very pleased. You need to appreciate that they gave birth to you, raised you and also your parents are in good health.

D: Indeed, that is right…. Thank you…

G: By the way, Dragon, you were born from your parents, weren’t you?

D: Yes. I am thanking it.

G: Then, where your parents came from?

D: Of course, from their parents?

G: Where did their parents come from?

D: Ah?, from their parents?

G: Yes, if you trace back, there are so many ancestors that we can’t count.

D: Ah, indeed… I never thought about it…

G: Yes. Most of the people don’t think about it, but if one of your ancestors was lacking, you wouldn’t be here?

D: Ah, indeed, it maybe… No, that is true.

G: By the way, who are the closest ancestors?

D: Ah, ….my parents?

G: Yes. Man has devout thought to take care of his ancestors somewhere in his mind, but

Not many people think that “the closest ancestors” are “Parents”.

D: Ah. Certainly. I am sorry…

G: Now it is okay, you have already expressed your gratitude to your parents. In any case, including your parents, please express your gratitude to your ancestors. Always your ancestors are watching over you, Dragon.

D: Ah!? Really? But I don’t see this kind of world…

G: If you can’t see, you can feel. Every time when you had difficulties, your ancestors were concerned and protecting you. I could say that is why you are alive now.

D: Wow? Did they make their endeavor?

G: Especially your dangerous …. Oops, excuse me. Especially like your inquisitive life. Your ancestors are always watching over you lovingly.

D: Ah, it may be… I am very fortunate…. Certainly, I have to thank them. That means???

G: Visit your family graveyard.

D: Ah!? Excuse me, our family graveyard is really far away!

G: We should get some sake as an offering on the way.

D: Ah…, we are definitely going …. (I feel the handle turns suddenly.)

We arrived at our family graveyard after a few hours later. Our mother’s family grave is too far, so we visited only our father’s grave.

G: Thank you for driving. Let’s pour sake on the grave stone.

D: Ah? From the top of the grave stone, gurgling (generously) ?

G: Yes, gurgling. Before that we need to clean the grave stone. Then thank them for the last year and say your wishes for this year in your mind.

---Aniki and I cleaned the grave stone, poured sake and prayed in front of it.

G: Thank you. All of your ancestors are very pleased.

D: Yas, sake’s nice smell is reeked…. I feel good, too, but we usually visit our grave in Obon season (in August).

G: Yes. Of course you can go in August, but there is a reason that you visit your family grave on a new year’s day. What is the difference?

D: Well, is it because of the season? No, it is not reason, what is it?

G: It is your thought. Dragon’s thought. A new year is a new phase of a year. It is a new departure. Man can look through his life of last year and this year sincerely.

D: Certainly, it may be…

G: Of course, ancestors are waiting for you to visit during Obon season, but there is a special time which your heart is enthusiastic and easy to connect with your ancestors. That is a new year’s day.

D: Indeed… It is time we look back our lives and think of this year… Ancestors may want to have conversation with their descendent.

G: Indeed! Dragon, if you have children and grandchildren, you may think the same. More than that, if they offer sake, will you be definitely happy?

D: There is no mistake!

G: Let's do things which make you happy to your ancestors, people and of course to gods.

D: I understand! Thank you very much!

Honestly, this was the first time to drive this long distance on a new year’s day. But now I feel very cheerful. Also, I feel that I could express my gratitude to who should receive it.

By all means, when you have time, Kamisama recommends you to express your appreciation and your intentions for this year to your ancestors. Of course, it is just good to joining your palm together in front of a family Buddhist altar and thank your parents.

(Personally, I discovered that pouring a sho bottle sake (1.8 liters) on a grave stone makes me feel good!)

Happy New Year from Manyuu

Happy New Year!!!

Wishing you a very best 2010!

I have decided to post my translation without editing by a third person. There will be a lot of grammar mistakes, but this way, I can post quicker. Please forgive me for the mistakes. If anyone who wants to review my translation before posting or after posting, please let me know, or just send me e-mail for corrections. Also, there is a better way of explaining the content of translation, please let me know.

Also, if you have any questions for content of translations, please ask your question. Thank you for your understanding.

Have a great day!

Manyuu