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[ 瑞華院 了聞 ]
本堂に座り、先祖を思い、手を合わせる。そのとき僧侶は仏と遺族をつなぐ通訳者となる。そして祈りの声は極楽浄土へと届く。
都心の一等地、広尾。 大使館が多くありインターナショナルな雰囲気が漂うこの地に、 未来的であり落ち着きも感じられる、独特なデザインの建物がある。 ここが寺院であり、中には納骨堂があるなど誰も思わない。
瑞華院 了聞はテレビコマーシャルでお馴染みの都市型のお寺だ。建物に足を踏み入れると、そこに広がるのは贅沢な空間。庵治石や玄武岩などの本物の素材がふんだんに使われ、 緑青や浮造りなど職人の技による施しがなされている。
「この建物の7階に本堂があり、 そこで朝夕のお勤めが行われています」。 そう語りだしたのは浄土宗 瑞華院 了聞 福井威人 上人。 毎朝8時30分からお勤めと法話があり、 誰でも参加できるという。「寺はそもそも町に開かれているもの。 ここは、外見は少し入りづらいかもしれませんが、でも皆さんに気軽に立ち寄っていただきたいと思い、イベントやカルチャー教室を開催しています。 クラシックコンサートや落語など、多くの人に参加いただいています」。 お坊さんの法話は含蓄があり面白いし、お経は聞いていると深く落ち着く。ふらっと立ち寄ってそんな体験ができるのは素敵だ。「僧侶は通訳者だと私は思っています。僧侶が行うのは、お経の力で遺族と仏様をつなぐことです。 皆さんは南無阿弥陀仏とだけ唱えていただければいいのです」。
そもそも仏教では、 神などの絶対者に対する祈りはなかったという。しかし時代が進むにつれて長寿や除病などの現世利益を求めての祈りが始まり、定着してきた。「仏教では修行によって心理に目覚めることを目指します。ですので絶対者に祈るということはありませんでした。でも、それもひとつの考え方。私は墓参りも祈りだと思っています。手を合わせ、心を静め、先祖に語りかけ、極楽往生を願う。そうすることで現代人に必要な、心の平穏が訪れるのです」。
都心のなかで本当の安らぎを得ることができる、それが瑞華院 了聞での祈り。
Prayer in the city fills the modern mind with peace.
Sitting in the Main Hall, evoking ancestors, hands joined:
The monk interprets between Buddha and the bereaved,
and his prayers reach paradise.
In posh Hiroo, amidst embassies and an international atmosphere, stands a uniquely designed, futuristic, and serene building. It's hard to believe this place is a temple with a columbarium inside.
Zuike-in Ryomon, known from TV commercials, is an urban temple. Inside, a luxurious space awaits, abundantly adorned with Aji stone and basalt and craftsmanship including verdigris and brushed finishes.
"The main hall for morning and evening services is on the 7th floor," says Ijin Fukui, a monk of the Jodo sect at Zuike-in Ryomon. Services and dharma sermons are held daily at 8:30 a.m., open to all. "Temples are community spaces. Though this place may seem intimidating from the outside, we want everyone to feel free to drop by, so we host events and culture classes, including popular classical concerts and rakugo performances."
The monk's dharma sermons are profound and the sutra chants deeply calming. It's wonderful to be able to drop in casually for this experience. "Monks are interpreters, connecting the bereaved with the Buddhas through the power of sutras. Just chant Namu Amida Butsu."
Originally, Buddhism had no prayer to an absolute deity. However, over time, prayers for worldly benefits like longevity and disease prevention became established. "Buddhism aims for awakening to the psyche through practice, not prayer to a deity. But that's just one way of thinking. Visiting graves is another form of prayer. By joining hands, calming the mind, speaking to ancestors, and wishing for rebirth in paradise, modern people can find peace of mind."
True tranquility in the heart of the city—that is prayer at Zuike-in Ryomon.
Prayer in the city fills the modern mind with peace.
Sitting in the Main Hall, evoking ancestors, hands joined:
The monk interprets between Buddha and the bereaved,
and his prayers reach paradise.
In posh Hiroo, amidst embassies and an international atmosphere, stands a uniquely designed, futuristic, and serene building. It's hard to believe this place is a temple with a columbarium inside.
Zuike-in Ryomon, known from TV commercials, is an urban temple. Inside, a luxurious space awaits, abundantly adorned with Aji stone and basalt and craftsmanship including verdigris and brushed finishes.
"The main hall for morning and evening services is on the 7th floor," says Ijin Fukui, a monk of the Jodo sect at Zuike-in Ryomon. Services and dharma sermons are held daily at 8:30 a.m., open to all. "Temples are community spaces. Though this place may seem intimidating from the outside, we want everyone to feel free to drop by, so we host events and culture classes, including popular classical concerts and rakugo performances."
The monk's dharma sermons are profound and the sutra chants deeply calming. It's wonderful to be able to drop in casually for this experience. "Monks are interpreters, connecting the bereaved with the Buddhas through the power of sutras. Just chant Namu Amida Butsu."
Originally, Buddhism had no prayer to an absolute deity. However, over time, prayers for worldly benefits like longevity and disease prevention became established. "Buddhism aims for awakening to the psyche through practice, not prayer to a deity. But that's just one way of thinking. Visiting graves is another form of prayer. By joining hands, calming the mind, speaking to ancestors, and wishing for rebirth in paradise, modern people can find peace of mind."
True tranquility in the heart of the city—that is prayer at Zuike-in Ryomon.
瑞華院 了聞
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『令和のお墓選び』
家族に負担をかけない納骨堂。
《都内唯一》 全室完全個室の納骨堂
〒106-0047 東京都港区南麻布5-1-4
tel.0120-1492-08
https://ryomon.jp/