Buddhist Bonfire Ritual to be Conducted in U.S. for the First Time

March 11, 2000

Source: Los Angeles Times

On March 11, 2000, the Los Angeles Times reported that the Shinnyo-En Buddhist temple in Yorba Linda, California will be host to the Sito Homa, a Buddhist bonfire ritual, on April 14th and 15th. About 5,000 people from all over the world are expected to attend the ritual, which will be the first time the Sito Homa is performed in the United States. The ritual will be conducted by priests from Tokyo and it will take place outside the temple for most of the day in order to accommodate the crowds. Naruhiko Yoshida, the temple's caretaker, stated: "This is done every year in Japan...But having it here will benefit a lot of people who live outside Japan." Shinnyo-En is a Japanese Buddhist organization that emerged early this century which emphasizes the practice of truth and compassion.