Goma Fire Ceremony

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2011-04-27T20:46:00.000-07:00

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3 Year Anniversary | Atlanta | Northern California

2010-10-28T19:18:00.000-07:00

Greetings everyone,

Today we finished our 3 year apple anniversary goma! It was unique because we had all women in attendance except, of course, for Tyrone our Goma dog. The weather was stunningly perfect and one guest reported that the wind blew in two different directions simultaneously.Thanks to the work of Maryanne Davis, we were able to capture some really nice images. Please enjoy them below.

Also in other big news, we will do a Goma in Atlanta on Nov 7th. Our temple carpenter, Adam Bradley san, has also invited us to conduct one for his Aikido Dojo in Northern California. And we received a very nice invitation to do one next spring in Vermont as well. So, very exciting developments!

It's been three years

2010-10-18T21:19:00.000-07:00

Our three year anniversary Goma will be Thursday October 28th. The October Goma is my favorite of the year for several reasons:

1. The foliage is beautiful
2. The air is cool and crisp
3. Apple Cider!
4. It's our anniversary
5. The veil between the physical and non physical worlds is very thin around Halloween

Please consider joining us and please do tell your friends.

Three years ago we performed the first public Goma with a small group of friends around a campfire. Please see www.fireceremony.org/dojo/dojo.html for pictures of then and now. It is truly amazing how much has changed in three short years.

Atlanta, GA:

Our friend in Atlanta will be hosting a Goma on Sunday, November 7th. If you are in the Atlanta area, please contact me as we would love for you to attend.

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 11TH!

2010-08-15T08:37:00.001-07:00

On Saturday September 11th, my teacher, Rev. Jomyo Tanaka will be at our Goma. This is a very special event as this is Rev. Tanaka's first visit to CT from Japan.

This is a don't miss event...please do your best to join us.

Contact for more info gomaceremony@gmail.com

Major Construction Work Completed!

2010-07-26T16:01:00.000-07:00

Mr. Adam Bradley of Madera Sculptures, our temple carpenter, just completed construction of our new Torii gate. Over the past 9 days, we completed 3 major projects. The attached pictures are of the finished projects.

Completion of the Fudo Myoo housing Structure: We dug the structure into the ground, completed a new border, and filled with new white marble

Construction of the Tamagaki Shrine Fence: Adam san constructed a traditional tamagaki fence to surround the shrine. Each premium white pine slat had to be cut at the exact prescribed angle and this project took a full 5 days. The posts were constructed from Douglas Fir.

Construction of Torii Gate: This is the project we are most excited about. We found the perfect sacred tree and made the special offering before cutting. The tree was a standing dead tree with beautiful turquoise lichens growing on the bark. We had to build to precise specifications and we hit several snags and Adam san had to rework the design. Ultimately we chose the more rustic Kuroki style Torii. The Nuki lower cross beam, was hand milled by Adam san from the same tree. Later we will build the more elegant Myojin style Torii.

Video from the Seminar 7/18/2010

2010-07-22T09:56:00.000-07:00

In advance of Sensei's September visit we had a seminar on Sunday July 18, 2010 to explore some elements of Shingon and Shinto daily practice. We culminated the seminar with the short form of the Goma. Please enjoy some video from that ceremony on You Tube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QSDnGUmbhh8

Special Event - July 18th

2010-07-03T07:22:00.000-07:00

I have had a couple of requests to hold a seminar on Sunday, July 18th. This is a wonderful opportunity to experience the meditations and chanting from our Shingon Tradition. We will share a relaxed casual day of Shingon and Shinto, the traditions behind the goma, as well as delve deeper into the various aspects of the Goma.

If you are looking to develop a daily meditation practice, become more involved with the Goma, or are just curious about Japanese spirituality, this is a perfect opportunity.

And we are very excited that during the time of the seminar, our Temple carpenter/sculptor - Mr. Adam Bradley will be here from Sacramento California working on some new projects! We hope Adam san will share some of his insights from years of aikido training and experience as the live in shrine assistant for Tsubaki Grand Shrine of America in Washington State - the lineage of our Shinto practices.

Here's some of what we will cover:

1. The layout of the dojo - the various aspects of the shrine and temple sections

2. Setting up a sacred space

3. Basic meditations and chanting

4. A bit of cosmology

5. The history of the Goma...and sacred fire in general

6. The individual pieces that comprise the Goma

7. The role of Goma assistant

8. Special chanting for the Goma

9. And we will conclude with an abbreviated Goma\

And there will be plenty of time for Questions and Answers and spontaneity.

Let's get started around 1pm. Please contact us for more information - gomaceremony@gmail.com

Goma Questions and Answers

2010-06-22T19:26:00.000-07:00

I recently had the pleasure of receiving some very meaningful and probing questions via email from a practitioner of Japanese Esoteric Buddhism. I thought I might share some of the questions and responses here:

In the Tendai services and retreats that I have attended, there is a lot of esoteric practice involving (and dedicated to) Fudo Myo-o. What is the significance of this type of practice? Fudo also appears to have the same general attributes in all images and statues - do you know the source of these attributes or why they were chosen?

You may want to look at the Fudo Myoo page on the fireceremony site. It explains a bit about Ofudosan. Esoteric practice involving Ofudosan is done to unite with Ofudosan's energy and essence and to embody same. I don't know the original source of Ofudosan's attributes but they are related to his work as the wrathful face of Dainichi Nyorai.

I have performed a kyudo sharei where participants in the ceremony write down things that they believe are blocking spiritual progress; these notes are then torn into confetti sized pieces and placed in a small envelope which is then pierced by arrows (the pieces are later burned). The experience is profound for not only the archer but also everyone attending - people watching have described almost the same level of samadhi that the archer experiences

This is another magical way of dispersing obstacles.

What is your experience performing the Goma? Do the observers/participants experience the same? I have never attended a goma, so this may be an unfair question.

Most people who attend the Goma report having very profound experiences. My experience performing the Goma is different everytime and also varies depending on what type of Goma I am doing. I'm not really sure how best to respond to this as I don't know exactly what each individual experiences. I only know what they report afterwards and it seems to be different in each case. As with all spiritual experience, it is highly personal.

The question I have is, I suppose, a question of faith - does Ofudosan act as archetype or actual spiritual entity? If Fudo Myo'o is an archetype, then can any model of person or spiritual being serve in this fashion? What is your experience when conducting an esoteric practice dedicated to Ofudosan?

The answer to your faith question really is “yes.”

Ofudosan is a deity portrayed with certain anthropomorphic characteristics so that we may better understand and relate to him from the human realm. There are other deities around the world with similar energies as Fudo Myoo however he has special significance to our Shingon Tradition because he is a warrior aspect of Mahavairocana. An understanding of the cosmology and workings of the universe in terms of humans, spirits, and deities might prove a bit tough via email though you do seem to have a draw to these practices and I feel like you should continue to explore the connections

What I found interesting is that those people observing or participating in the ritual (meaning those that agreed to be part of the visualization) can describe the symbolism of the bow, arrow, and some of the movements without having been told. Do you find this in your Goma attendees? What do you mean by "magical"?

The actual visualizations which are considered secret so I cannot share them openly with attendees. I have not had anyone share with me experience of the actual practices while observing though people have described some pretty remarkably accurate experiences of seeing the energy move in certain ways that is consistent with the practices within the ritual.

Magical, in this case, refers to working with energy.

What draws you to esoteric practice? What draws you to Shingon practice?

Well I like to be involved. I wouldn’t really be happy in a tradition that only allows me to observe, watch, or ask…so esoteric practices allows me to roll up my sleeves (those robe sleeves sometimes can be pretty bulky! :) and get actively involved with the energies I’m working with. Shingon – hmmm that was really a karmic connection. I was so lucky to meet Sensei when I was 19 and he shared with me very early on some of the karmic connections and significance of Shingon and myself. I continue to practice Shingon because I really enjoy the union of the personal development internal pieces with some of the more external “in the world” magical aspects. I enjoy the balance of the two and also, I think it's really important to build a base of purification, compassion, spiritual humility, and understanding of the nature of karma and the nature of self and shingon provides a beautiful way to do this. The necessity of spiritual purification is also a core aspect of the Shinto teachings that I practice and this base of purity is so important to any spiritual work.

As Rev. Tanaka often says:

"Everyday you practice, then little by little you get happy life, creative life."

And I think that about sums it up.

Rev Tanaka to visit the Goma: Special Goma Sept 11, 2010. Please mark your calendars.

2010-05-09T19:26:00.001-07:00

I am so happy to announce that my teacher, Rev. Jomyo Tanaka, has given the dates for his September visit to our Goma. This is a truly historic event as the last time Ajari Tanaka was in Connecticut was in 1978; during my birthday, he was taking a bus through CT on a trip across country after having just arrived in the US. Ajari-san will arrive Friday September 10th from Tokyo and depart monday September 13th. We will have a very special Goma on Saturday September 11th.

Please join us and enjoy the opportunity to meet a truly amazing ascended spiritual master. Rev. Tanaka's story is so unique and interesting and is chronicled here: Rev. Tanaka's Life Story

I first met Ajari Tanaka when I was 19 years old and now 13 years later, I am honored and truly shocked to welcome him to visit our goma to see how we are carrying his teachings out into the world. The notion of having Sensei present at the Goma is pretty nerve wracking to be honest but I am so happy he wants to visit us. Stay tuned for more details of the schedule of his visit as it gets closer.

Also on Sunday June 6th, we will hold a mini seminar for those interested in learning more of the traditions behind the Goma. We will explore and practice aspects of Shinto and the basic practices of Shingon as well as discuss the history and aspects of the Goma ritual. We will start at 1pm, practice for a few hours, have dinner, and then we will do a special short form of the Goma at sunset. Participants will be invited to sit in the sacred space around the fire altar. This is a perfect opportunity for those who have expressed interest in becoming more deeply involved with the Goma, anyone who would like to develop a core daily spiritual practice, or those who are just curious about Japanese spirituality. If you are interested in attending, please let me know.

Finally, we are starting a small group for martial arts training which will be meeting 1-2 times per week. If you are interested in practicing martial arts with us, please contact me. We generally train for around 1.5 to 2 hours and then sometimes we finish with the misogi water purification practice and/or a short form of the Goma. The training includes striking, grappling, body movement and rolling, and use of weapons.

Thank you all so much for your support.

Upcoming Goma Projects

2010-04-07T22:22:00.001-07:00

Dear Friends of the Goma,

First may I thank you for all of your support over the past 2.5 years. It's been quite a ride - when I met Sensei in 1997 as a teenager I never imagined I would be doing such a thing. In fact, I really believed that it wouldn't be possible for a non japanese kid to learn such a ritual let alone introduce it to the public and minister to their needs.

Well here we are 2.5 years into the Goma and it gets better each month owing in large part to your support. Now I cannot imagine not doing the work that I am doing and some of the stories people have shared with me relative to their profound experiences with the Goma are truly magical.

Several people have expressed interest in learning more about the Goma practices and the practices of Shingon and Shinto and so I will schedule a small seminar so that we can explore them in early May. Please stay tuned.

Performing the fire ceremony each month requires considerable expense and hard work and I am so thankful for all the support we have received.

May I share with you some of our recent expenses?

Supplies purchased in Japan this past fall: $6000

Cost to build sculpture of Ofudosama, the chief deity: $3000

Refinishing Ofudosan and building his housing: $2500

500 custom made amulets: $1500

New outdoor heaters: $200

Cost of materials for each Goma: $100

Those are just a snap shot of some of our recent expenses and doesn't include the cost of building and maintaining the dojo. Currently we average about $100 in donations for each goma so we are covering the cost of the offerings and wood.

We have some major projects coming up this spring and summer to prepare for the very special visit of Reverend Tanaka (my teacher) in September.

1) We will build the traditional Japanese Torii sacred gate at the entrance to the space.

2) We will build the Tamagaki traditional fence around the shrine in the dojo.

3) We will like to build the temizu-ya "hand-water place" used for purification before entering the sacred space.

4) We are looking at estimates to rebuild the viewing deck...to expand it to allow for more guests.

5) Looking off into the future, we would like to purchase the property for use as a full time Temple and space where many different teachers can teach their arts to others...because we are halfway between Boston and NYC, it is the great location for such a center.

I don't yet have the estimates on these projects but know they won't be cheap. I feel like it will be easy to do with a little bit of help from the friends and supporters. To that end, if you feel called to assist us with a donation, not only will you generate great karma but we will also have a very special Goma to be offered for the wishes and blessings for each of you who assist.

If you are able to assist us, I would be most grateful. We can accept paypal (gomaceremony@gmail.com), cash, checks, etc. This summer we will be incorporating as the 501(c)3 non profit organization which will allow donations to be tax deductible but we haven't done so yet.

Thank you all so much for your help and I look forward to being able to share even more of this wonderful sacred ceremony with you.

Yoroshiku Onegaishimasu!

Welcome to Spring!

2010-03-27T12:13:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone,

Each time I login in to the email system, the list has grown. Now we have friends from as far as Australia participating in each Goma. Thank you all for your support!

May I welcome you to the Spring Season! The vernal equinox which took place this past Saturday represented the day when the daytime/nightime were equal and our actual and spiritual passing into the spring season.

From the ancient Taoist teachings comes the creationary and control cycles depicting how each of the five elements (Wood ---> Fire----> Earth --->Metal--->Water) interact in three different models:

1) How one creates another

2) How one consumes another

3) How one controls/moderates another

This model is so interesting to study and forms the basis of Chinese medicine/acupuncture.

Spring is the season of wood...the element that lends to birth and growth...and feeds fire. Spring time is the natural time to clean (Spring cleaning) and to enjoy the burst of energy that comes with the youth of birth of growth.

Come celebrate wood giving birth to fire at this month's Goma Fire Ceremony which falls on a SUNDAY!

Sunday March 28th at 4:30pm. If you wish to inscribe wishes on wood please arrive by 4:30pm. If you wish to only observe the ceremony, we will start at about 5:00. It's fine to arrive at 5:00 or after if you only wish to observe the ritual.

As always please do invite friends and if you cannot make it and have wishes that you would like to offer for manifestation, you may email them to us at gomaceremony@gmail.com.

OFudosama Gets a Makeover | Special Guest Announced

2010-02-20T08:19:00.000-08:00

I am so excited to announce that we will have the special guest from Japan attend February Goma. Keita Kunimitsu san, who is the son of Mrs. Tanaka - my teacher's wife will visit the US and attend the Goma. Keita-san is on business and recently had a baby girl so we are so happy he can visit the US for a few days.

In the early part of February, Ofudosama, the main deity of our Goma received a makeover and a new structure was built to house him. Please enjoy the pictures below.

February Goma will be Sunday Feb 28th at 4pm. If you do not wish to inscribe wishes on Gomaki, you may arrive around 4:40

Thank you everyone!

Report of Goma from the Eyes of a Guest

2010-01-31T07:55:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone,

We have completed January Goma with the most unusual weather phenomena. The forecast called for mid 40s as it had been all week but we woke up to a magical snowstorm...all in all about 4 inches of snow before the skies became clear just before Goma. Then, just as the Goma was ending we had a blizzard with probably close to 30mph wind, and then magically right after the ceremony, the skies cleared giving way to the 13th day of the new moon which we saw as a bright full moon on a bitter cold night.

Our special guest, Mr Adam Bradley, took some time to write of his experiences. Please enjoy his essay and some pictures.

If you have never heard of the Goma, it is a traditional Japanese Buddhist fire ceremony that offers practitioners an opportunity release and cleanse unwanted thoughts and habits as well as the chance to offer wishes or prayers for any purpose. I had the unique opportunity to participate for my first time on this 28th of January, Fudo Myo’s day. Preparations were readied for the ceremony early in the day and now the mood was relaxed as the dojo cho arrived on the outdoor deck to greet guests. There were four guests that made the trip from nearby cities on this blistering day to the fairly remote location in the Connecticut woodlands. The forested residence where the Goma is held each month sits adjacent of a two thousand acre state park, a forested wonderland in which the recently fallen snow powdered the hilled topography. A lull in the stormy weather offered an opportunity for guests to enjoy tea and mochi (Japanese rice cake) while preparing wishes on small pine sticks in advance of the ceremony.

When my trip was planned two months previously it was suggested we schedule the trip so I could participate in the Goma. But the reason for my trip would be much more than a spiritual vacation. Two years previously I had sculpted a three foot tall Fudo Myo, the main deity of the fire ceremony, from a single piece of western red cedar with a backdrop of flames sculpted from old growth redwood. Since then the combination of weather extremes and sun exposure had deteriorated the wood finish on the outdoor sculpture. So it was decided that a trip should be scheduled to refurbish the wood sculpture and create a more permanent outdoor housing to prevent future damage due to extreme weather conditions.

Ive been hearing about the goma since completing the Fudomyo Zou in 2008 and now I had the chance to participate. The Ceremony opened with a traditional Japanese Shinto purification, called Kiyomeharae. I have experienced this practice many times over the years while visiting my sensei at Tsubaki Grand Shrine of America, a Shinto shrine in upper Washington state. During this process the entire space is purified using salt, special sand and clean white paper flakes along with Sake which are thrown to the four corners pacifying the space for the spiritual the undertaking

Now the Buddhist Ceremony would begin and the weather still very cold, in the 20s, but the sun still shined brightly through sparse clouds. I took my place at the side of the Goma alter where many small brass dishes filled with variety of food offerings and such. The Dojo cho made his appearance adorned in bright green Japanese robes, readied himself, lit incense and began the incantations to further purify and open a clean space for the Kami/Deity. When the fire was finally struck and the prayer sticks began to burn, the intensity increased exponentially till the chants for Fudyo myo ushered the first climactic event. The sky turned sapphire hues as the sun began to set and clouds rolled in with so many large snow flakes beginning to fall. Earlier in the day we had erected a tarp to provide shelter for just this occasion, and as we would find, it was so good to have it.

Now the Ceremony was coming to a close and the incantation of Japanese prayers began again for one last round of fire and offerings. As the sacred fire grew so did the intensity of the weather and dark clouds billowed over the mountain with wind gusts and intense snow to stir our concentration. And then a most unlikely thing occurred, as if conjured by the chanting, a billowing thunder roared over the mountain. Blizzard conditions pursued for what seamed like an eternity and was gone as quickly as it arrived. The fire dimmed and ceased. With all the prayer sticks burned and offerings had, the ceremony was completed. The remaining guests sat persistently by a waning fire and propane heaters, chilled by the blistering cold but very happy to have participated and so was I. We retired to our guests home for tea and warmth to discuss the unique ceremony and events that transpired. Such a neat experience to usher the work that would be completed over the next week.

Douglas Adam Bradley is Sculptor in Northern California specializing in wooded statuary.
Web address: www.MaderaSculptures.com
Contact: adam@maderaSculptures.com

Special Guest in Town

2010-01-26T20:23:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone,

Now we are preparing for the first Goma of 2010 and I am so happy to announce that Mr Adam Bradley of Sacramento, CA is in town. Adam is the master wood sculptor who carved our Fudo Myoo statue and is here refinishing the statue and building the weatherproof housing for it.

Please visit Adam's site at www.maderasculptures.com

Please also join us this Thursday at 3:15 pm. If you cannot make the ceremony and would like to make wishes, please email them to me at gomaceremony@gmail.com.

Thank you so much everytime!

New Years Goma | Guarding Health During Holiday Season

2009-12-22T17:34:00.001-08:00

Of course this time of year we are all so busy celebrating the holidays of light at the darkest time of the year with good food, friends, family, and gifts. Whatever holiday you celebrate, please enjoy! And please enjoy all of the pristine freshly fallen snow. I can't remember the last white Christmas we had in CT.

We just crossed the winter solstice "Touji" in Japanese. This was the shortest day of the year and we are moving into the most yin time of the year. This time when all life retreats inward is a great time for profound spiritual reflection. (and a trip to Keywest J)

Please also guard your health at this time of year by being sure to cover up the back of your neck and staying warm. The back of the neck houses two important acupuncture points called "gallbladder 20" or "gate of wind" translated from Chinese. Oriental medicine teaches us that the internal climate is a microcosm of the external climate and as such we are susceptible to invasions by cold wind and dampness. One of the entry points for the cold wind is the back of the neck. From there is travels to the lung which houses the first barrier of protective energy. This is why we sneeze , sniffle, and cough.

The Japanese term for " to catch a cold" is Kaze o Hikimashita or "to catch the wind."

So please do your best to avoid catching a cold, a wind, or a cold wind by covering up the back of your neck, staying warm, eating healthy warming/yang foods, getting enough sleep, and staying happy.

Perhaps the best way to stay warm is attend this month's Goma. I know it may sound ridiculous but we have two new heaters - one an outdoor wood burning stove and the other a propane heater. That means we will have 3 heaters next weekend.

Our New Years Goma obstacle removing fire ceremony will be held on Sunday December 27^th. Please note that we have moved it up one day from the customary 28^th so that more people can attend. This is perhaps the most important Goma of the year as it clears away all obstacles to whatever you want/need in the new year. It's also a wonderful way to boost your new year's resolutions. So please join us if you can and invite friends. Please arrive by 2pm.

May you be filled with brightness going into the new year.

Cut Obstacles for the New Year!

2009-11-30T19:15:00.000-08:00

We finished the November Goma on Saturday under very sunny skies. Our heater broke just before the start so I want to thank the guests who braved the cold to join us as we had a very good turnout. We had the very special guests - one of my most treasured teachers who I hadn't seen in some time and his girlfriend joined us. I've posted some pictures below.

The December ceremony will be held on Sunday December 27th at 2pm. This goma is especially important because it is focused on clearing away any obstacles that may be holding us back from success, prosperity, and abudance in the new year. So, pleased do join us and tell your friends...together, let's bring in 2010 with purpose, vision, and no obstacles!

Thank you all!

Rev Tanaka to visit CT Fudosan Kongo-Ji Temple

2009-11-22T21:49:00.000-08:00

Minnasama Doumo…

Just now I am sitting in the Tokyo airport on my way back to US after the very successful trip to Japan. Here I will share some pictures from the trip.

Maybe my favorite thing about visiting Japan is the food…and it started with a tremendous breakfast buffet the morning after I landed. scrambled eggs, boiled eggs, fried eggs, Spanish omelets, egg curry, Canadian bacon, ham, crispy bacon, soft bacon, sausage, chicken sausage, steamed veges, rice noodles, all kinds of fish, 4 different kinds of tofu, miso soup, various Japanese vegetables, chocolate Danish, apple Danish, strawberry Danish, bread, croissant, cereal, oatmeal, pancakes, French toast, hash browns, all the fruit you can imagine, and about 12 other kinds of bread/danishes, orange juice, acerola juice, apple juice, grapefruit juice, tea, coffee…and a bunch of stuff I don’t remember.

Then I could spend several days on the sacred mountain that is home to several of the Okamisama spirits that are enshrined in our Dojo Shrine and to whom we make offerings before Goma time. In Japan, mountains are considered the sacred abode of the spirits and this mountain is so incredibly powerful…it has the very profound spiritual history of the yamabushi (mountain ascetics) training. Mountains are addressed by the suffix San which is used when addressing a person. Essentially it means Mr. or Mrs. Each day twice I could walk to the onsen hot springs and enjoy the hot mineral spring bath in the cool mountain air. During the morning I was planning to hike up to the inner shrine which is deeper in the mountains, we had the really big rain but it cleared after noon and a bunch of synchronicities led to very profound experiences at the shrine.

And then it was off for the busy week in Tokyo area with Rev. Tanaka. It was the harvest Thanksgiving festival in Japan which is a national holiday similar to our thanksgiving. The temple had a really magnificent two day ceremony where many people could light candles and offer Thanksgiving to the spirits of their ancestors. I particularly enjoy this ceremony because of the thousands of candles that are lit and placed around the edges of the pagoda and in the water stream.

During the week, I could spend a lot of time with Sensei, study the goma, purchase new items for the Goma, and discuss with Sensei our progress. During this time, Sensei Tanaka presented me with a ceremonial kesa that was passed to him by Archbishop Seytsu Takahashi. Takahashi Sensei served as the Bishop of North America from 1931 until 1982 and later became the Hoin -archbishop of Koyasan the highest position in Shingon. I am so grateful to be able to wear such a powerful kesa.

Sensei is very happy with our goma and

Rev Tanaka has announced his visit to Fudosan Kongo-Ji Temple in September 2010.

Sensei will be visiting our CT Temple in September of 2010 and we will have the very special Goma. More information will be posted as it becomes available.

Sumimasen (excuse me), now my plane is leaving soon and I must go to boarding.

Please join us on November 28^th.

Thank you everyone!

Myochi Riki.

Important October Announcements!

2009-10-03T12:35:00.000-07:00

This past Monday we could complete the September Goma. Several new guests joined us and everyone had a good time sharing tea and cider after the ceremony. Rain was predicted for most of the day and it was so interesting - the moment the ceremony ended, the skies opened up as a storm came through causing everyone to rush into the indoor dojo. For our first year, we never had rain on Goma Day even when it was predicted, the skies cleared around ceremony time. Lately, we have had lots of rain which is very interesting considering the number of rain and storm spirits that can aid us in our work. It reminds me of the day I received my first initiation from Sensei, it was rainy and at several points the wind kicked up. I thought nothing of it but he mentioned the significance of it to me three times that evening. Whatever the weather, it is just as it should be and just perfect for the Goma.

Omamori Amulets are Here!

The amulets for our Goma have arrived from Japan. These amulets, called Omamori are purified and empowered in the sacred fire and used to protect the bearer from misfortune, harm, illness, and misdirected energies. They are embued with the power of the Goma deities and have the power to bring good luck and healing. They can be carried on your person, hung in your car or room, or kept in a purse. Additionally, they can be returned and renewed annually. The cost for each Omamori is $15 and can be arranged by contacting us at gomaceremony@gmail.com or even better, by coming to a Goma!

Very Special Healing Class October 24, 25, and 26, 2009

Space for the October Reiki I Class is extremely limited so if you are interested, please let me know asap. This is a very unique opportunity to be initiated into the Japanese healing art of Reiki through a 21 hour program taught by master healer Teresa Weatherly. Teresa is the rare person who is both a divinely guided master healer and incredible teacher and she has agreed to travel from the other side of the country to teach this class in our dojo. Reiki is a Japanese form of energetic healing that calls upon very high vibration light-energy that you can use to heal yourself and others. Once you have had the initiations, the vessel is opened and the healing energy naturally flows through you. This class is very unique in that it contains 4 attunements and is a 3 day immersion experience. Please do let us know as soon as possible if you wish to attend .

October 2 Year Anniversary Goma Mentioned in Natural Awakenings

Natural Awakenings magazine was so kind to contact us about our October Goma. October is always a very powerful ceremony because the air is cool and crisp, the foliage is changing, and we enjoy apple cider around the campfire after the ceremony. The starting time is 4pm because we expect a large crowd but we know you may not get off of work until later than 4pm so please feel free to arrive anytime you are able. By the time all the wishes are written, the ceremony will probably actually begin a bit after five o'clock and proceed through sunset.

Thank you all for your help and support always.

Diamond Temple of Fudo Mountain

2009-09-19T11:25:00.000-07:00

Minnasan, doumo...hello everyone,

This past week Sensei (Rev. Tanaka) gave us the name and calligraphy (displayed below) for "Fudosan Kongo-Ji" the meaning is "Diamond Temple of Fudo Mountain." This is a significant step for us and I will explain a little bit about the meaning of the name.

"Fudo-san," refers to Fudo Myoo, the chief diety to whom the Goma is offered. (For more information about the chief diety please click here ). In this case, "san" refers to the Chinese character for mountain. In Japan mountains are the sacred abode of the spirits.

"Kongo" literally translates as "diamond" but the deeper meaning refers to the male aspect of Dainichi Nyorai, (Mahavairocana in Sanskrit) the great universal cosmic Buddha from which all other deities are emanations. In this way, the concept is very similar to the western notion of "God," "Spirit," or "The Creator" - all names for the highest universal deity. Kongo is in reference to the Kongokai mandala, one of the two artistic depictions of the Shingon pantheon and view of the universal process. (More information here)

Ji is Japanese for Temple.

So we are very excited to be given this name. Sensei also dropped one more surprise last week: We are getting our own omamori. In Japan, many people will carry with them a protective amulet from a shrine or temple and these are called Omamori. These amulets bear a sacred protective mantra inside and are embued with the energy of their shrine or temple. Our Omamori will bear our new name and be purified and empowered in the Goma Fire before being given to those who wish to have them. An omamori is shown below:

Please join us for an upcoming fall goma at Diamond Spirit Temple of Fudo Mountain.

August Goma Finished!

2009-08-29T15:10:00.000-07:00

Yesterday Friday August 28th we could have our August Goma. The weather was a very purifying and vibrant rain and several new guests attended. After the ceremony, we enjoyed tea and mochi in the indoor dojo (which is relatively rare as we typically gather outside) and great conversation.

One regular participant, a modern orthodox Jewish man, commented on how non denominational he finds the ceremony and mentioned that he could see light emanating from within the shrine. Another first time participant commented that she could see a border of light around the perimeter of the dojo and went into an instant meditative state when the ceremony began. It is always nice to hear participants recount the magic of the ceremony.

This time we had no assistants who were able to attend so we were not able to enjoy the full effect of the chanting but I think everyone had a good experience.

Please join us next month and note that at the September and October fire ceremonies, we enjoy hot apple cider and will likely sit around a campfire after the October ceremony which will be our two year anniversary.

July Goma Owarimashita

2009-07-30T17:29:00.001-07:00

Yesterday evening we completed the fire ceremony around 9pm. We were joined by two special guests from out of town - Rev. Dr. Ryushin Nick Karapasas, a chiropractor and priest of the Japanese Tendai school of Japanese esoteric Buddhism (http://www.tendai.org/) and Rev. Dr. Richard Jisho Sears, a psychologist and Director of the Center for Clinical Mindfulness at UIU (www.myunion.edu/ccmm) and Tendai Priest. We also really enjoyed meeting several new guests who attended for the first time. And, of course, our long time assistant Justin Pegnataro, helped us tremendously by showing the guests how to make the Gomaki wishes and leading them into the dojo during the ceremony.

The day was incredibly warm and humid with sinister skies and a severe thunderstorm watch. Fortunately, we avoided a direct hit before the ceremony as the storms moved north of us but we erected our rain protection (a large blue Home Depot tarp) anyway. We also enjoyed the first use of five new meditation cushion sets which arrived yesterday by UPS. The fire was intense and especially hot and the wind and rain picked up at certain points during the ceremony.

We got started as the sun set and I think everyone could really have the good experience. After the ceremony, we enjoyed hojicha, a mild tea made by roasting the green tea leaves and our delicious mochi. As we shared some great conversation, the storms picked up and we had some big thunder and lightning.

Thank you to the deities who assisted us, to the assistants who made for a great experience, and to the guests who attended and supported us.

Please enjoy the pictures from the ceremony.

Sensei's keys to happiness and abundance

2009-07-26T15:13:00.000-07:00

When you think about your life and the choices you make, and you really deeply examine them, you’ll probably agree that most of what we do is seek happiness. We all want to live a happier, more fulfilled life and feel like we’ve accomplished something of value to both us and the world.

Last November, while I was in Japan, Tanaka Sensei shared with me his 5 secrets to happiness. He was preparing them as a speech he was going to give that weekend to a large crowd and I was fortunate to receive his teaching over tea while he was preparing. If you follow them faithfully, you will find your life bringing you not only a permanent and unwavering happiness, but also incredible abundance. I am so thankful to be able to share Sensei’s secrets.

These 5 keys are profound in their simplicity and incredibly effective in their truth. The first three deal with the physical body/mind and the last two address the spiritual. I hope these five notions can benefit you as much as they have me.

Good Food: (Shokuyo) Our bodies are our vehicle in the human realm. They encapsulate all that it means to be human and provide us the capacity and capability to live. Consequently, how we nourish and treat them is directly related to how we feel. By making healthy choices about what we consume, we are making more enlightened choices about how we choose to live. In addition to consuming healthy foods, regular exercise is also extremely important.

Respect: (Koyo) In Japan, respect permeates every aspect of the culture. American society, in contrast, is characterized by a sense of entitlement. We want everyone to respect and acknowledge us. Sensei’s teaching on Koyo underpins one of the most important keys to materializing abundance: Gratitude. Respect for parents and elders and an attitude of gratitude for all that you already have will increase your emotional vibration. By emotional vibration, I mean such lower emotions as jealousy and greed will be replaced by better feeling, peace, harmony, love, and appreciation. Since like attracts like, such emotions will attract more abundance into your life. So, give it a try – offer respect and gratitude and see what happens.

Knowledge: (Kyoyo) Just as the physical body needs nourishment and exercise, so does the mind. Regular reading and cultural activities will broaden your horizons and open the mind. Have you ever met an uptight person who is narrow minded? How did you feel around such a person? Did they strike you as being truly happy? Keeping an open and fresh outlook is another super important key to maintaining positive emotions. So, read something mind expanding…go to a play…try a different ethnic cuisine.

Spiritual Practice: (Shuyo) Get on a regular schedule that allows you a daily period of meditation time…time to connect with the core of who you are. This could be a daily period of meditation, tai chi, yoga, etc. The most important element is that everyday you take some time out for yourself to relax and connect to and with yourself in the here and now…in this moment.

Offering: (Kuyo) In addition to taking care of yourself, it is very important to maintain a connection with the divine. We are spiritual beings living a human existence and having a connection to the divine keeps us on our path and in touch with what’s really important and truly real. It also provides a source of life energy (chi) that is far more powerful than what is available to us when we draw from only ourselves. Find time everyday to offer to the divine, whatever that is for you. This could be a period of daily prayer and thanksgiving or actual food offerings as is common in the eastern traditions such as Shingon, Shinto,Taoism, and Hinduism. There are realms beyond the physical everyday reality that we see, hear, feel, and choose to acknowledge. And, we all have our own unique spirit guides. It’s not important which tradition most calls to you or whether you choose a personal religious path, but it is critical that you do have a connection to forces higher than yourself. This is so important because it allows you, on a daily basis, to step outside the pressures and stresses of worldly life and tap into higher potentials that will enable you to fully actualize your spirituality and your purpose for being here.

May your life be filled with endless abundance and boundless happiness and may faithfully following Sensei’s advice benefit you as it has benefited me.

New Blog

2009-07-22T18:32:00.001-07:00

We are just putting together our site. Please check back for blog posts.