Gishiki (Ceremony) for the Shinja in San Francisco Area Held for the First Time
Celebrating a Life Juncture with Family and Stepping Forward in Life!

On August 12th, 2023, a round of gishiki was held in San Francisco, California, following the gishiki that were held in Canada earlier in July. In the past, Kyōkai events were always held in southern parts of the California for people living in the western parts of the US. So, this was the first time for the Kyōkai to host an event in the northern parts of the state in the city of San Francisco. This decision was made to accommodate the number of people in the Bay Area who weren’t able to attend the event in Los Angeles this May due to distance, and also to accommodate the many requests over the years for gishiki there. A staff from the Florida office carried all equipment needed for gishiki and traveled over 2,400 miles with joy to meet the people at the venue. It was a day that everyone was looking forward to participating in the Kyōkai event.

“The day is finally here!”—people arrived at the venue with a big smile on their faces. It was filled with much anticipation mixed with excitement about the event, and to meet other fellow shinja. “Positive!” was one of the first voices heard from the participant. Other people who attended the benkyōkai or participated in gishiki also said; “I’m so glad I got to meet and talk to our fellow members.” “I am happy to be able to participate with my family.”  The participants all had a meaningful experience.

Gratitude Until Today and the Determination for the Future

People who have reached an important life juncture attended gishiki along with their family. As the room turned ready for gishiki, the altar stood solemn and stern, and a sense of purity filled the atmosphere. And it naturally makes people sit up straight, and correct their posture as they sit in front of goshintai where the spirit of Kami is placed. Adding to the good sensation of tension drawn out from the environment set for gishiki, the attendees become more serious and focused when the dendōshi (priest) tells them that their kokoro is connected and delivered to Kami. Although gishiki is held mostly in Japanese, there were moments when the dendōshi would explain in English. The attendee’s gratitude until today and each of their determination for the future is drawn out as they truly take in the importance of their life juncture, the meaning of gishiki, and deliver their kokoro to Kami. The actual sensation that their feelings are connected to Kami allows them to be wrapped in a deep sense of security, their will to live overflows from within. Gishiki is an important occasion that is necessary in your journey moving forward with great energy to achieve happiness.

Deepening Ties with Family and the Joy of Living Together as a Family

A couple celebrated the wife’s 60th birthday with Shinkon no Gi. In looking back on her life that had always been blessed and protected by Kami, her will to live longer and to further seek happiness grew stronger.  The husband felt the same too. As he sat next to her, he showed his love for her with a little sense of humor saying, “I can’t believe you are 60. You are always 30 to me!” A bit blushed and smiling, her determination to live longer was drawn out and she said, “I want to support my husband even more than ever. And with our grandchild being born, I want to be there for my children’s family and support them in my own ways.” Her feelings for the family grew much stronger than ever before.

When there are big changes in people’s environment (life), it is vital that the kokoro of family members come together as one. A couple who recently moved to the United States went through Shinkōseishō no Gi (purification ceremony).  The husband just recently registered as a shinja after overcoming a major illness.  The worries about their health and their life in a new environment were all purified, and they felt the sensation of what it is to be protected by Kami. After the gishiki, the wife said, “No matter what happens, it made me feel that everything is manageable as long as the two of us are together. I will learn the teachings with my husband and make the most out of our new life in the US!” The wife looked very happy after the gishiki, and her smile said everything about her determination and energy to move forward.    

A brother and a sister celebrated Kanhōsai (the Coming of Age Ceremony for Age 15). Due to the pandemic, it was a 3-year delay for the brother who had already turned 18 this year. Having reached a major juncture in their lives to become independent (seen as an adult by Kami) and their latent abilities beginning to blossom, they conveyed their thoughts to Kami very seriously throughout the gishiki. Looking at their two children, the mother could not stop crying. The mother later told us, “I’m glad and happy they were able to grow up to be who they are today. Thanks to the teachings of Kami that kept me on high alert to put the teachings into practice along with my husband.” Feeling the existence of Kami through the gishiki, the children said, “There are certainly times when we worry and feel doubts, but we want to try to make the right decisions based on the teachings.” With much confidence, the two young adults have stepped forward in their journey of life.

Other comments from people who attended their gishiki were; “I am here today because of my family…I will never forget that and do my best to try to make our family environment even better,” “My life has been supported by many people. Now that I have reached another juncture in life, I want to dedicate my life to return my share to others.” You can reach higher things in life whenever you deepen ties at each life juncture, and set your hopes, dreams, and your goals. Each and every one’s true feelings conveyed to Kami through gishiki is accepted. And Kami guides and leads the kokoro of each person in the right direction.

The gishiki and events for Kyōkai is always held with the protection and blessing of Kami. Hence, a deep awareness that transforms your life to happiness, or unexpected changes of your kokoro will always prevail. Attending the event with your own will and the interaction you have with the staff or other shinja is incomparable to other things.  All the joy, happiness, and gratitude felt at the event has become a great experience for the people in San Francisco/Bay Area and also a historical one for them to step forward in their journey as a shinja. With this new beginning, the life of these people in the area will greatly open up and change in the future.