「お墓は要らない」と「死後どこへ行くのか」【仏教の教え】

A family returns to their hometown for Obon to visit their grave. The parents explain to their child, "We're going to see Grandpa." The child wonders if their deceased grandfather is in the grave. However, the family Buddhist altar has an ihai (memorial tablet) and the parents say, "Grandpa is watching over them from here," to which the child asks, "Huh? You said the other day that Grandpa was in the grave, but is he in our Buddhist altar too?" The parents try to brush it off with a random remark, "Maybe the grave is the main headquarters and the ihai is like a branch office," but the child looks unsatisfied. Meanwhile, the parents are watching TV and remark, "That's a good song," on the popular song "I'm Not in the Grave. I've Become the Wind," to which the child asks, "Huh? If I was becoming the wind, what was that visit to the grave about?" The parents replies, "It's just a song, so you can use your imagination freely." The child, still not convinced, asks, "Hey, is Grandpa's grave? Or an ihai? Or the wind?" The parent, finding it increasingly annoying, tries to dodge the question by saying, "You'll naturally understand when you grow up." "So does your adult mother understand?" the child asks, to which the parent, growing annoyed, replies, "I know, but when you die, it's over! You turn to ashes!" "What! But didn't you say they're always watching over you?" the child is surprised, and the father, realizing he has to follow up, quietly reassures, "People who have passed away continue to live on in our hearts." But the child asks, "Huh? Then why do we go to the grave?" and both father and mother look at each other and smile wryly. Perhaps the child senses something from seeing their parents like this, for they stop asking questions like this and eventually become adept at saying the things that everyone else says. But what really happens when we die? What is the true answer? "It's strange that no one is seriously considering this, a future that is certain and must be pursued. I want to clarify this huge question; it's not something I can ignore," thought Saint Shinran, who became a monk at the age of nine. "What happens after death?" This was the starting point of Saint Shinran's quest for truth. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Click here for the official "Understanding Buddhism" LINE. ----------------------------------------------------------------- ・Video and column updates ・Mini-sections that explain Buddhist terminology in simple terms ・LINE friend-only specials, etc. ▼Click here for the official "Understanding Buddhism" LINE. https://lin.ee/GbzwYBX ----------------------------------------------------------------- Click here for the 20-part free email course. ----------------------------------------------------------------- https://peraichi.com/landing_pages/vi... ↑The free email course reveals the answer to the Buddhist teachings about the "meaning of life." Register and receive a bonus booklet, "Five Common Misconceptions That Will Keep You from Being Happy!" ----------------------------------------------------------------- Subscribe to my YouTube channel here -----------------------------------------------------------------    / @bybuddhism   ----------------------------------------------------------------- A community where you can ask Ryuta Kikutani questions "Reiwa Gobo" ----------------------------------------------------------------- https://reiwagobou.com/ ----------------------------------------------------------------- About me ----------------------------------------------------------------- Dropped out of Waseda University in 1988 to pursue a career as a Buddhist lecturer. Received a Buddhist lecturer certification from the Jodo Shinshu Shinrankai sect and began giving public lectures across the country. Started an email newsletter in 2010, writing for one of the largest Buddhist newsletters with 12,000 subscribers. Since 2014, I have also been providing video lectures for online courses connecting the entire nation. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Gift ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ◆Booklet "Five Common Misconceptions That Keep You From Being Happy" https://kikutaniryuta.com/gift/017/in...