Obon, the Dance of Joy

It’s summertime, which means that it’s time for Obon, the annual Japanese Buddhist festival during which we remember our ancestors and departed loved ones. Bon Odori – Japanese folk dancing – is an integral part of the holiday, and for me it is a deeply meaningful spiritual practice.

The origin of Obon may be found in the Ullambana Sutra, a Buddhist scripture that tells the story of the monk Mogallana, a disciple of Shakyamuni Buddha. Mogallana’s supreme meditative powers enabled him to see his deceased mother suffering hellish torments in the realm of hungry ghosts, the fate of those who were greedy in life. The ghosts are ravenously hungry and thirsty, but everything they try to eat or drink turns into flames, so they can never be satisfied. Following the Buddha’s advice, Mogallana donates food and clothing to the monks attending their annual summer study retreat. After he does so, his mother is liberated from her suffering in the hungry ghost realm, and he dances for joy. His dancing is said to be the inspiration for the Bon Odori.

During Obon in Japan, people pay their respects at cemeteries, temples, and home altars, where they offer incense, food, and flowers for the wandering spirits of their ancestors, who are said to return to their homes at this time of year. Community festivals are held, featuring Bon Odori dances to welcome the souls of the ancestors and celebrate their presence.

Japanese immigrants brought Obon traditions to the U.S. with them, and Obon festivals are major events at Japanese American Buddhist temples each summer. But our understanding of Obon has evolved in America. Rather than focusing on traditional Japanese beliefs about wandering ancestral spirits or ghosts, it has instead become an opportunity for us to remember our departed loved ones and to express gratitude for their ongoing influence in our lives.

The Bon Odori is a beautiful way to show that remembrance and gratitude. It is dancing that is transformed into spiritual practice. How so?

For one thing, dance can let us access, feel, and express things that are beyond words. The rhythmic and repetitive body movements set to music can create a heightened awareness and attention – a kind of meditative state – that allows us to sense and perceive things we might not otherwise. It opens our hearts and minds by moving us into the realm of experiencing, rather than thinking.

A key aspect of Bon Odori is that you “just dance” – not thinking about how you look to others, not worrying about your lack of ability, and not trying to show off your skills. This is hard to do, because our egos get in the way. But as you get caught up in the movement and the music, you can reach the point where you are just dancing, forgetting your “self.” You are in an egoless state where you can feel a deep sense of oneness with all of life, including your departed loved ones.

Bon Odori is also a powerful experience of community. We come together as a Sangha to remember and honor those who have come before us. The dancing – for both those in the dance circle and those watching – is a communal experience. When we joyfully gather with our family and our Dharma friends during Obon, we affirm not only our ongoing gratitude to and relationships with our departed loved ones, but with each other.

At Obon, we honor the memory of loved ones who have passed away. While we take time for reflection and contemplation, sorrow is transmuted into joyful gratitude and remembrance of our loved ones. So, although Obon is a memorial observance, it is not sad or mournful. In dancing the Bon Odori, we honor the memories of those who have gone before us in the best way possible, by remembering them with joy and thankfulness. That is why Obon is also referred to as “Kangi-E” – the “Gathering of Joy.”

Obon dancing is not morbid or negative, but a life-affirming spiritual practice. As we appreciate the here and now, it encourages us to live more fully in the time that we have. It reminds us of the mutual and interconnected nature of our existence and the many ways in which we are tied to others. And it presents us with an opportunity to remember and honor those who came before us, and to express our gratitude to those who have enriched our lives through their love, their care, and their teaching. It is, above all, an opportunity to express gratitude, which is at the heart of our spiritual path as Buddhists.

It is one thing to think, “I am grateful.” It is a whole different thing to dance, feeling free, feeling alive, egoless, and with no room for thought other than, “I am alive! I am grateful! Because of my ancestors and all who came before me, because of the causes and conditions that have supported and nurtured me, I am here, in this moment, breathing, moving, dancing, laughing. Thank you! Thank you!”