John Lennon at a Temple
お寺でジョン・レノン

- Komatsu-shi, Nishi-cho, Shoumyou-ji -
Mourning Prayers and a Live Performance at Shoumyouji
追悼法要ライブ in 称名寺 (小松市西町 称名寺)

Essentially, temples were places for people to share suffering and joy, a place where the common people could gather.

A temple in Komatsu would like to keep that essential purpose even in the modern day. Around this time every year, this temple holds a flea market for groups of Komatsu citizens. The name of the temple is Shoumyou-ji. It is on a corner near Komatsu station. This average year the temple is holding not only its usual flea market but also a live concert and "John Lennon memorial prayer service." This year marks the fourteenth anniversary of John Lennon's passing.

The chief priest of Shoumyou-ji has taken the name "John Lennon" as his post-humous name. In a small town in the Japan where Lennon's wife was born and raised, how interesting John must think it is from his place in heaven knowing that the plans for receiving his name in the Buddhist world are advancing! This live concert features twelve years of Beatles music, and always rich in changes, "40 Bucks" is scheduled to go on stage. John, we hope you enjoy it from heaven.

The Buddhist Memorial Prayer Service and Live Concert Sunday, June 11

Stage No.1
FORTY BUCKS LIVE 4:00 p.m. 1,000 yen
Stage No. 2
The beginning of the memorial prayer service 7:30 p.m.
1,500 yen if tickets are bought before June 11
2,000 yen if tickets are bought on June 11
(Drinks included in price)
An introduction of the head of the temple:
The person holding this mysterious annual event is the heard of Shoumyou-ji, Mr. Goroku Sasaki. Born in Aichi Prefecture and after receiving his master's degree from Otani University, he became the head priest of Shoumyou-ji in Komatsu.

Although Mr. Saasaki is quite modest and calls himself an ordinary Buddhist priest, he claims to have the disposition of a person from Mikawa (Shizuoka); i.e., he immediately says what he thinks. Mr. Sasaki regrets this side of his personalty. He wants to set up a place that looks beyond age gaps and where many different people can meet. He is a little different from your ordinary Buddhist priest.

 本来、寺は楽しみや苦しみを分かち合う、庶民が集う場所であった。その本来的な意味を現代においても大切にしたいと願っているお寺が小松市にあり、毎年この時期、市民団体によるフリーマーケットなどを開催している。寺の名前は称名寺。小松駅に近い一角にある。今年は例年のフリーマーケット、出店等のほかに「ジョン・レノン追悼法要」を営み、ライブを催す。

 今年は世界のジョン・レノン15周忌にあたる。称名寺住職はジョン・レノンに「法名」を授けることにした。奥さんの生まれ育った日本の、小さな町で、 仏教界の名前をもらう計画が進んでいることを知って、 天国のジョンはさぞか し面白がっていることだろう。 ライブは、ビートルズを演奏し続けて12 年、常に変化に富んだステージを展開してくれる「40 BUCKS」が受け持つ。 ジョン、天国で楽しんで下さい。

追悼法要ライブ 日時:6月11日(日)
第1ステージ:FORTY BUCKS LIVE 16:00 - 1,000円
第2ステージ:追悼法要スタート 19:30 -
1,500円(前売) 2,000円(当日) 飲物付き
住職紹介:
 これら不可思議な催しを毎年行っているのは、称名寺住職佐々木五六さん。1954 年愛知県に生まれ、大谷大学修士課程卒業後、小松市称名寺の住職になった。本人はいたって内気で平凡な坊主と自称されるが、三河生まれの人間の気質として思ったことをすぐに言わなければ気が済まないそうで、そこらあたりが問題だと本人も気がついているそうだ。年代の差を越えて出会う場所を設けたいと考える、一味違ったお坊さんです。


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