Our Hungry Ghosts + Sejiki Ceremony on 10/31

As Halloween approaches, BZC sangha member and Boundless Mind Temple Administrator Vipassana Vijayarangan opens with a personal reflection on hungry ghosts, ancestors, and the traditions through which we encounter them. while Sarah Sensei follows with details on how our Three Day Sesshin, will include Sejiki (an offering ceremony to nourish and liberate hungry ghosts and care for our ancestors), open to all sangha members.

Photo of book, My Hungry Ghosts: Essays and Incantations by May-Lee Chai, by Vipassana Vijayarangan

Dear Sangha,

As September drew to a close, I spotted My Hungry Ghosts by May-Lee Chai in a bookshop. With the spooky season upon us, I made an exception to my rule of not buying books until I’ve read ten I already own. In the introduction, Chai speaks of exorcising the demon need for unrequited love in the name of the mother, the daughter, and the hungry ghost. I was tickled by this turn of phrase but also felt the closing in of my ancestors and elders of the femme persuasion.

Halloween is a festival that I, as a Tamil immigrant, had no traditional relationship with and it only occurred to me a few days ago that I had no idea what the ‘trick’ part of trick-or-treating entailed. I asked my American partner who said that not making an offering to the ghosts and goblins that showed up at one’s doorstep could result in being pranked or tricked. Not unsimilar to making offerings to hungry ghosts in hopes of appeasing them or protecting one’s dear ones.

Some people believe that Halloween has roots in the Celtic festival Samhain, a festival that is of my ancestors by marriage. It also engages with beings in other realms and makes offerings to them. Certain there must be something related in Tamil culture, I ask my parents and they tell me about Katteri Amman: the fierce deity with black skin, her red tongue sticking out of her mouth, her four arms bearing a machete, bowl, trident, and lotus. She is the deity of my grandfather’s village and predates any relationship to Hinduism. As I read about her and the duality of protection and retribution, I hope I can visit my village, touch the earth, and sit zazen.

I’m reminded of a teaching from Dr. Santosh Raut (Maitriveer-Nagarjuna): Just as Isaac Newton did not invent gravity but illuminated it, Shakyamuni illuminated the nature of a reality that existed long before him. So too have myriad traditions recognized our ancestors and their hunger.

With gassho,

Vipassana

Vipassana’s reflection turns our attention to hungry ghosts across traditions and in our own lives. At our fall Three Day Sesshin, which crosses over Halloween, we’ll explore this theme through a Segaki, a traditional Japanese Buddhist offering ceremony for hungry ghosts. Sarah Dōjin Emerson shares more about the ceremony and the retreat below.

Sejiki Ceremony at Three Day Sesshin

Sarah Dōjin Emerson

During our fall Three Day Sesshin, we will explore the practice of Sejiki, a traditional offering ceremony to welcome, nourish, and liberate hungry ghosts. We’ll talk about the ceremony during sesshin and prepare for it on Friday and Saturday.

Hungry ghosts may be understood as insatiable spirits, and also as a way to reflect on the longing or sense of lack we each may experience. The ceremony is also an opportunity to offer care to our deceased loved ones.

We’ll hold the ceremony on Saturday, October 31, at 7:30 p.m. All sangha members are welcome to join the ceremony, whether or not they’re participating in sesshin. More info to come!