Buddhists remember the Japan tsunami dead

SOMA, Japan — Buddhist priests burned incense and chanted Thursday for victims of the tsunami of Japan, marking the 49th day since the disaster and the period when the dead were believed to be wandering in limbo via destroyed hometown close.5th Ld-WritethruEds: edits first subparagraph. Pictures added. This story is part of AP's General news andfinancial services. By Junji Kurokawa, AP

Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama offers a Buddhist prayer during a special prayer for the victims of the 11 March earthquake and tsunami Gokokuji Temple in Tokyo,

By Junji Kurokawa, AP

Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama offers a Buddhist prayer during a special prayer for the victims of the 11 March earthquake and tsunami Gokokuji Temple in Tokyo,

Approximately 1,200 mourners filled a Hall for flooding, with many standing outside a gate, for a ceremony organized by 170 priests in the northeastern city of Soma, where much of the coast buried in the mountains of rubble of the March 11 earthquake and tsunami.Many carried framed photos of lost loved ones, and cried. Some clutched wooden tablets with Buddhist names assigned to the dead to help them find their way into their next stage of existence. "There are so many still missing. There are people who lost at the bottom of the sea which will never be found. But this is the day that they are Buddhas. We pray for all of them, and for all sentient beings, "Buddhist priest Kojin Sato said.The earthquake and tsunami is generally believed to have killed nearly 26,000 people, although only about 14,500 bodies have been found. Many probably swept from the sea and will never be found.Kiyoshi Sakurai fears that the case with his older brother, missing since the disaster will be. "It is very difficult because we couldn't have a proper funeral. But this gives us a sense of closure, "Sakurai said, clutching a blurry photo of his brother."It is comforting to have so many priests come to pray for our family. Maybe someday my brother found. Maybe not. But at least he has this, "he said.Many Japanese parts Buddhist beliefs with the native Japanese religion of Shinto, spirits in nature and dead ancestors worship. Almost all rites related death are Buddhist, and in many Japanese schools of Buddhist thought, the dead wander near their homes for 49 days before heading into their next stage of the existence on the 50th day.The Dalai Lama, the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhists, Japan on Thursday was visiting and planned to join in another Memorial in Tokyo later this week. Spokesmen for the religious leader said that his schedule in Japan for the 49th day since the disaster had changed.Seven weeks after the magnitude-9.0 earthquake and tsunami struck, life some 130,000 people still in about 2,500 shelters. The Government has promised to build 30,000 temporary houses for them by the end of May and after that another 70,000.The head of the American Red Cross, wrapping up a four-day visit to Japan, said the 187 million dollars in gifts and pledges for Japanese tsunami relief received essential household appliances such as rice cookers buy for people living in temporary housing.Gail McGovern said she had trouble getting the processing of the "miles and miles" of destruction she saw along the northeast coast of Japan. "The (power of the) Ocean was just furious. Everything we saw was strewn into small pieces, "she said in an interview with The Associated Press in Tokyo. "When you start to walk around, you can create a pop or a kid's bike or a teacup. It just seems that this home is so personal. "Sato said that In Soma said that local temples invited everyone to come to the ceremony and told the family not to worry about dressing in black, since many people had lost their formal dress. The priest added that instead of the usual gifts passed out after funerals, the families got pockets with bottled water, tea and SOAP — things they need in shelters or temporary housing.The ceremony is concluded with a procession before an altar. The only sound was singing and occasional crying.

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