Mochi

Reverend Koho Takata

In the olden days in Japan, rice was very precious.  It was not only for the purpose of eating, but also took place of money.  The feudal lords were ranked according to the amount of the rice they controlled and possessed.  Samurais were not fully paid by money, gold, or silver, but in fixed amounts of rice.  Ironically the farmers who produced the rice almost never could eat enough of the rice.  

Rice was very precious for everyone.  This is why we offer the precious rice to Amida Buddha, Shinran Shonin, and Rennyo Shonin.  Even though the time changed from that time and we can easily purchase the rice at the store, we should not forget the preciousness of the rice.  When I was a child, I always ate the offering of rice after the morning service.  My parents and grandparents scolded me if I left even a grain of rice in my rice bowl.  I was always reminded of expressing appreciation to the rice which sacrifices their lives, the farmer who produces the rice, and the Buddha who guides to realize my life encompassed by Infinite Light and Life.

On the special occasion such as New Year's Day, we offer the mochi instead of the rice.  This is why Kapaa Hongwanji Mission holds a mochi sale at the end of the year for offering the freshly cooked mochi to the temple altar and your family altar.  After offering the mochi, we usually eat the mochi as Zoni (mochi soup) or Zenzai.

For past few years, I have received some questions from members regarding mochi for the New Year.  The most questions I have received were the time of offering the mochi.  It is very simple.  When you wake up in the morning on the New Year's Day, you can offer the mochi in your family altar.  Then, you can have a New Year's Day Service with your family in front of your family altar.  I was also made to realize by some of members' replies to the above question that they offer the mochi not only in their altar, but also place in their each room, car, office, etc. 

Mochi is not for a good luck.  They probably pray not to have any accidents by placing mochi in their cars.  They wish to have good businesses by placing mochi in their offices.  They wish to live healthy by placing mochi in their rooms.  However, even though you pray for such things by placing mochi on the certain places on the New Year's Day, it does not give any effect at all.  Even if we do believe such things, it does not go as we wish.  The offering of mochi should be in your family altar and it is for expressing your appreciation for the guidance of Amida Buddha throughout the year and nothing else.     

I also realized by another question that they throw away the mochi after offering to the Buddha in their family altars, and placing mochi in their rooms, cars, offices, etc.  When I heard about it, I felt very sad.  You may think that it is just rice or mochi rice.  However, even though it is rice, they have lives.  Their lives are equal to our lives.  They sacrifice their lives to sustain our lives.  You see the rice by your self-centered eyes so that you may not realize about it.  However, you should not forget the preciousness of their lives. 

Also, the rice is made by farmers.  But, actually it is not only by farmers, but also by nature such as sun, rain, wind, etc.  The some of members donate the mochi rice.  Also, you spend your money to purchase the mochi.  If you throw away the mochi, it is like you throw away your money.  On the day of mochi making, members come to the temple in the early morning to make fire to steam the mochi rice.  Then, they grind the steamed mochi rice to make mochi.  Ladies work very hard to make a piece of mochi and Kazari mochi.  Please take a moment to think about all those efforts made by farmers, nature, our members, and friends. 

I am not criticizing what you are doing.  I am just sharing the right way of offering of mochi on the New Year's Day.  Let us realize the true meaning of offering and appreciate the interdependency of all lives and welcome the New Year with full of gratitude and appreciation to Amida Buddha, Infinite Light and Life, who encompassing all lives.

                                                                                                                        Namo-Amidabutsu