Prayerful ceremonies and parades filled with celebratory music and fragrant lei are enduring traditions on Memorial Day in Hawaii. I am humbled that on such a special day when Americans remember their fallen service members, Lantern Floating Hawai‘i will mark its 20th anniversary with a ceremony to cherish those who each taught us how to go beyond our own human limits.
When Shinjo Ito, founder of our Shinnyo tradition first visited Hawaii in 1970, I accompanied him to pay our respects at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific- Punchbowl and the USS Arizona Memorial. As we earnestly offered prayers of peace and for the repose of precious lives lost, Shinjo became inspired to hold a ceremony of remembrance in Hawaii.
In 1999, 10 years after his passing, the inaugural Lantern Floating Hawai‘i ceremony was held. What began as a humble effort has grown into a collaborative community event where 50,000 on the beach link hearts with viewers around the globe in a moment of healing and inexplicable connectedness with all — past and present. Like the many rivers that flow into the vast ocean, each participant has traveled a distinctive path and is indispensable in creating this unique event to bring collective hope and courage toward the future.
There is a term called “shinnyo” that refers to such interconnectedness, the innate goodness of our hearts, our wondrous potential, and the strength that comes from acting for the sake of others. Because of its indescribable nature, it has often been compared to a flame or light that, when kindled, has the power to transform every moment into an opportunity to make life meaningful.
Succeeding to a traditional Buddhist lineage to become a great master, Shinjo dedicated his life to help people awaken to the existence of shinnyo, our inner light. We hope the inclusion of shinnyo to the ceremony name will inspire us with this wisdom and the courage to share this light with others through our actions.
On a personal level, my life, under the guidance and instruction of Shinjo and Tomoji Ito — my parents — has been one of celebrating this light of shinnyo, even despite struggles and hardship. Often faced with unexpected challenges, they remained unflinching in their belief in people and their ability to do good. They dedicated their lives to enable each person to bring out the beauty of their inherent goodness, their shinnyo.
In leading our spiritual community, I’ve found that there is no end to our efforts to act for the well-being of others. Even if our goals for peace and happiness may at times seem far-fetched, we can continue to only go forward. Keeping hope alive is what I believe gives life meaning. Shinnyo Lantern Floating Hawai‘i is an opportunity to inspire exactly that.
Each participant has lost someone dear who made a difference in their life. I myself had two elder brothers, Kyodoin and Shindoin, who found joy in supporting my parents in their efforts before passing away young. I am inspired each day by their legacy to make life meaningful. As we each take a moment in remembrance, we can be emboldened to carry on such countless expressions of light with our own actions to build a future of hope.
This ceremony of light is dedicated to the spirit of fostering harmony amidst diversity. But we can enhance its significance even further by our very initiative to transform inspiration into action. Bring joy to those around us in our everyday lives. And by helping each other awaken to our own special light, may we, in turn, share it with others to eventually illuminate the world.
