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FEATURES | EASTERN HORIZON 13

drink, a world known in the Buddhist wheel of life as This year at Dharma Rain, the Segaki retreat will be
the realm of the hungry ghosts. The Buddha instructed held from October 27 to 29. While the retreat allows an
Moggallana to make an offering of food that his mother opportunity for spiritual renewal and karmic cleansing,
could easily accept and digest in a ceremony dedicated it culminates in a particularly joyful ceremony on the
in her name, as a way to cleanse their connected karma. final day. The inclusion of the 67 children enrolled
In Chinese legend, Moggallana traveled to the hell in Dharma Rain’s Dharma School, make the Segaki
realms to personally rescue his mother, and when he ceremony extra special.
broke the lock on the gate to hell, all the hungry ghosts
escaped into the human realm. During the seventh lunar During the retreat, all images and statues of the Buddha
month, the month of the dead in China, the hungry are covered to avoid scaring away the hungry ghosts.
ghosts are said to be released from hell, and a joyous On the last day of the Segaki retreat, the Dharma School
celebration is held to pay respect to all deceased beings children enter the zendo for the main Segaki ceremony.
through offerings of food and entertainment. Through All are asked to bring their favorite treats to place upon
the offerings, the hungry ghosts are said to be released the altar — often candy, chips, and cookies. Always, says
from suffering, and those who still have learning to do Shin’yu Vitells, there are “over-the-top, fancy donuts.”
are convinced to return where they belong. Years ago, a
visitor at Dharma Rain told of China’s Segaki practices, Hungry ghosts are invited to join the final celebration,
and Dharma Rain adopted the practice to complement which in turn invites “all the unhappy, unresolved
American Halloween festivities. karma in the universe to come to the altar to receive

Treats are shared with a gaki.

The Segaki altar is prepared with offerings of food. A gaki visits the Segaki altar.