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14 EASTERN HORIZON | FEATURES

the Dharma in the form of food.” There is also incense “The younger children know better, of course… so they
offered, and the names of those who have died in the ask the gakis to remove their shoes, show them how
past year are read. to bow, and how to share the Segaki treats with their
friends. They know the gakis need to be shown loving-
Next comes the real fun — live gakis, or hungry ghosts, kindness.”
arrive to visit the Dharma School children. The gakis
are played by several of Dharma Rain’s high school Together, the children and the gakis eat the treats on the
students dressed up with white sheets covering their altar, and retreat participants join in the feast.
heads and wearing shoes — something quite shocking After the hungry ghosts have learned their lessons,
for the children to see in a Buddhist temple. As the gakis Segaki at Dharma Rain culminates in the evening with
misbehave in the zendo, it’s up to the Dharma School Segaki Toro, a closing ceremony in which a fire is lit.
children to show them the rules. On slips of paper, participants write the names of the
deceased, and any personal problems they’re looking to
“The gakis come into the zendo with their shoes on, let go of, and release them into the fire. EH
make a lot of noise, grab sweets off the altar, refuse to
bow and so on,” says Shin’yu Vitells.