Aiming to remain relevant to the lives of modern Buddhists in Japan, Kokujo-ji, a Buddhist temple in Japan’s Niigata Prefecture, dedicated its traditional Goma fire ceremony on 7 October to purifying the negativity energy and hatred that is often stirred up during online interactions.

The sacred cleansing fire ritual was held as part of Kokujo-ji’s traditional Goma fire ceremony, conducted to neutralize the harmful negative energies of human desires and emotions.

Kokujo-ji, one of the oldest temples in Japan, is associated with the Shingon school of Japanese Buddhism. In the Goma ceremony, fire symbolizes the wisdom of the Buddha and the wooden sticks or tablets used as fuel represent human desires (the root of suffering). In this ritual, which is considered unique to Esoteric Buddhism and is most identified with the Shingon school in Japan, the Buddha burns away the root of suffering for the participants. The central figure invoked in this ritual is usually the protective deity Fudo Myoo (Skt: Acala), one of the Five Wisdom Kings.

The Goma ceremony is believed to have evolved from the Vedic Agnicayana ritual and can be performed for the benefit of individuals, a specific group or community, or for all sentient beings. The consecrated fire is viewed as having a powerful spiritual and psychological cleansing effect. The ritual is performed to destroy negative energies, thoughts, and desires, and can also be conducted for making secular requests and blessings.