Setsubun

An explanation of the inner meaning of a Japanese festival (matsuri) called 'Setsubun'.
Music: Au Lait, by Pat Metheny and Lyle Mays. Performed by Walther Sell

Text in the video:

Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? -- The Bible, 1 Corinthians 3:16

Setsubun, like many other Japanese festivals, is a symbolic representation of an internal spiritual process.

Confusion of literal and symbolic understanding is an endemic problem in organized religion, when the original inspiration has been replaced by imitation. For this reason, the restoration of mythology to psychology, is one of the specialities of the original teachings of Zen.  -- Zen master Takuan 

Man is compared to a house in which there is a multitude of servants but no master and no steward. The house can be got ready for the arrival of the steward who will, in his turn, prepare it for the arrival of the master.  -- Gurdjieff (4th Way spiritual teacher)

The steward, who is in charge of a man`s inner, psychological household, tries to get rid of inner demons.
There are various mental phenomena and mental postures that obstruct the potential for true understanding. Because of their harmful and destructive nature, they are called demons or devils. -- Muso Soseki, Japanese Zen master

The origin of all demons is in mind itself. When awareness holds on and embraces any outer object, it is in the hold of a demon.　 -- Machig Labdrön, Tibetan teacher

"Fire" is a symbol of illumination; operating the fire means employing illumination. Illumination is the quality of awareness and perceptivity. If one can be perceptive, then there is no human mentality, and the mind is clear. -- Liu Yiming, The Taoist I Ching, Hexagram#55 Richness

The achievement of emptying the mind is the means to operate the natural true fire, to burn away the mundane (yin) energy of acquired conditioning until one is freed from it. -- Liu Yiming, The Taoist I Ching Hexagram #62 Predominance of the small

The body of pure yang was happy in the sun, the yin demons dared not use their might. -- Journey to the West Ch.99 

Traditionally, the beans are contained in a square box called 'masu'. The square is an ancient symbol for the presence of the original spirit.

As for the field of a square inch on the face, what can it be other than the heavenly heart? In the middle of the square inch dwells the splendour. In the purple hall of the city of jade dwells the God of Utmost Emptiness and Life. – The Secret of the Golden Flower (Taoist text)

The character for fuku (福), meaning luck or (good) fortune, is written on the box. With luck is meant the presence of the original spirit. All other luck is only temporal and always invites unhappiness when it passes.

If people can nurture illumination, turning the light of consciousness around to shine inward, shutting out deviation and preserving truthfulness, naturally illumining the qualities of enlightenment and resting in the highest good, what can compare to that fortune?  -- Liu Yiming, Hexagram #30 Fire, The Taoist I Ching

Christian, Hebrew and Indian weddings, have a rice-throwing ceremony.

Whenever you hear about the communion of bridegroom and bride, about dancing, music and feasting, do not take these things in a material or worldly manner: they are spoken of simply by way of illustration... for the things they denote are spiritual and inexpressible.  -- The Philokalia, Symeon Metaphrastis

If you have verified the primordial energy from your experience, you gain this energy and then the elixir, which is also called the real millet pearl (真黍珠粒) immediately crystalizes. One grain/pill/pearl (粒) returns, and then another grain/pill/pearl; (粒), going from vagueness to clarity. -- The Secret of the Golden Flower, Chapter 6

The Chinese character 粒 is a classifier for small round things such as a pill, a grain, a pearl or a bean. Throwing rice at weddings has the same meaning as throwing beans during the Setsubun festival.

One pill/bean/grain/pearl returns after another, from vagueness to clarity. -- Zhang Boduan, Understanding Reality

Growing from one yang to gradually reach the pure wholeness of six yangs, going from vague to clear, the Golden Pill develops naturally. One pill/grain returns after another, means that when the basis is established, the path develops and the yang energy gradually grows; it does not mean that there is the form of grains. -- Liu Yiming, Commentary on Understanding Reality

#Setsubun

Видео Setsubun канала Walther Sell