of Shinnyo Buddhist practice. Rituals are used as means to purify the mind, awaken compassion, or to express gratitude for the chance to develop oneself and practice the Buddhist teachings. Prayers for ancestors and departed souls, such as the Lantern Floating ceremony, and O-bon (Sanskrit: Ullambana), are believed to also help cultivate kindness and compassion within practitioners. With the wish of creating cultural harmony and understanding, Her Holiness Shinso Ito, Head Priest of Shinnyo-en, officiated the inaugural Lantern Floating Hawaii ceremony on Memorial Day, 1999. Traditional fire ceremonies such as homa are performed to help practitioners overcome obstacles that hinder their spiritual progress and liberation. See also Buddhism in Japan List of new religious movements New religious movement Ullambana Sutra References Sources Further reading External links Shinnyo-En (official website in English) Saisho Goma/Homa Ceremony -Berlin Lantern Floating Ceremony – Hawaii Smile Foundation Newsletter India UC Berkeley Press Release RNS Buddhist Leader Her Holiness Shinso Ito Breaks New Ground in Thailand Huffington Post, "Shinnyo-en Buddhist 'Eye Opening' Ceremony In Japan" Buddhist new religious movements Japanese new religions Religious organizations based in Japan Shingon Buddhism