Blessings to all those who have passed.
The rituals we use.
Uṣṇīṣavijayā is among the most revered esoteric beings in both Tibetan and Chinese Buddhism — transcending all gods bound by joy and wrath, embodying the pure wisdom of the Buddha herself. Her practice centers on purifying karmic obstacles, extending life, and liberating the departed, with the power to cleanse all negative karma without exception. Her doctrinal foundation is the Uṣṇīṣavijayā Dhāraṇī Sūtra. When Indra learned that the deity Supratiṣṭhita was destined to die and be reborn in the animal realm and hells, he turned to the Buddha in desperation. The Buddha then proclaimed the Uṣṇīṣavijayā Dhāraṇī, liberating Supratiṣṭhita from the cycle of rebirth. From that moment, this dhāraṇī became one of the most celebrated mantras for purifying karma and extending life.
Following its transmission to China during the Tang Dynasty, the tradition spread rapidly. The Dunhuang cave temples preserve abundant murals and scriptures attesting to its influence.
Empress Wu Zetian was among its greatest champions: in the wake of political turmoil that claimed many lives, she ordered the erection of stone Dhāraṇī Pillars across the realm, believing that any departed soul whose shadow had fallen upon them would be spared the sufferings of hell. Some fifty years after her passing, the An Lushan Rebellion devastated the Tang empire, claiming an estimated thirteen to thirty-six million lives. To offer liberation to the fallen, the court again erected Dhāraṇī Pillars throughout every province, praying that all departed beings might find rebirth in peace.
The tradition left an equally profound mark on Japan. Brought back by envoys and monks returning from Tang China during the Nara period, it was swiftly embraced by the imperial court and aristocracy. Both The Pillow Book and The Tale of Genji record nobles summoning monks to recite the dhāraṇī for the ill and the deceased, confirming its place as an essential longevity and memorial rite in court society. To this day, Kyoto's great temples preserve engraved dhāraṇī pillars, continuing an unbroken thousand-year tradition of prayer for the departed.
In Tibetan Buddhism, Uṣṇīṣavijayā remains a central longevity rite, practiced alongside Amitāyus and White Tārā as the Three Deities of Longevity — a beloved refuge for those who seek to extend life and benefit all sentient beings.
The practitioners of House of the White Elephant will conduct this ritual in accordance with the Uṣṇīṣavijayā Dhāraṇī Sūtra. Every departed fur companion, loved one, and unborn child will be named with care. Sacred mantra-charged water will purify each name in turn. Over 49 consecutive days, uninterrupted blessings will be offered for those you hold dear. As the scripture attests, even those who have fallen into the realms of hell may, through the power of this dhāraṇī, swiftly depart from suffering and find rebirth upon a path of peace.
For Unborn or Lost Children
Children who leave this world too soon carry a grief that never fully heals — for their mothers, their families, and all who loved them. We hold only one wish: that they could have lived a life filled with warmth and happiness.
Both Eastern and Western traditions have at times offered fear rather than comfort to grieving parents. In the East, the folk text Jade Ledger of Treasured Admonitions led many to believe that miscarried children become vengeful spirits. In the West, medieval theology gave rise to Limbo — said to be the resting place of unbaptised infants. Even Pope Benedict XVI distanced himself from this idea in 2007, calling it merely a theological hypothesis rather than confirmed truth.
It must be said plainly: there are those, in both traditions, who exploit these fears to profit from grieving parents. This we firmly oppose. To profit from another's suffering is deeply unethical.
From a Buddhist perspective, all departed beings return to the cycle of rebirth across the six realms. Yet navigating the visions of the Bardo — the intermediate state between death and rebirth — is profoundly challenging, especially for a young child.
Buddhist blessing practices require one of three conditions to reach a specific soul:
- Presence near their remains
- Possession of their belongings
- Knowledge of their name
Since many miscarried children are never named, White Elephant House invites mothers to give their child a name — built from either parent's name, echoing the Nordic tradition of "son of Odin." This simple act of naming creates a bond through which blessings can flow.
Drawing from Japan's ancient Mizuko Jizō tradition, White Elephant House performs daily practices to send blessings to each child, calling upon Jizo and two sacred guardians:
- The Emissary of Causality: Who upholds karmic law.
- The Emissary of Compassion: Who governs protection and mercy.
May every child find a peaceful and joyful rebirth. May those already reborn be held in blessing. May any in hardship be guided back to the light.
For Our Furry Friends
Dogs, cats, and even our reptilian friends quietly stand beside us, becoming the silent pillars of our lives. Yet in the Western traditional worldview, the afterlife of animals has largely gone unaddressed — whether animals can enter Heaven after death remains an open theological debate within Christian scholarship, with no settled answer.
In Buddhist belief, the figure most readily associated with the protection of animals is Hayagrīva (Horse-Headed Kannon), within the broader Guanyin tradition. In early Japanese agrarian society, oxen and horses were indispensable companions in the fields. When these animals passed away, villagers would erect stone monuments to Hayagrīva to pray for their peaceful passage. In time, this devotion expanded to encompass all beloved pets. Today, many temples house Hayagrīva statues where owners come to seek protection for their companions in the afterlife — a role strikingly similar to that of Mizuko Jizō, the guardian of children who have passed too soon. In recent years, the two have even come to be used interchangeably in practice.
In truth, Jizo and Kannon share a profound quality: both are said to appear whenever their name is sincerely called upon. Both also manifest in different forms across the six realms, offering protection and guidance suited to the nature of each being they encounter.
At White Elephant House, beyond the blessings of Uṣṇīṣavijayā, two additional guardians are invoked:
The Emissary of Causality (Yama-dūta) — who upholds the laws of cause and effect and carries out karmic guidance, and
The Emissary of Protection (Mahābala-dūta) — who is dedicated to the rescue and protection of animals.
May every beloved companion find a smooth passage into rebirth, arriving in a place of greater peace and joy.
May those already reborn in fortunate realms live lives of abundance and fulfilment. And may those who have found themselves in a place of hardship be gently guided toward the light, and toward happiness.
For Your Dearest Loved One
Losing someone we love is one of the deepest wounds life can bring. We always wish we could do something more for those who have gone — even if only a small blessing, to help them find peace and happiness on the other side.
If that wish lives in your heart, White Elephant House offers a free blessing service.
In addition to the Uṣṇīṣavijayā ritual mentioned previously, we have incorporated the Jizō Bosatsu Nenju Giki (ジゾウ ボサツ ネンジュ ギキ) — a devotional recitation rite of Jizō Bodhisattva — to watch over those who have departed. Two sacred emissaries are also invoked to offer their protection:
The Emissary of Causality (Yama-dūta)
Dispatched by Yama, the Lord of Dharma, this emissary upholds the laws of cause and effect and holds sovereignty over the kings of the spirit realm. In Chinese tradition, he is known as the messenger of the afterlife's judge — yet tracing back to Indian origins reveals his deeper nature: a guardian who purges misfortune, restrains malevolent spirits, and bestows upon the living the gifts of longevity and peaceful passing.
The Emissary of the Divine King (Indra-deva-dūta)
The sacred envoy of Indra, King of the Devas, bearing the sovereign authority of the heavenly assembly. He is endowed with the power to extend the lifespan of the blessed, and to bring healing and restoration to those who suffer in body or spirit.
May these two emissaries watch over every departed soul — guiding each one to a smooth rebirth and a place of goodness. May those already in fortunate realms live with ever greater abundance. And may those who find themselves in hardship be gently led toward the light.
What You Can Do:
Jizō Bodhisattva is said to come whenever his name is called. During moments of illness, anxiety, or restlessness, you may recite the following as a quiet anchor for the heart:
Namu Jizō Bosatsu
Recite it gently, for as long as it takes for your inner state to settle. If you follow any other faith or prayer practice, that is equally welcome.
One gentle reminder:
Please do not put your faith in folk remedies, and do not spend large sums on 'spiritual healing' services. Our blessing rites carry a lineage of thousands of years and are offered entirely for free. We hope you can use your resources where they matter most: see a professional psychiatrist or counselor, nourish your body well, and work hard. Let us then carry the memories of those dear to us and live a life without regrets.