Fusatsu (Atonement Ceremony)

Fusatsu is the ceremony of atonement in the Zen tradition. We perform it twice monthly, usually around the time of the full and new moon. In doing Fusatsu, we acknowledge the suffering caused by our own ignorant view of ourselves as separate from the world we inhabit. We atone for the greed and anger that arise because of this false sense of separation. Essentially a ritual of purification, Fusatsu repairs wholeness and restores harmony. We begin the service by reciting the Verse of Atonement and the names of the buddhas and bodhisattvas. This is followed by a renewal of vows, a rededication of our commitment to live in accord with our true nature, acting in the world with wisdom and compassion. Accompanied by bells and punctuated by full bows, Fusatsu is a process of atonement and purification that we realize not merely through recitation, but by actual embodiment. The ceremony is central to our Zen practice and vital to the peace of mind we each seek.