Buddhists from Japan are asking an e-commerce retailer to stop offering the rent-a-monk service. Amazon Japan has been offering this on its site through Minrevi Co., with different packages that will have Buddhist monks performing services and other ceremonies at homes and grave sites.
"In Christian or Muslim countries, there are no examples of commercializing a religious act," said Akisato Saito of the Japan Buddhist Federation (JBF), according to The Telegraph. "We cannot help but feel doubt and disappointment toward Amazon's attitude to a religion since it is commercializing a religious act."
Minrevi began offering services on its own website in 2009 and the monks who signed up on the site received "offerings" from the company, after the deduction of fees. Costs range between $280 to $450, depending on the package, which includes transportation fees and donations.
However, some Japanese citizens are not opposed to the approach as the rent-a-monk service has a competitive price tag. Memorials at Buddhist temples could actually cost as much as $830 and the more elaborate rituals can cost more than a million yen (or around $8,500), according to Asianage. The temples have also been experiencing a decline in requests for services, thus dwindling their source of funds.
"Many people don't have ties with temples and they have no idea where and how to arrange Buddhist rituals, while monks are increasingly concerned about their declining temple membership," said Minrevi spokesperson Jumpei Masano via South China Morning Post. "We can cater to the needs on both sides and hopefully we can bring them together."
The rent-a-monk delivery service has so far received three star ratings and 38 customer reviews on Amazon and JBF is planning to write the site and ask that the offer be removed.
