Many temples hold services on New Year’s Eve to express gratitude for the past year and to reflect on the interdependency of all life, and on all things that have made it possible for one to life through the year.

Often at these services, attendees ring the kansho (temple bell) 108 times. By striking the kansho, we symbolically “ring out” our 108 passions and delusions. As Jodo Shinshu Buddhists, we recognize that it is not possible to be free of these passions, though the bell ringing does help us be mindful of them.