Honjowara -sama addresses the gathering in a calm clear voice that resonates with power. "Seasons change," he declares. "Blossoms wither. Petals blanket the ground. The sky turns gray with cold and winter comes, inexorable. Each woman and man must reach an accommodation with destiny. For life's tenuous hold on this plane is but a fleeting illusion, and all must inevitably slip away. From dust to dust and ash to ash. We honor the departed. We honor their selfless devotion to duty, their courage and their strength. We pray that their bold spirits find peace and salvation, secure in the knowledge that one day they will return as glorious beings to show us the path to enlightenment."