Today was the Spring Ohigan ceremony. Church members were encouraged to write the names of deceased ancestors on a slip of paper and give it to the priest. During the service, the priest said a prayer for each of the ancestors, citing their names individually.

From Wikipedia:

Ohigan is a Buddhist holiday exclusively celebrated in Japan during both the Spring and Autumnal Equinox. It is observed by nearly every Buddhist sect in Japan. The tradition extends from mild weather that occurs during the time of equinoxes, though the origin of the holiday dates from Emperor Shōmu in the 8th century. People who normally worked in the fields had more leisure time to evaluate their own practices, and to make a renewed effort to follow Buddhism. Today, special services are usually observed in Japanese Buddhist temples, and Japanese temples abroad, based on the particular Buddhist tradition or sect.

The etymology of Ohigan means “the other or that shore of Sanzu River”, which is a common euphemism used in Buddhist literature to refer to Enlightenment. One crosses from this shore of ignorance and suffering to the other shore of Enlightenment and peace.

At the end of the service, Ven. Kenjo Igarashi explained that Ohigan, beyond the prayers for ancestors, is a reminder of the Six Paramitas that Nichiren’s followers practice. He then explained the six. Rather than attempt to paraphrase what he said I’m going to reprint an explanation from Rev. Ryuei McCormick‘s book Lotus Seeds:

The awakened qualities which we develop through our practice are known as the Six Perfections (in Sanskrit, paramitas). The Six Perfections enable us to do the work of a bodhisattva. They are generosity, discipline, patience, energy, meditation, and wisdom.

These Six Perfections are a restatement of the Eightfold Path.

The real difference between the Six Perfections and the Eightfold Path is the addition of generosity and patience, although these are implied by right intentions. By including these two perfections as separate items, it makes explicit the fact that we are not really following the Eightfold Path unless we are generous and patient with others. In this way, the Six Perfections underscore the compassionate dimension that is integral to Mahayana Buddhism.

Kanjin Cederman Shonin chief priest of Enkyo-ji in Seattle joined Ryusho Jeffus and others from Myosho-ji, Wonderful Voice Buddhist Temple, in Charlotte, NC, as a guest speaker. Kanjin Cederman shared some of his thoughts about ‘Organic Buddhism’ and how it is in accord with the teachings of the Lotus Sutra. He also shared a little about his life as well as his training as a Buddhist including his time before Nichiren Shu.

Attended the Kaji Kito service today at the Sacramento Nichiren Buddhist Church.

In Nichiren Shu (and other Buddhist sects) family altars include Memorial Tablets with the names of ancestors and their date of death inscribed. I’ve wanted one with the names of my parents since I learned of the tradition but didn’t know how to go about getting one. Today I finally asked the priest, Ven. Kenjo Igarashi.

No problem, he said. He has a friend in Japan who can get one for me. He’s going to Japan in May and can bring it back, he added. All he needs is the names and the dates my parents died.

Too cool, I thought. “How much will it cost?” I asked.

He wouldn’t answer. I tried rephrasing the question. He wouldn’t say. He just kept repeating that he has a friend in Japan and he can pick it up in May when he is in Japan and bring it back.

I got the same treatment when I became a member of the church and Ven. Igarashi performed the eye-opening ceremony for my altar statuary and gave me a Gohonzon. Price, donation, expectation – nothing was mentioned. I knew from reading the newsletter what people were donating as annual dues, so I gave that. The same is true for the memorial service that will be held next weekend. Something is given in recognition of the priest’s prayers for specific ancestors but never requested.

It all reminds me of Chapter 25 in the Lotus Sutra, The Universal Gate of World-Voice-Perceiver Bodhisattva.

[Sakyamuni says]

“Endless-Intent! This World-Voice-Perceiver Bodhisattva does these meritorious deeds. He takes various shapes, walks about many worlds, and saves the living beings [of those worlds]. Make offerings to World-Voice-Perceiver Bodhisattva with all your hearts! This World-Voice-Perceiver Bodhisattva-mahasattva gives fearlessness [to those who are] in fearful emergencies. Therefore, he is called the ‘Giver of Fearlessness’ in this Saha-World.”

The Endless-Intent Bodhisattva said to the Buddha, “World-Honored One! Now I will make an offering to World-Voice-Perceiver Bodhisattva.” From around his neck, he took a necklace of many gems worth hundreds of thousands of ryo of gold, and offered it [to the Bodhisattva], saying, “Man of Virtue! Receive this necklace of wonderful treasures! I offer this to you according to the Dharma!”

World-Voice-Perceiver Bodhisattva did not consent to receive it. Endless-Intent said to World-Voice-Perceiver Bodhisattva again, “Man of Virtue! Receive this necklace out of your compassion towards us!”

Thereupon the Buddha said to World-Voice-Perceiver Bodhisattva:

“Receive it out of your compassion towards this Endless-Intent Bodhisattva, towards the four kinds of devotees, and towards the other living beings including gods, dragons, yaksas, gandharvas, asuras, garudas, kimnaras, mahoragas, men and nonhuman beings!”

Thereupon World-Voice-Perceiver Bodhisattva received the necklace out of his compassion towards the four kinds of devotees, and towards the other living beings including gods, dragons, men and nonhuman beings. He divided [the necklace] into two parts, and offered one part of it to Sakyamuni Buddha and the other to the stupa of Many-Treasures Buddha.

Next week I’ll give Ven. Igarashi the names of my parents and the dates of their death and check that I hope covers his expense plus provides a suitable contribution.

In Nichiren’s writings he spoke often about his good fortune to be born in the Latter Day of the Law when Namu Myoho Renge Kyo would be propagated. Imagine what he might have thought about being alive in the even later Latter Day of the Law when it is possible for people to share Nichiren’s teachings instantly around the world.

Not that it doesn’t have its drawbacks. Last week I wanted to attend services at Myosho-ji, Wonderful Voice Temple, Charlotte, NC, using the temple’s GoToMeeting account. Unfortunately, the audio went out shortly after the service started and so I logged off and just performed my regular morning service.

My first choice Sunday is to attend services at the Sacramento Nichiren Buddhist Church, where I am a new member. When there are no services, I split my Sundays between Myokakuji Betsuin, the San Jose Nichiren Shu temple, and online with Ryusho at Myosho-ji, Wonderful Voice Temple, Charlotte, NC.

Today was a wonderful example of the potential of streaming services. By the end of the service we had people from Indiana, Sacramento, New York City and El Salvador joining Ryusho and the guests at the temple.

Below is the March, 2016, Sermon by Ven. Kenjo Igarashi, the priest at the Sacramento Nichiren Buddhist Church. I have attended services with Rev. Igarashi for a little more than a year and I believe he sincerely lives his faith.

The Meaning of Higan

Higan is the practice of leaving our deep attachments in order to reach the world of enlightenment. Specifically, Higan is a practice comprised by six components. They are: charity, observing precepts, perseverance, energy, meditation, and wisdom. There is a story I would like to share with you concerning this practice. In the 9th century, a monk named Kyoukai wrote a series of books called Nippon Reiiki. Spanning three volumes long, these books contained stories concerning his experiences that seemed to transcend the logic and understanding of this world. This particular story I would like to share with you comes from this book, in the second volume of the series in the 38th chapter.

During the era in which Emperor Shomu ruled, there was a monk who lived in a temple in the mountains of Maniwa, located in the city of Nara. That monk had told his disciples upon his deathbed, “After my death, you must not open the entrance to my room for three years.” Saying this, he passed away. Forty-nine days after his death, a venomous snake had appeared before the deceased monk’s door, coiled in place, refusing to move. The disciples quickly realized that this snake was the reincarnation of their master. By chanting towards the snake, the disciples were able to move it, and enter the monk’s room. In the room, the disciples discovered thirty kan (currency used at the time, equaling approximately $30,000 today) saved up and hidden away. Realizing that their master had reincarnated as a venomous snake to protect this money, the disciples used the money to invite many ministers and hold a memorial service for him.

Kyoukai realizes that this particular monk was so desperate to protect his money, that he reincarnated into a snake in order to protect it. Kyoukai says, “No matter how high the mountain, we are able to see its peak. The mountain residing in humans called greed however is so great, that we cannot see its peak.” In other words, the greed and desire residing in humans is so vast and ever-growing, that it has no limit. Higan is a very important practice which aims to rid this greed and desire within us.

Ven. Kenjo Igarashi

More sermons

Yesterday, I attended the monthly Kaji Kito purification service at the Sacramento Nichiren Buddhist Church.

At the front of the church, to the right of the altar, is a four-panel wood copy of the 16th Chapter of the Lotus Sutra. This was carved by hand over the course of several years by a man (don’t recall his name) and given to Ven. Kenjo Igarashi for safe keeping. Each time I attend services I wonder in awe at the merits received for copying the Sutra of the Lotus Flower of the Wonderful Dharma.

Traveled to San Jose to attend the Sunday service at Myokakuji Betsuin. On Feb. 21 the temple held the Nehanye – memorial day of Sakyamuni Buddha – and Kotanye – the birthday of Nichiren Shonin – service.

Following the service Rev. Arnold Matsuda gave a lecture on the life of Nichiren illustrated with a two-panel diorama created by his great grandmother.

Sunday was the annual Setsubun service, literally “season-division”, and traditionally the dividing line between winter and spring and bad and good. The service included a blessing and afterward the traditional tossing of candy into the audience to signify welcoming good fortune. The envelopes of the traditional beans signifying chasing away of bad spirits were handed out afterward.

Last year this was all new. I took the packet of beans home and placed it on my altar and two weeks later when I attended the next service at the church, I asked the priest what I was supposed to do with the beans. “Eat them, ” he said.

Today’s service included a short Dharma talk in which the priest described the Namu Myoho Renge Kyo as the detergent that removes the stains of our past karma. I was imagining a Tide commercial.