I’ve decided this year to devote the month of March and September, when the Spring and Fall Equinox occur, to Higan. As explained in a Nichiren Shu brochure:

For Buddhists, this period is not just one characterized by days with almost equal portions of light and dark. Rather, it is a period in which we strive to consciously reflect upon ourselves and our deeds.

Recently, while participating in a Nichiren Buddhist Sangha of the San Francisco Bay Area meeting, I brought up the importance of merit transference through our practice as a means of comforting both the dead and the living. That discussion elicited a criticism from one of the participants. This man felt focusing on funerary services is bad for Buddhism. This was a written comment during a Zoom session and I didn’t take the opportunity to discuss the issue at the time.

I am well aware of the criticism toward the Japanese temple system reliance on funerary services to keep the lights on. While I, too, wish more effort within Nichiren Shu temples was directed toward propagation and education, I do not share the opinion that funerary services have no value. For me, the lack of any formal funerary services within Soka Gakkai was one of my motivations for seeking something more. I am very fortunate to have been able to experience practicing with Ven. Kenjo Igarashi and the Sacramento Nichiren Buddhist Church.

Higan is traditionally a week-long practice, with the three days before and the three days after the Equinox devoted to the six paramitas and the Equinox devoted to memorials for the dead. As I have learned from Rev. Igarashi, at the Equinox the veil between this world and the spiritual world is at its thinnest.

I say “traditionally” three days before and after the Equinox focus on the six paramitas, but I am unable to find any American priest who actually performs week-long services or other observations as part of Higan. So, here I am. I’m creating my own Higan week observance with two, month-long introductions. In future years I envision devoting just the week around the Spring and Fall Equinoxes to the six paramitas and a memorial service.

For the month of March I’ve postponed my daily quotes from the Foundations of T’ien-T’ai Philosophy. Tomorrow I’ll reprint the official Nichiren Shu brochure explaining Higan. For the rest of March, Wednesdays will be devoted to the perfection of charity. Thursdays will be devoted to the perfection of morality. Fridays will be devoted to the perfection of tolerance. Saturday March 20 is the Equinox. Saturdays in March will be devoted to merit transference and the meaning of “the other shore.” Sundays will be devoted to the perfection of energy. Mondays will be devoted to the perfection of meditation. Tuesdays will be devoted to the perfection of wisdom.

I will use quotes from The Six Perfections: Buddhism & the Cultivation of Character to illustrate these perfections.