Editor's Note - This is an excerpt from the March 2004 issue of the Buddhist Wheel written by Rev. Bob Oshita of Sacramento Betsuin

With the coming of March, we again observe Ohigan. Twice a year, in March and in September, we observe Ohigan. And in Sacramento, it is always the most comfortable time of the year.

During Ohigan, the seasons are in transition as we move from the cold of winter to the warmth of spring. The weather is not too hot and not too cold, and the long winter nights begin to shorten as we near the equinox. At the equinox, the days and nights are of equal length, and the world feels in balance and in comfortable harmony.

In the Japanese Buddhist Tradition especially, this time of Ohigan is thought to be perfect for the contemplation of the Dharma, the teachings of Buddhism. We need only open our eyes to see all around us, that in the undeniable Truth of Change, is also the harmony, balance and beauty of nature.

This is Ohigan. Literally, Ohigan means "Other Shore." This image of the "Other Shore" is used to describe the viewing of life with "Enlightened eyes." It is to see our lives (this shore) with genuine clarity.

To contemplate the Dharma is to contemplate the nature of life. With Dharma eyes open, we see clearly that in living life, there must also be an end. It is to view our lives with the awareness that nothing can last forever.

Each day is a gift to be treasured, knowing that it will never come again. Each of us knows this truth of life. Yet we so easily forget.

To me, the encouragement of the Buddha-Dharma is not merely to live this day, but to love this day. We should try to enjoy, appreciate and love each day, rain or shine. In doing this, we begin to cherish the people who fill our lives with meaning, with love and with life.

A few weeks ago, our Sacramento Betsuin Dharma School Superintendent, Mr. Richard Kai, spoke about (what we call in Buddhism) the 3 Poisons. I talked briefly about this to our Dharma School, commenting on our Mr. Kai's insightful presentation.

The 3 Poisons are Greed, Anger and Ignorance. In Buddhism, Ignorance is to "Ignore" the REALITY that everything is Constantly Changing and to ignore the fact that nothing can last forever. A truly Ignorant and Foolish Person (In Buddhism) is ONE who believes he or she will live forever. We are Ignorant when we live foolishly thinking that we can take for granted this day, this moment.

From the shore of Ohigan - from the perspective of Ohigan, we also understand clearly the meaning of love. My Ohigan definition of Love would be, "To love is to realize that what is loved, will in time, be lost." Ohigan is a time that reminds us to open our eyes and see

clearly the nature of the world, the nature of love and the nature of life.

Ohigan is a time to see our everyday lives from a distance, from the "Other Shore". When we do this, we are able to see with Dharma-perspective, the world we are fortunate to wake up to each day. Often it is only when we are away from our everyday routines that we appreciate all that we have.

In a way, it's like going on vacation. When we leave our homes for too long, it feels so good to just come home and sleep in our own bed. We begin to feel as Dorothy did in the Wizard of Oz: There is no place like home.

Unfortunately, it is often not until we are away from home and family or until we have to know the loss of someone we love, that we truly realize what is of value in life.

This is the view from Ohigan, and this feeling of deep awareness and appreciation is the heart of Nembutsu Gratitude.

In this most comfortable time of year, a time of change and harmony, a time of middle path (not too hot...not too cold) we must try to view our lives from Ohigan (the shore of Enlightenment). It is with this understanding that we remember again to live our lives with the O-Nembutsu appreciation, that level of gratitude where the words "thank you" would never be enough.

Please enjoy this wonderful...thoughtful...beautiful...Ohigan time of year.

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