We are pleased to report that we have held the Autumn Equinox Service for 2023.
Although the weather was not good on the day, about 40 parishioners gathered. (Thank you for attending despite the bad weather.)
As we mentioned the other day, the sun sets due west on the spring and autumn equinoxes, which are the middle days of the Higan period. At this time, people visit the graves of their loved ones and think of the Pure Land in the west, as well as their loved ones who have passed away, and pray to the Buddha with their hands together.
At the ceremony, everyone was given a copy of a sutra (a Jodo sect staple) and the head priest read the sutra together while outlining the meaning of each verse and sutra passage.
After the service, everyone brought their stupas to their graves in the temple grounds and Joen.
With the autumn equinox, the heat is expected to calm down. It will be a comfortable season, but Tokyo is warning people to be careful of the spread of influenza and other diseases. Everyone, please take care of yourselves.
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