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Calendar of Events >>
Calendar of Events | Jannuary,
February, March
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January 1
New Year's Day
 On
January 1st, we go to our temple and attend a service to celebrate
the New Year. At this service, we express our respect to the Buddha,
Nichiren Shonin and our ancestors. We also pray for world peace,
a good harvest, prosperity for the temple, its members and their
families throughout the coming year. After the service, we toast
with New Year dish and sake (rice wine).
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February 3
Setsubun 
Setsubun literally means 'season- division'. According
to the calendar, February 3 is the last day of winter. On that day,
we hold a Setsubun Service to pray for our good health and protection
against calamity or misfortunes. At the service, toshi-otoko (a
man of the year) and yoshi-onna (a woman of the year), who were
born in the year with the same animal name as the current year,
throw beans to chase out evil spirits from each house and welcome
good luck throughout the year.
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February 15
The Buddha's Nirvana Day
 Sakyamuni
Buddha entered into Nirvana on the day of the full moon in February.
During His preaching tour, the Buddha ate a meal offered by an earnest
lay disciple, Chunda, and became severely. Although He continued
his journey with His disciples, he was exhausted when He reached
Kushinagara. After giving the final instructions to his disciples,
the Buddha told Ananda to inform the people of Kushinagara that
He would pass away during the coming night. He entered Nirvana on
February 15.
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February 16
Nichiren Shonin's Birthday
Our founder, Nichiren Shonin, was born at Kominato in the Province
of Awa (in Chiba Prefecture today) on February 16, 1222. His father
was called Nukina Shigetada and his mother, Umegiku. He was named
Zennichimaro. It is said that several lovely miracles happened at
his birth: many white lotus flowers bloomed in the bay, a great
number of fish appeared in the sea and a spring of water gushed
out in front of their home.
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Around March 21 & September 23 (Respectively)
Higan Service
The Higan Service is a memorial service for our ancestors held during
a week of Higan in March and in September. The fourth day of the
Higan week is the equinox day. Higan literally means "the other
shore," and the purpose of Higan Service is to send the merit
of reciting the Lotus Sutra and chanting odaimoku to the ancestors'
spirits on the other shore of enlightenment. We also practice the
Buddha's teaching in order to cross the river from this shore of
illusions to the other shore of enlightenment by holding Higan Service.
Typical practice is called six paramitas: 1) to give alms, 2) to
keep precepts, 3) to be patient, 4) to endeavor, 5) to meditate,
and 6) to see the truth.
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With all events please check with your local church or
temple for specific dates and times that events will be held.
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