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.