Today is the third day of Higan week, the three days before the equinox and the three days after. 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.
The today we consider the Perfection of Patience. For this Spring Higan week I’m using Hsuan Hua‘s commentary on the Lotus Sutra in which he discusses the perfections’ four kinds of corresponding factors.
The paramita of patience. There are also four corresponding factors for practicing the pāramitā of patience.
- To break through impatience. By practicing the pāramitā of patience, you’ll be able to overcome impatience. When the mind no longer thinks, “I can’t endure this!” then you’ll have patience.
- To adorn bodhi and gather in living beings.
- To enable both oneself and others to be free of fear. By practicing patience, people around you won’t be afraid, and you’ll no longer experience fear either.
- To be free of anger in the next life. If you cultivate patience in this life, you won’t have a bad temper in your next life, nor will you have much hatred or resentment. Why do you have such a bad temper in this life? You have a bad temper in this life because you didn’t cultivate patience in former lives. If you cultivate patience, your family members won’t be separated from one another. Your household will always be peaceful and harmonious, and your family members won’t suffer separation and distress. Because of the merit attained through the cultivation of patience, you won’t undergo suffering and hardship in your next life. In the future, you’ll attain the bliss of nirvāṇa.
