Today is the final 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 Wisdom. 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 pāramitā of prajña. There are also four corresponding factors for practicing the pāramitā of prajña.

1. To break through ignorance. By practicing the pāramitā of prajña, you can overcome your ignorance. Ignorance is stupidity.
2. To adorn bodhi and gather in living beings.
3. To attain joy through wisdom. When you have wisdom, you’ll feel sublimely happy; this is to benefit yourself. When you have wisdom, you can also teach and transform other living beings; this is to benefit others.
4. To remove hindrances that obstruct wisdom. If you have wisdom, you can remove any obstacles that hinder the attainment of wisdom so that you can attain genuine wisdom, prajña.