During Ohigan(the equinoctial week), many people likely renewed their sense of gratitude toward their ancestors by pressing their hands in prayer before the family altar or visiting gravesites. It is a time to turn our thoughts to family members who have passed away. I, too, felt a sense of spiritual energy as I reflected on my parents and other family members who have gone before me. When I commune with departed loved ones in my heart, I experience a feeling of inner clarity. I believe this is because the act of thinking of the deceased is a positive sentiment—one that attracts positive energy. Whether by praying at the altar or visiting a grave, the forms of observance may vary, but what remains constant is that the very act of remembering those who have passed helps steer our hearts toward a positive state.
This experience is not limited to the Ohigan period; many people seem to share a similar feeling when participating in the Shinkiko retreat seminars. During these seminars, Prof. Akira Ishii teaches a method of introspection that involves reflecting on various past events—specifically, things others have done for us, things we have done for others, and times we have caused trouble for others. As one reflects in this way, a sense of gratitude naturally arises. It is precisely because we practice—more than usual—the mindset of attracting “positive Ki” (a guiding principle for mind purification) while receiving an abundance of Ki energy that our hearts become clear and serene.
In other words, it is just as important to gradually reduce—day by day—the kind of mindset that attracts “negative energy” (such as fault-finding, dissatisfaction, and irritation), rather than simply focusing on cultivating gratitude. I believe that a clear, serene heart can only be sustained when both increasing the positive and reducing the negative are achieved together.
The most direct way to change yourself for the better is to turn this mindset into small, sustainable habits. For instance, upon waking, you might face a photograph or the family altar of a deceased loved one and silently say, “Thank you for this day.” During the day, if you feel a sense of fault-finding toward someone, pause for a moment and recall one good quality about them. Before going to sleep at night, reflect on just one thing someone did for you or one good thing that happened that day. These actions take only seconds, yet doing them daily creates a meaningful accumulation of progress. It is about maintaining a balance—gradually increasing gratitude while decreasing the tendency to find fault. Using milestones like Ohigan or retreat seminars as a starting point, and then carrying these practices into your everyday life, gives you the strength to maintain a clear and serene state of mind.
