Many temples hold services on New Year’s Eve to express gratitude for the past year and to reflect on the interdependency of all life, and on all things that have made it possible for one to life through the year. Often at these services, attendees ring the kansho (temple bell)...

“Higan” means “the other shore.” It is an abbreviation for “to-higan,” meaning “reaching the other shore (of nirvana).” During the vernal and autumnal equinoxes when days and nights are of equal length, temples conduct Higan services that encourage us to meditate on the harmony of nature and devote ourselves to...

Each year the International Day of Peace is observed around the world on September 21st. The United Nations General Assembly has declared this as a day devoted to strengthening the ideals of peace, both within and among all nations and peoples. In 2007, Hawaii became the first state to recognize...