Today is the begining of autumn, the day when in Japanese tradition the ancestors are being remembered. The altar is being placed to the entrance in the south to greet the spirits. About 60 Danka, lay followers of Sogenji came to join for the ceremony, followed by a Taiwanese meal cooked by Sokun Zenni. The ceremony starts will the roll of the drum, followed by a poem given by Harada Roshi. During the ceremony, the sangha reads sutras in a walking style, while the lay people give individual prayers and offerings at the altar. The Roshi gave a talk to the lay people about this day being a day of self reflection as to how peace can be expanded from their own lives to the world. How all the different paths, religions and lives style have the same base, the same truth. He said that all we can do is to make efforts to keep purifying our mind.

The meal was served in the Kohojo.

You can find more impressions in the Aki Higan gallery.