Seasonal Letter, November: “What Leads to Happiness of the Heart”
Jigenji Temple – Seasonal Letters “What Leads to Happiness of the Heart”
November brings many seasonal words in Japanese poetry that carry the chill of approaching winter: hatsushimo (first frost), fuyu asashi (early winter), hatsugōri (first ice). Yet there is one whose sound alone makes the heart soften a little.
That word is koharubiyori, "little spring weather." It describes those calm, clear days between late autumn and early winter when the air turns as warm as spring. Wrapped in that gentle light, the heart naturally grows brighter and lighter.
May we always keep a heart that is open and at ease.
No matter what hardships we may be carrying, let us always keep our hearts bright, light, and free. I believe this is what leads to happiness, both for ourselves and for everyone around us.
— Ryojun Shionuma, Jinsei no Arukikata (How to Walk Through Life)
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