In Japan today it is customary to plan a wedding on an auspicious day and avoid certain days that are considered unlucky. The same goes for funerals, as certain days are considered inappropriate. Such long-held customs emerged when the Chinese calendar that was brought to Japan took on a life of its own and began to regulate the lives of the Japanese people. *
The custom of picking the right day is not limited to the East; it is done in Western cultures as well. One can see this in how Friday the 13th is detested because it is seen as an ominous day. Also due to the twin tower attack on Sept 11th, 9-11 is not considered an auspicious day for any celebrations. *
But Oyasama said,
“There is not a single day which you ought to complain about. All days are lucky days. People choose a lucky day for a wedding or for raising [the ridge-beam of] a house. But the luckiest day is the day when everybody is spirited in mind.”
“Thirty days make a month, twelve months make a year. There is not a single unlucky day in the whole year.”
Anecdotes of Oyasama 173, “All Days Are Lucky Days”
But what is a spirited mind? Is a spirited mind a day when everything seems perfect, like after drinking a cup of highly caffeinated coffee?
Another definition of a spirited mind is:
A spirited mind is when our minds are free from greed, arrogance, and self love; and when we know from our hearts that all mankind was created to live a joyous life by helping each other. It is from this mind that hope, compassion and love develop.
Someone once said luck is when preparation meets opportunity. It is when we prepare our minds to be pure (without greed, arrogance, and self love), that we can turn any event or occurrence into a lucky day. It is from this mind set that everyday can be a lucky day.
* from the Tenrikyology.com website
