February 1, 2026
Dharma Message

It seems that everywhere we look, there are some type of symbols of “amore” (love). One can find cards, flowers, heart shaped red boxes of chocolate or red glitzy banners draping over everything to do with Valentine’s Day. Many are making dinner reservations as an expression of their love.

Truth be told, the story of Valentine’s Day is not what we would imagine. This day have been over-commercialized by Cadbury Confectionary Company and Hallmark Cards. Geoffrey Chaucher, the poet, and William Shakespeare, the writer, contributed to romancing this day.

However, the origins of Valentine’s Day is a bit gory and a mystery. Historians cannot pinpoint the ex-act origin of this day. One version of this story actually started long before the story of Saint Valentine. Ac-cording to The New York Times and History.com, Valentine’s Day stemmed from an ancient pagan festival that predated Christianity. This day was a Roman festival held in the middle of February that involved feasting and the pairing of partners. It was a bit raucous filled with debauchery (too much sensual pleasures), blood and sacrifice. That is where the color “red” comes in. It is a bit of gore also. I will not get into full detail but, it involved sacrificing a goat. The priest would take strips of the goat, dip it in its blood and slap the women, in belief it would make the women more fertile during the year.

It would be around the 5th Century that this pagan belief would be outlawed. The Romans would eventually embrace Christianity. Pope Gelasius would declare February 14th as Saint Valentine’s Day. The identity of Saint Valentine is also a mystery. On this day around the 3rd Century, Emperor Claudius II of Rome executed two men by the surname of Valentine, although a couple years apart. According to one story, the first Valentine was supposedly a priest who defied a Roman decree. It was forbidden for soldiers to marry, however this priest continued to wed lovers in secret. According to History.Com, the other Valentine story involved an imprisoned priest who fell in love with one of his visitors. He began to write her letters. Before his execution, he signed his letter with “From your Valentine”. These two stories are filled with romantic notions and “amore”.

Jodo Shinshu also has a time filled with compassion, mystery, commitment, and learning but in another light. It is filled with stories and teachings. It is a story of Shakyamuni Buddha and his last Dharma mes-sage to his disciples. We refer to this day as Nirvana Day or in Japanese as Nehan-E when Shakyamuni. Buddha attained Enlightenment and/or Nirvana. Yet, Buddha was still in earthly form and did not attain complete Nirvana.

In Sanskrit, the word Nirvana means “a blowing out as of a flame” or “extinction of worldly illusions and passions”. It is written that Shakyamuni Buddha knew of his complete parting three months before his passing. Yet, he continued to teach the Dharma to those who wanted to hear and live the Buddhist life. Shakyamuni Buddha was on a pilgrimage and stopped in a village to ask for alms from the blacksmith, Cunda. Feeling honored and privileged that the Buddha would ask him for a meal, Cunda unknowingly prepared food for the Buddha that was tainted. After the sharing of the food, Buddha fell ill.

In Kusinagara, Shakyamuni Buddha laid between two sala trees with his head toward the north and his body facing the west. He continued the teachings to his favorite disciples until his last moment. Cunda, the blacksmith was also present. In a faint voice, Shakyamuni Buddha told those gathered that Cunda was not to be blamed. Cunda’s virtue of his offering of his last nourishment was great in virtue and merit. Even close in death, Buddha was compassionate.

The Buddha understood the law of change, that everything is impermanent and that “all phenomena whether it may be organic or inorganic is impermanent and undergoes change”. This is the first basis of the Four Noble Truths; the Truth of suffering. The last words of Shakyamuni Buddha were, “Do not grieve. If I were to live in a world of a whole kalpa, our association would still have to end. You cannot find any association which does not end. Therefore, you must know the world is all transient, and meeting certainly implies separation.” With these parting word, Shakyamuni Buddha attained complete Nirvana, which we call Paranirvana.

The Buddha shared the Dharma, how to live in this earthly realm that is filled with sorrow and suffering, and how to associate with each other. During our lifetime, we take the time to search for our under-standing of our true self and strive to find peace and joy for other as well as for ourselves. We are assured we are always surrounded by compassion and shared wisdom, but do we have the true eyes to see, true ears to hear, true heart to feel and the true mind to learn? Namu Amida Butsu.

Gassho,
Rev. Naomi Nakano