This morning just as I was going to start chanting Daimoku the power went out. I added a few candles to illuminate the altar and resumed chanting Daimoku. A half-hour later, just as I was concluding my morning service with a final Namu Myoho Renge Kyo, the power returned and the lights snapped on. We … Continue reading Candle Power
Yesterday I had only nice things to say about Rev. Ryuei Michael McCormick’s, “On the Opening of the Eyes: Annotated Translation with Glossary of the Kaimoku-sho.” Now I’d like to add a “But…” The glossary included in Ryuei’s new book is a first look at what may be Ryuei’s next book, a dictionary of Nichiren … Continue reading Why Reading Glasses Are Sometimes Necessary for Eyes
Today Rev. Igarashi held a memorial service for Mark Washington, the son of Renee Dennis, a member of the church. Mark died Aug. 20, 2021, of complications related to Covid-19. Rather than attempt to paraphrase Rev. Igarashi’s special prayer and his sermon, I’ll just reprint an article published in the Sacramento Nichiren Buddhist Church newsletter … Continue reading The Start of the 49 Day Journey
Day 14 covers all of Chapter 9, The Assurance of Future Buddhahood of the Śrāvakas Who Have Something More to Learn and the Śrāvakas Who Have Nothing More to Learn, and opens Chapter 10, The Teacher of the Dharma. Having last month considered the Buddha’s prediction for Ananda, we consider the question posed by the … Continue reading Day 14
Back when I was active in Soka Gakkai, especially in the early 1990s, I would attend monthly district meetings. These were always held in someone’s home and they would always feature someone’s elaborate experience demonstrating actual proof of the power of chanting the Daimoku. These experiences never had anything to with Buddhism, per se. They … Continue reading My Experience
After more than a year of forced online-only services, it was nice to witness the return of the hybrid service. Sunday’s service from Nichiren Buddhist Kannon Temple of Nevada marked the official return to in-person services in Las Vegas. While the camera was fixed and didn’t allow a view of the attendees, it was nice … Continue reading The Return of Hybrid Services
When I first picked up Fire in the Lotus and saw that it devoted four chapters to Nichiren Shoshu and Soka Gakkai, I assumed it was going to be another homage to President Daisaku Ikeda. Instead I found a reasoned exploration of Nichiren Buddhism and its many varieties. If anything, Daniel Montgomery walks a doctrinal … Continue reading Fire in the Lotus
Truly enjoyed today’s Hanamatsuri service over Zoom from the Nichiren Buddhist Kannon Temple of Nevada. In addition to the standard fare of sutra recitation and chanting daimoku, Rev. Shoda Kanai offered lotus petals (center), clanging cymbals (right) and bathed the baby Śākyamuni in sweet tea. I’m looking forward to next week’s Hanamatsuri service at the … Continue reading A Zooming Hanamatsuri
Note: This is an edited transcription of a recording from Ven. Kenjo Igarashi’s sermon following the Ohigan ceremony March 28, 2021. For some reason I can’t explain I didn’t publish this then and now I can’t see any reason not to post it late. While I’m posting this April 3, 2021, it will appear in … Continue reading Spring: The Time to Sow the Seed of Buddhahood
When I chant the Daimoku, I sometimes chant “Namu” and sometimes the “u” is unvoiced and it sounds like “Nam.” Doesn’t change the significance of my devotion to the Lotus Sutra with or without the “u.” But when I write the Daimoku I always write “Namu,” because that’s how it’s spelled when you romanize the … Continue reading ‘Why will the name be Myoho’