I am a firm believer in chanting slowly and deliberately, which invites the pronunciation of the whole collection of seven characters Na Mu Myo Ho Ren Ge Kyo. Namu is not an appended sound but a condition of our being. So with the mindfulness and deliberative intent of opening myself, emptying myself, and absorbing, I try to take care of how I pronounce and view not just Myo Ho Ren Ge Kyo but also Na Mu. I do not believe we can genuinely and authentically say we “believe” in or “revere,” or “respect” something that we are going to rush through. If I think about being in the presence of someone I respect and admire and wish to learn from, I am not in a rush. I am not looking at my watch. I am not counting the words they say. Instead, I am cherishing each moment, wishing them to linger longer even.