This is the end of my second year with the Sacramento Nichiren Buddhist Church. While I’ve been a follower of Nichiren since 1989, much of the Nichiren Shu practice is still new to me. For example, I had to ask Ven. Kenjo Igarashi when was the appropriate time to make the kasane offering. He said Dec. 28 to 30 was ideal, or after the New Year.

So today I took the kasane I had purchased at the church’s annual mochi sale and wrapped it in red plastic and placed it on a plate and then on the altar.

Recently I’ve been mulling over how to explain Nichiren Shu Buddhism to someone who knows little or nothing about Buddhism. What are the three essential things on which to focus? And today, chanting and looking at the kasane on my altar, I considered the Eternal Buddha Śākyamuni, always-present, and the Sutra of the Lotus Flower of the Wonderful Dharma, so difficult to understand and so rare to hear, all wrapped in Namu Myoho Renge Kyo.