California recently prohibited all indoor religious services and so the Sacramento Nichiren Buddhist Church set up outside in a grassy area between the Social Hall and the Temple.

Three 20 by 10 feet canopies were erected on Saturday. These canopies are normally used during the Summer Food Festival.

Rev. Igarashi stands at podium next to makeshift altar. The podium originally belonged to the San Francisco Nichiren Buddhist Church, where Rev. Igarashi worked before moving to Sacramento in 1989. The Mandala Gohonzon was presented to Rev. Igarashi after the completion of his third Aragyo session, the 100-day ascetic practice. Rev. Igarashi has completed five of the Aragyo sessions.

Rev. Igarashi at the altar.

Rev. Igarashi chats with masked, socially-distant parishioners under the canopies.

A group of masked-parishioners chat after the service.

Having the service outside was workable, but it was quite warm at times – could have used a litttle more breeze – and the traffic on the nearby street made Rev. Igarashi’s Dharma talk difficult to hear at times.