Finally, after more than a year, Rev. Kenjo Igarashi ventured into the congregation of the Sacramento Nichiren Buddhist Church to give his monthly Kito Blessing. During the pandemic Rev. Igarashi had to provide the purification blessing remotely from the altar stage without moving about the congregation.

Rev. Igarashi said afterward during his sermon that this had been a special kito blessing in which he “looked into your mind” to see if those he was blessing were being affected by harmful spirits. In my case, he pulled me aside after the service to say that he felt the presence of a deity working on my behalf and asked if I had any ideas on which deity it might be. No clue, I said, but I pointed out that it was quite possible that a deity had been working to bring me and him together since he arrived in Sacramento in 1989. At that time I was recently divorced and looking to buy a new home. By chance (read: helped by deity?) I found a house just down the street from the Sacramento Nichiren Buddhist Church. I didn’t know anything about Nichiren Shu at the time, having only just joined Nichiren Shoshu, but I’m sure it would not have taken 25 years for me to start attending Rev. Igarashi’s services. Alas, unhelpful spirits working at the CalVet Loan agency discouraged me from buying that home.

During the sermon Rev. Igarashi stressed the importance of his purification ceremony, especially for new members. He said he has resumed his monthly trips to Chicago, where he ministers to “the young ones.” The oldest member, he said, is maybe 38. That’s close to the age of the youngest person who regularly attends services in Sacramento. At 69, I’m in the middle of the average. Our oldest active member is 93, and she still drives herself to services.

Rev. Igarashi contrasted the motivation of the “young ones” to get benefits to the people who attend in Sacramento because their parents and grandparents attended. That seemed harsh to me, but you can’t deny that Sacramento is sorely lacking in “young ones” seeking immediate benefits.

Rev. Igarashi pointed out that everyone who practices is equipped with the same tools with which to reach their goals, whatever those goals may be. Each person who practices has a strong bow and a straight arrow with which to hit their target. These are the Lotus Sutra and the Daimoku. The only difference is in the strength of the archer. That strength – the ability to bend the bow to the archer’s will and send the arrow flying to pierce the target – is a measure of our faith. Those who chant and practice develop strong faith and that faith allows those people to hit their targets.