Japanese Buddhist Temple in Maryland

Today’s adventure was visiting Myosenji Temple in Silver Spring, Maryland, USA. It was a new experience to visit a Japanese Buddhist temple in the United States. We were warmly welcomed to the Introductory Meeting on the topic “Change your Karma”.
Entering the small contemporary building was remarkably similar to entering a typical fellowship church. Friendly ushers greeted us in the entrance hall and showed us to available seats. They gave us an informative bulletin with basic information about the Nichiren Shoshu religion (a Japanese denomination of Buddhism based on the writings of Nichiren Daishnin) and a handout on Karma.

Unlike the temples I’ve visited in Japan there was no water purification basin before entering, no incense, and we kept our shoes on. The only tatami mat was a small area by the taiko drum for the priest to kneel upon.
(Stone water basins, tsukubai, are a common element of Japanese temples in Japan but are a cultural overlay from the Shinto faith.)
The alter area was black and gold with impressive golden lotus sculptures rising from the other alter objects in the foreground framing the (Gohonzon) object of worship in the background commanding attention.
At 2pm, the scheduled start time, the congregational chanting was interrupted by the moderator who welcomed everyone for coming. She explained that the meeting was being live-streamed for the benefit of participants in South Carolina and Florida and turned the presentation over to the Japanese priests in the alter space. (The Chief Priest is from Osaka and entered the priesthood at twelve years old.)
“Nam-Myoho-Rengo-Kyo”
the Chief Priest chanted while his associate pounded the taiko drum.
During the talk the head priest (who was introduced as Reverend) explained the meaning of Nichiren Shoshu Buddhism’s primary practice- chanting these words, called Daimoku, to awaken the Buddha nature that is inside everyone.
Juzu, Buddhist prayer beads, were passed out and everyone was shown the correct way to hold them. Holding the two tassel side of the loop on your left middle finger and then laying your right middle finger into the loop and bringing hands up so that beads cross over to form infinity is a bit reminiscent of playing cats in the cradle with string. Buddhist prayer beads allow you to hold the 108 earthly desires (lusts which tempt us on Earth) in your hands while reciting the sutras (in this case Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo).
Buddhism does not focus on vanquishing the 108 sirens of sin but instead accepts that these earthly desires are part of human existence. The idea is that by awakening the Buddhahood within a person becomes less victimized by sinful allure and the delusions. Through faithfully chanting Daimoku Buddha’s wisdom and compassion will overwhelm the delusions and suffering.
In answer to the classic question “Why do bad things happen to good people?” the Chief Priest explained that they don’t. The karma of your previous life is just catching up to you. Bad things are happening to you now because of bad things you have done before even though you don’t remember.

