Today, I. would like to tell you about the Butsudan. Some members might know about the Butsudan. The Butsudan is like the Buddha’s house, and is the altar dedicated to the Dai Mandala, the Buddha, Nichiren Dai Shonin, and our ancestors. The Butsudan also shows us the Buddha’s world. It is usually box shaped, but there are many different kinds of Butsudan. No matter what shape, size or colour the Butsudan is, the most important thing is to dedicate it to the Buddhas and others.

Then, I will tell you why we should have a Butsudan. The Butsudan expresses our faith. The Butsudan at home means that Buddhism is very close to a family. The Butsudan leads the family closer to Buddhism. In addition, the Butsudan also shows us the relationships between the Buddha, Nichiren Dai Shonin, and our family, including our ancestors, and shows the Buddha’s great world in which Nichiren Dai Shonin and our ancestors live.

And, the Butsudan is the window between the Buddha’s world and this world. If we have the Butsudan at home, we can see the Buddha, Nichiren Dai Shonin, and our ancestors whenever we want. When sitting in front of the Butsudan, we can see our parents, grandparents, and other ancestors enjoying their lives in the Buddha’s world, and we can fully realize the salvation and compassion of our Lord Buddha.

Furthermore, we should believe in the Buddhism not only at the temple but also at home. To fully appreciate the Buddhism, we should put our belief in the Buddhism to practical use. For the sake of belief in our daily lives, we need the Butsudan at home, dedicated to the Buddhas. Then, I will explain about the meaning of offering a cup of fresh water, a lighted candle and incense and flowers. When our hands are dirty, we wash them in water. Water has the power to clean. The teaching of the Buddha has the same kind of power to make our minds clean.

To offer a cup of water means to praise the Buddha with water, which has the same kind of power, and to quench the Buddha’s thirst. And a candle bums, brightens, breaks the darkness, and makes people feel at ease. It is said that candle light symbolizes the wisdom of our Lord Buddha. It brightens and breaks our ignorance. Offering incense means to offer the fragrance of incense to the Buddhas, and also to purge us with its fragrance. It is said that offering incense symbolizes the compassion of the Buddha. Its fragrance spread all over equally no matter what kind of barrier is. In addition, both the candle light and the fragrance of the incense spread as the teaching of the Buddha spread. Offering flowers means to offer beauty and to ornament the Buddha.