No matter what temple I am serving at the time, there is always fruit and rice offerings. On the onaijin (shrine), there may be oranges, apples and bananas. Sometimes, I like to exchange oranges with another fruit. No matter what fruit, it is still an offering, what we call osonae. This osonae is a metaphysical offering to the Buddha. It is the same for the rice (buppan) that is on the shrine. Immediately putting these offerings on the onaijin, they become a part of the Buddha’a realm (osagari). These offerings allow us to experience receiving and sharing with the Buddha. With our sharing of osonae, we are freeing ourselves from the “mine” concept.

We share osonae as our expression of respect to the Buddha and for showing our gratitude of being able to hear the Dharma. It is through the Buddha that we can continue to live a Buddhist life. Always keeping in mind that without the Buddha, we have no Dharma and without Dharma, there is no Sangha and vice versa.
We sometimes forget the effort it takes to produce osonae. It takes many facets to share this osonae with the Buddha. If one thinks about it, when we offer rice, fruit, or other items it has taken many people to produce them, not just ourselves. It takes the smallest insects to pollinate the plant, the worms who help “aerate” the soil and to fertilize the ground and there are many others like growers, workers, distributors and the stores that have these items. There are many hands involved, and they work hard, so we can offer osonae.  In a way, we are interconnected to all who have made it possible so that we can share this osonae with the Buddha and Sangha. We share our thankfulness and gratitude in our Namu Amida Butsu and in our Itadakimasu before the meal and Gochisosama desu after our indulgences and full tummies. The term before the meal is our expression of gratitude to all who have shared something with us and after the meal, how grateful we are for having so many people who put us first and for taking the time to share.

After a service, I offer what I like to call “Buddha’s rice” (buppan) to Sangha members. Many times, people are hesitant to receive it. However, I tell them that the Buddha is sharing its osonae with them. Besides that, Japanese hate to waste (mottanai). It is a privilege to receive osonae of the Buddha and it is our interconnect-edness to the Buddha’s compassion and wisdom. On one occasion, a young Sangha member was offered the buppan. Innocently he said, “oh…that’s where you hide the rice.” He made me laugh and I told him that I do not hide rice. I offer it to the Buddha and place it on the onaijin between the scrolls of Shinran and Rennyo. He was honored to receive the rice.

Receiving such osonae from the onaijin or sharing it with the Buddha, we are interconnected to the Bud-dha and the teachings. At the otoki (light luncheon and/or tea social), osonae will be taken home or shared with others. It is an honor knowing we can share with the Buddha and the Buddha shares with us. It is the Buddha’s wisdom and compassion and teachings that are shared with us and we put our palms together in Gassho. We receive the osonae in gratitude, thankfulness and appreciation for always being embraced in the Buddha’s Life and Light. We are never abandoned and are surrounded by Namu Amida Butsu.

I share my Gassho to Mikame Sensei of San Jose Betsuin for answering some of my questions about the words osonae (offerings to the Buddha) and osagari (adornments on the shrine/altar). Mikame Sensei explained these words in the newsletter, The Dharma. I give her all the credit for her research and for allowing me to tap into her knowledge and information.

Gassho,
Rev. Seijo Naomi Nakano