Practitioners settle before the home altar or temple shrine as dawn breaks and again at dusk, finding a pocket of calm before the day’s rush—or as evening emails start pinging. Hands come together in gasshō, a deep bow sealing intent and respect, then the ritual unfolds.

1. Offerings and Preparation
   A candle’s flame, a wisp of incense, fresh water and flowers line up neatly. These simple acts—lighting the candle, wafting incense smoke, pouring water—set the stage, almost like tuning instruments before a concert.

2. Recitation of the Lotus Sutra
   Two key passages are chanted in classic Japanese: Hoben (Chapter 2, verses 1–11) and Juryo (Chapter 16, verses 19–32). Each word is voiced slowly and deliberately, allowing its meaning to resonate. It’s a bit like scrolling through a playlist of wisdom, line by line.

3. Daimoku Chanting
   “Nam-myoho-renge-kyo” echoes ten times in both morning and evening sessions. That repetitive mantra serves as the heartbeat of Gongyō—steady, grounding, and surprisingly energizing. Some stick to ten; others increase the count to deepen their focus.

4. Silent Prayers and Dedication
   A moment of inner reflection follows: thoughts for personal growth, friends facing hardships, even global concerns, are offered up. Finally, merits gained from Gongyō are dedicated towards world peace and the happiness of all—bridging the private altar to the wider community.

5. Concluding Bows
   Two final bows mark the ritual’s close, sealing practitioner and practice in mutual commitment.

In recent years, virtual Gongyō sessions have popped up on social platforms, allowing far-flung members to join in communal chanting during challenging times—proof that tradition can flex when it needs to, without losing its soul. Whether at home or online, that daily chorus of Lotus Sutra passages and daimoku remains a reassuring echo, a way to hit “reset” and stay connected to something larger than any one moment.