BERKELEY BUDDHIST TEMPLESome General Shin Buddhist Practice Etiquette
- Often, people will ask when do we recite the Nembutsu and how many times? Namo Amida Butsu is our expression of gratitude to the Amida Buddha for the countless blessings of life we have received, therefore, you can recite the Nembutsu as many times as you want. During our services, we formally recite the Nembutsu three times, but this is as a matter of convenience and has no religious significance.
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What is the difference between the terms "Nenju" and "Juzu"? The term "nen"
means "thought". The term "ju" means "beads" and "zu"
means "counter/counting." In some Buddhist practices, they stress counting the
number of recitations of the Nembutsu or other Buddhist invocations and the
"juzu" is actually used for counting how many recitations a person does. However,
in Shin Buddhism, since we do not have this practice, it is more correct to call our
"nenju" a "nenju" and not a "juzu".
It's interesting to note that the majority of the people of the world use some form of "nenju" in their religious practice. The use of the "nenju" originated with Buddhism, but as cultures came in contact with each other, eventually Catholics and Muslims also adapted the use of the "nenju" in their practices. -
In which hand should one carry the nenju or wear your wrist nenju? For Shin
Buddhists, we say it is best to carry or wear your nenju in your left hand, because in
this very action there is an important lesson - the left hand represents the world
of Samsara and 108 bonno and the right hand represents the world of
Enlightenment. Therefore, the wrist nenju should also be worn on the left wrist.
When your hands are placed together with a nenju encompassing your hands, the
world of Samsara and the world of Enlightenment are brought together as one.
Different sects not only have different versions, designs and interpretations for the nenju or ojuzu, but they also created different ways of placing them around your hands. For Shin Buddhists of our Hongwanji tradition, we always place the beads around our hands with the tassel hanging down straight below the two palms brought together in Gassho. more …