BERKELEY BUDDHIST TEMPLESome General Shin Buddhist Practice Etiquette
- Some Buddhist sects will place the incense sticks standing up in the incense burner BUT in the Hongwanji and Jodo Shinshu tradition, we lay the sticks horizontal in a burner when possible. This is probably more of a safety factor concern than any significant religious meaning since falling incense sticks can cause fires and damage.
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In Asia, people often say that one should not place your bed or sleep with your
head such that your face faces toward the West. But does this have any meaning
for Shin Buddhists? This is a superstition and has no meaning or significance for
a Shin Buddhist. There are some people who feel that such an action only invites
bad luck (death) because traditionally a deceased person's casket or body is placed
with the body/face facing the west, which is said to be the direction of the Pure
Land but it's no more than a superstition.
Is it true that the Buddha's teachings tells us NOT to sleep on our left side? Yes, Shakyamuni Buddha did leave us such a teaching BUT the reason he advised such is for health reasons since the heart is on the left side of the body. If you sleep on your left side, you place additional body weight and stress on the heart. - What is the difference between "Namo Amida Butsu" with an "o" and "Namu Amida Butsu" with a "u"? This spelling difference is more a matter of phonetics and pronunciation and has no real meaning difference. In the Hongwanji tradition, the word "namo" is written with an "o" because this pronunciation is closer to the original Indian pronunciation. The Higashi Honganji tradition uses "namu" with an "u" as their official way of spelling "namo" but you can use either pronunciation.
- In the Asian calendar, certain days are designated as "good" days and others are designated as "misfortune" or "bad luck" days. It is often said that weddings, funerals, anniversaries, celebrations, memorial services, etc. should not be scheduled on "misfortune" days but these human-created designations have no meaning or relevance to a Shin Buddhist. more …