Hondo/Onaijin 101

…
Hondo/Onaijin 101

The Amida Buddha statue sits on top of a fully opened lotus. Why is the lotus an important Buddhist symbol?
The beautiful lotus grows best in mud and muck. This is actually a good representation of each of our existences. We live in this world of samsara, amidst passions and filth, and yet, it is possible to emerge out of this mess into the world of enlightenment.
The Japanese vegetable "renkon" or lotus root comes from the same flower. One of the reasons that the renkon is always served at New Year's is because when you cut the renkon sideways, its insides look like a Dharma Wheel, and thus this is a reminder to all of us at New Year's of the importance of the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha.

Often time, in front of the statue of Amida Buddha, there will be an ornament of metal of brocade cloth which partially covers the face of the Buddha statue. This ornament is called "Keman" (kay-man) and originally represented neck and hair ornaments worn by Indian men in ancient times.
Why does this ornament partially cover the face of the Amida statue? It represents that the Truth or face of Amida Buddha is never completely visible, and that each person and being sees the Amida Buddha, the truth, from their own perspective and unique view, and that there is always a deeper and different meaning to the Truth.

The Buddha image is usually enshrined in a covered structure called "Gokuden" (go-koo-den), the palace-like structure which sits on top of a table-like dais structure called "Shumidan" (shoe-mc-dawn). The "Shumidan" represents the highest mountain in the world according to the ancient Indian cosmology. This highest mountain is called "Swneru" and the Japanese pronunciation became "Shumidan." There are four pillars holding up the ornate roof of the "Gokuden", and these four pillars represent the Four Noble Truths.
To the left and right of the central altar are two lamps which were originally oil lamps used since the time of Shakyamuni Buddha. These oil lamps are usually sitting on a circular band. These lamps are called "rinto" (tin-toe) which means "circular lamp" and this represents the light of wisdom/compassion which shines in all directioNs of the universe. Traditional Shin altars will have these rinto with circular cltrysanthemum designs. This type of chrysanthemmn "kiku rinto" (kEy-koo rin-toe) design is only used by Hongwanji temples.
Closer to the "Gokuden" (go-koo-den) are two more lanterns called "Tsuri Taro" (Tsoo-ree-toe-row) Lanterns have been used since the time of the Shakyam.uni Buddha, but the primary purpose of these oil lamps was so that the people walking in the dark would not step on any animal or insect and kill them by accident.
Later these lamps were given paper shades to protect insects from flying into the flame and dying. This eventually developed into the "chochin" (cho-cheen) or paper lantern used in Japan. more …

BERKELEY BUDDHIST TEMPLE
… Hondo/Onaijin 101
The Amida Buddha statue sits on top of a fully opened lotus. Why is the lotus an important Buddhist symbol? The beautiful lotus grows best in mud and muck. This is actually a good representation of each of our existences. We live in this world of samsara, amidst passions and filth, and yet, it is possible to emerge out of this mess into the world of enlightenment. The Japanese vegetable "renkon" or lotus root comes from the same flower. One of the reasons that the renkon is always served at New Year's is because when you cut the renkon sideways, its insides look like a Dharma Wheel, and thus this is a reminder to all of us at New Year's of the importance of the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha.
Often time, in front of the statue of Amida Buddha, there will be an ornament of metal of brocade cloth which partially covers the face of the Buddha statue. This ornament is called "Keman" (kay-man) and originally represented neck and hair ornaments worn by Indian men in ancient times. Why does this ornament partially cover the face of the Amida statue? It represents that the Truth or face of Amida Buddha is never completely visible, and that each person and being sees the Amida Buddha, the truth, from their own perspective and unique view, and that there is always a deeper and different meaning to the Truth. The Buddha image is usually enshrined in a covered structure called "Gokuden" (go-koo-den), the palace-like structure which sits on top of a table-like dais structure called "Shumidan" (shoe-mc-dawn). The "Shumidan" represents the highest mountain in the world according to the ancient Indian cosmology. This highest mountain is called "Swneru" and the Japanese pronunciation became "Shumidan." There are four pillars holding up the ornate roof of the "Gokuden", and these four pillars represent the Four Noble Truths. To the left and right of the central altar are two lamps which were originally oil lamps used since the time of Shakyamuni Buddha. These oil lamps are usually sitting on a circular band. These lamps are called "rinto" (tin-toe) which means "circular lamp" and this represents the light of wisdom/compassion which shines in all directioNs of the universe. Traditional Shin altars will have these rinto with circular cltrysanthemum designs. This type of chrysanthemmn "kiku rinto" (kEy-koo rin-toe) design is only used by Hongwanji temples. Closer to the "Gokuden" (go-koo-den) are two more lanterns called "Tsuri Taro" (Tsoo-ree-toe-row) Lanterns have been used since the time of the Shakyam.uni Buddha, but the primary purpose of these oil lamps was so that the people walking in the dark would not step on any animal or insect and kill them by accident. Later these lamps were given paper shades to protect insects from flying into the flame and dying. This eventually developed into the "chochin" (cho-cheen) or paper lantern used in Japan. more …
3