How to worship
When Visiting a Temple
How to Pray
Jōdo Shū(Pure Land Sect) practice revolves around chanting Namu Amida Butsu (I entrust myself to Amida). The most basic chanting method is called the jūnen (chanting ten times). Here is how to do it: first, chant namu amida bu eight times and then catch your breath. Then, chant namu amida butsu namu amida bu, and then lower your head on the last recitation. By the way, although it is customary to clap your hands at a Shinto shrine, this is not done at a Buddhist temple.
合掌 Gasshō (Joining Your Hands In Prayer)
In front of your chest, join both of your hands together, leaving no space between your fingers, and tilt them slightly diagonally. This is how prayers were done in ancient India.
珠数 Juzu (Buddhist Rosary Beads)
Bring a set of juzu (rosary beads) with you when you visit a temple. Originally, the juzu were used to count the number of times the nembutsu was chanted. With your hands in gasshō, place the juzu between your thumbs and index finger and let the tassel hang down. When your hands are not in gasshō, hand it from your left hand. There are also miniature juzu bands that you can wear on your arm.
木魚 Mokugyo（Fish-Shaped Wooden Temple Drum）
In Jōdo Shū, the Mokugyo is a Buddhist implement used to help set the tone and rhythm for the chanting of “Namu Amida Butsu.” Although there are various explanations as to why a fish is often depicted as the Mokugyo (Fish-Shaped Wooden Temple Drum), we believe the shape of a fish is used because a fish does not close its eyes even during the night and therefore this represents the desire to continuously and diligently practice throughout the day and night.
焼香 Shōkō (Offering Incense)
In Buddhism, we burn incense and offer it to the Buddha. Sit in a kneeling position in front of the incense burner, and after joining your hands in gasshō (see above) and lowering your head, pinch some incense with your right thumb, index, and middle finger. Then, place your right hand into your left palm, raise it to your forehead, then place it into the incense burner. Finally, join your hands once more in gasshō and lower your head.
1.joining your hands in gasshō
2.lowering your head
3.pinch some incense
4.place your right hand into your left palm
5.raise it to your forehead
6.place it into the incense burner
手水鉢 Chozubachi(Purification Water Basin)
- a) Pick up the dipper with your right hand and scoop up some water with the dipper. Then, pour the water over your left hand.
- b) Transfer the dipper from your right hand to your left hand, and then use the above instructions and pour some water on your right hand.
- c) Return the dipper to your right hand and scoop up some more water. Then, cupping your left hand, pour the water into your cupped left palm and then put the water into your mouth and rinse your mouth. After rinsing your mouth, you can spit the water on the ground basin. Then, taking the dipper, pour a little more water on your left hand again to rinse your left hand.
※Please do NOT drink the water. - d) Holding the handle of the dipper with both hands, raise the dipper vertically and allow the remaining water in the scoop to drip onto the handle to rinse the handle.
- e) Then replace the dipper back to its original position, and wipe your hands with your own handkerchief.
