last update and revised
26th August 2019
Although we also have other services, I decided this will be the main liturgy at Amidaji temple. Unlike other services that you can see in various temples, this one is easier to follow, especially because all parts (including the Three Invitations) are recited, not chanted.
What makes this service unique is also that it contains various types of recitations of the Name of Amida Buddha taken from the Larger Sutra (like the recitation of the Twelve Lights of Amida), as well as the Ten Character Name and Nine Character Name which were also recited by Shinran Shonin himself from time to time.
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| Nembutsu liturgy during night time |
Translations of each phrase to be recited are added so that you can always know what you recite.
The reason we use this Sino-Japanese transliteration is that people of various countries and languages have a common liturgy when we meet and worship together in the same temple. Thus, be sure we'll do this service when you visit me at Amidaji! Any temple or dojo related with Amidaji that will be open in the future will also have this liturgy.
Of course, this type of service is NOT an obligation for people to do at home, as the follower can simply say Nembutsu in the form of Namo Amida Bu, Namo Amitabha, Namo Amituofo, Namo Adida Phat, etc, without anything else.
●●
doshi: BU JO MI DA NYO RAI NIU DO JO
we
respectfully call upon Amida Buddha to enter this place of practice[1]
doon:
SAN GE RAKU
as we joyfully scatter flowers of welcome
doshi: BU JO SHA KA NYO RAI NIU DO JO
we respectfully
call upon Shakyamuni Buddha to enter this place of practice
doon:
SAN GE RAKU
as we joyfully scatter flowers of welcome
doshi: BU JO JIP-PO NYO RAI NIU DO JO
we respectfully
call upon all Buddhas from the ten directions
doon: SAN GE RAKU
as we joyfully scatter flowers of welcome
●
doshi: NAMO KIE BU, NAMO KIE HO, NAMO KIE SO [2]
I take refuge in
the Buddha, I take refuge in the Dharma, I take refuge in the Sangha
doon:
NAMO KIE BU. NAMO KIE HO. NAMO KIE SO
doon:
NAMO KIE BU. NAMO KIE HO. NAMO KIE SO
doon:
NAMO KIE BU. NAMO KIE HO. NAMO KIE SO
●
doshi: KI MYO JIN JI PO MU GE KO NYO RAI[3]
◙
I take refuge
in/Homage to the Tathagata of Unhindered Light Pervading the Ten Quarters
doon:
KI MYO JIN JI PO MU GE KO NYO RAI ◙
doon:
KI MYO JIN JI PO MU GE KO NYO RAI ◙
doon:
KI MYO JIN JI PO MU GE KO NYO RAI ◙
●
doshi: NA MO FU KA SHI GI KO NYO RAI [4]◙
I take refuge
in/Homage to the Tathagata of Inconceivable Light
doon:
NA MO FU KA SHI GI KO NYO RAI ◙
doon: NA MO FU KA SHI GI KO NYO RAI ◙
doon:
NA MO FU KA SHI GI KO NYO RAI ◙
●
doshi: NA MO A MI DA BU[5]
◙
I take refuge
in/Homage to Amida Buddha
doon:
NA MO A MI DA BU, NA MO A MI DA BU, NA
MO A MI DA BU, NA MO A MI DA BU, NA MO A MI DA BU, NA MO A MI DA BU, NA MO A MI
DA BU …………◙
●
doshi: NA MO
I take refuge in
(homage to)
doon:
MU RYO KO BU
Buddha
of Infinite Light
MU HEN KO BU
Buddha
of Boundless Light
MU GE KO BU
Buddha
of Unhindered Light
MU TAI KO BU
Buddha
of Incomparable Light
EN NO KO BU
Buddha
Lord of Blazing Light
SHO JO KO BU
Buddha
of Pure Light
KAN GI KO BU
Buddha
of the Light of Joy
CHI E KO BU
Buddha
of the Light of Wisdom
FU DAN KO BU
Buddha
of Uninterrupted Light
NAN JI KO BU
Buddha
of Inconceivable Light
MU SHO KO BU
Buddha
of Inexpressible Light
CHO NICHI GAK KO
BU
Buddha
of the Light Outshining the Sun and Moon[6]
●
(repeat three
times)
doshi: NA MO A MI DA BU ◙
I take refuge
in/Homage to Amida Buddha
doon:
NA MO A MI DA BU, NA MO A MI DA BU, NA
MO A MI DA BU, NA MO A MI DA BU, NA MO A MI DA BU, NA MO A MI DA BU, NA MO A MI
DA BU …………◙[7]
●
doshi: GA-N NI SHI KU DO KU[8]
May
the merits of the [Primal] Vow [of Amida]
doon: BYO – U DO – U SE IS – SA – I
be
received equally by all beings
DO – U HO – TSU
BO DA – I SHI – N
May
all develop bodhicitta[9],
O – U JO – U A –
A – A – A – N RAK – KOKU
And
may they be born in the Land of Peace and Bliss
●● ●
Explanations
Only the words in caps and bold are to be recited.
”Doshi”
(leader) – this word indicates that part is recited by the person who leads the
recitation
”Doon”
means all those present recite together. If only one person makes the service,
then he/she recites all lines.
● – one bell strike
●● – two bell strikes
●● ● – three bell strikes
◙ - drum (the use of
a drum is optional)
You
can strike the bell from time to time, during the six character Name recitation,
to change the rhythm (slower-faster-slower, etc) or simply to keep everyone alert.
[1] Sambujo – the
Three Invitations are addressed to Amida, Shakyamuni and all Buddhas in the ten
directions. The place of practice (dojo) where we invite these Honored guests,
can be a temple, one’s own house or any place where people meet to say Nembutsu
and listen to Amida Dharma.
[3] KI MYO JIN JI
PO MU GE KO NYO RAI: The Name of Amida Buddha with ten characters.
[4] NA MO FU KA SHI
GI KO NYO RAI: The Name of Amida Buddha with nine characters.
[5] NA MO A MI DA
BU: The Name of Amida Buddha with six characters. You can prolong the recitation
of this Name as much as you like.
[6] Recitation of the Twelve Lights
of Amida Buddha as they appear in the Larger
Sutra:
“The Buddha of Infinite Life (Amida) is
called by the following names: the Buddha of Infinite (Immeasurable) Light, the
Buddha of Boundless Light, the Buddha of Unhindered Light, the Buddha of
Incomparable ( Unequaled) Light, the Buddha of Light that is Lord of Blazing
Light, the Buddha of Pure Light, the Buddha of the Light of Joy, the Buddha of
the Light of Wisdom, the Buddha of Uninterrupted Light, the Buddha of Inconceivable Light, the Buddha of
Inexpressible Light, and the Buddha of
Light Surpassing the Sun and Moon”.
[7] If you decide to make a longer
Nembutsu service, you can now recite again the Twelve Lights of Amida and then
continue with more recitations of the six character Name (Namo Amida Bu). You
can repeat the Ten Lights recitations followed by Namo Amida Bu as many times
as you like.
[8] This part is called Eko or merit
transference. In
the practices based on personal power the practitioner “earns” virtues which he
transfers for his own Enlightenment. But in the case of Other Power
(Pure Land) way, the transference of merits takes place from Amida
Buddha to those who entrust to Him. This transference of merit (eko)
carries the follower to the Pure Land where he attains Nirvana or perfect
Enlightenment. Shinran Shonin says in a hymn:
“When sentient
beings of this evil world
of the five defilements
Entrust themselves to the selected Primal Vow,
Virtues indescribable, inexplicable, and inconceivable
Fill those practitioners."
of the five defilements
Entrust themselves to the selected Primal Vow,
Virtues indescribable, inexplicable, and inconceivable
Fill those practitioners."
The
merit transference from Amida to the practitioner has two aspects: 1) the
merit transference of going forth (Oso-Eko) and 2) the merit transference of
returning to this world (Genso-Eko).
The
first refers to the fact that through Amida's transference of
merit we go to His Pure Land where we become Buddhas, while the second one
means that after we become Buddhas in the Pure Land by sharing the same
Enlightenment as Amida, we return to the various samsaric realms and
universes, to save all beings.
[9] Bodhicita or Bodhi Mind is the aspiration
to attain Budhahood for oneself and all beings. This is fulfilled in the
Awakening of Faith (shinjin) in the Primal Vow of Amida Buddha. Master Shan-tao
said: “Awake your Bodhi Mind to
Amida’s Compasion”, that is, aspire to your and other beings Liberation by
relying on the Compasion of Amida (His Primal Vow). So, the Awakening of
the Bodhi Mind, the obligatory condition in Mahayana for attaining the supreme
Enlightenment, appears in Jodo Shinshu in the form of the entrusting heart
(shinjin). Shinran Shonin said, “The mind
aspiring to become Buddha
Is the mind seeking to save sentient beings;
The mind that seeks to save sentient beings
Is True Faith endowed by Amida’s Compassion.”
(Hymns on the Patriachs, 18)
Is the mind seeking to save sentient beings;
The mind that seeks to save sentient beings
Is True Faith endowed by Amida’s Compassion.”
(Hymns on the Patriachs, 18)
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