The
wedding ceremony in Amidaji branch is a modified Nembutsu liturgy as explained
in the following lines:
●●
doshi: BU JO MI DA NYO RAI NIU DO JO
we
respectfully call upon Amida Buddha to enter this place of practice
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
●
(When
saying SAN GE RAKU the priest and couple scatter petals of roses or any flower
in the direction of the altar.)
doshi: NAMO KIE BU, NAMO KIE HO, NAMO KIE SO
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◙
I take refuge
in/Homage to the Tathagata of Unhindered LightPervading 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◙
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◙
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[1]
●
(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 …………◙
●
During
this second Nembutsu recitation the priest gets up from seiza and makes oshoko.
Then he sits sideways near the bell which he will use to direct the couple’s
next movements (●):
● - the couple
approaches the altar and bow with their hands in gassho
● - they make oshoko
(the man first and then the woman).
● - they return to
their place.
When
the couple sits again at their place, the priest takes the ceremonial kettle
with tea that was previously offered to Amida Buddha and goes to the couple. He
bows to them and they bow back. Then he goes to the man. They bow to each
other. The priest pours tea into the marriage bowl for three times (three drops
each time). At every three drops the man takes the bowl with both hands and
drinks. After that the priest and the husband bow to each other and the priest
goes to the woman. They bow to each other. He again pours tea into the marriage
bowl three times exactly as he did in the case of the husband. The wife takes
the bowl with both hands and drinks. After that the priest and the wife bow to
each other. To drink from the same cup means they agree to
share everything and resist to all difficulties together.
If
the couple wishes to exchange rings or offer each other a symbolic gift they
can do it now, after they drank from the marriage bowl.[5]
The
priest goes back to the altar and sits facing the couple. He strikes the bell
once and the couple starts reading their marriage vows:
„We are grateful
to Amida Buddha and to all those who helped us meet. From now on we will let
ourselves be guided by the Buddhist teaching and we’ll live in harmony with the
Primal Vow of Amida Buddha. We’ll be faithful to one another, we’ll help and
support each other for better and for worse, for richer, for poorer, in
sickness and in health, in young age and old age. These are the vows we take
together in the Name of Amida Buddha. Namo Amida Bu”
After
reading the marriage vows, the priest turns towards the altar and everybody
continues the recitation of Nembutsu. After some time they reach the last part
of the liturgy (the Eko):
doshi: GA-N
NI SHI KU DO KU
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
O – U JO – U A – A
– A – A – N RAK – KOKU
And
may they be born in the Land of Peace and Bliss
● ● ●
Next
the priest and the couple bow to each other and a Dharma sermon is offered.
After
the Dharma sermon they say a few Nembutsu together and bow again to each other.
[1] 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”.
[2]The couple can also do a
full body prostration but this may be very difficult due to their wedding
clothes.
[3]If the couple does a half
body prostration, the priest will strike the bell every time they start a new
bow from the standing position.
[4]Bowing to each other is a
sign of respect and abandonment of ego.
[5]During this entire part the
audience continues to recite the Nembutsu, including the priest. Everybody
stops reciting only when the couple reads their marriage vows.
[6]Bodhicitta or
Bodhi Mind is the aspiration
to attain Buddhahood 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 Compassion”, that is, aspire to your and other beings Liberation by
relying on the Compassion 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 Patriarchs, 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 Patriarchs, 18)
The
service started with a short Nembutsu recitation followed by the Three Invitations when we invited Amida, Shakyamuni and all Buddhas to enter the Amidado (Hall of Amida) and spread petals of roses to welcome them.
Then
we continued with the Nembutsu liturgy of our temple with the couple making oshoko (offering incense), bowing towards the altar and to each other, saying their vows and drinking together bitter tea from the same
cup.
The
marriage vows of Amidaji are the following:
„We are grateful to Amida Buddha and to all those who helped us meet. From
now on we will let ourselves be guided by the Buddhist teaching and we’ll live in harmony with the Primal Vow of Amida
Buddha. We’ll be faithful to one another, we’ll help and support each other for
better and for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, in
young age and old age. These are the vows we take together in the Name of Amida
Buddha. Namo Amida Bu”
Bowing to each other is a sign of respect and abandonment of ego. Also, to drink from
the same cup means that they agree to share everything and resist to all difficulties together.
The
marriage was followed by a Dharma talk based on Shakyamuni Buddha's advice to couples in various sutras.
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