On the home altar (obutsudan) and making offerings to Amida Buddha

altar arrangements type 1

fragment from my book 

Worshipping Amida Buddha - Liturgies and Ceremonies of Amidaji Temple 

 The image or statue you put in the center of the altar must be Amida Buddha   because in our tradition we rely exclusively on Amida for our birth in the Pure   Land. Chose the image you like most and you feel comfortable with. We prefer   a standing Amida as you see in the photos bellow, because this better signifies   that He is an active Buddha coming to save you. The position of the hands in   the classic Amida images of Jodo Shinshu school mean “don’t be afraid, come   as you are”. The 48 rays of lights coming from Amida’s head represent His 48   vows. Those are also oriented from Amida to you. Everything in Amida   iconography of Jodo Shinshu suggests His active and unconditional salvation. 

If you wish you can also use a scroll with Nembutsu written in Chinese characters or in your own language. 

I installed the altar of Amida-ji Temple

CLICK HERE TO READ ABOUT THE NEW UPGRADES AT THE TEMPLE 

Dear friends in the Dharma,

  

I am glad to inform you that I have just installed the altar in the small Hondo (Dharma Hall) of Amida-ji.

As you can see in the pictures, it is a simple altar made from an old piece of furniture covered with cloth. On this,  it is placed a statue of Amida Buddha which was donated a few years ago by the Corporate Body of the Buddha Educational Foundation (CBBEF) from Taiwan. This statue was previously used at Tariki Dojo Craiova and now moved to the temple. It is not a Hongwanji style statue of Amida, but it is the only statue we received until now, and with so much generosity.

Some ideas about the temple altar - how is done in Japan and other places and how we'll do it at Amidaji

last update June 23rd - please scroll down in the article and read! 

As some may already know, the naijin (inner area) is the altar area of a Jodo Shinshu temple in Japan where usually only priests are allowed to enter. This situation is copied by many Shinshu temples outside Japan, too. There, in the naijin, the Buddha statue, whose face is sometimes partially covered by a kind of rich material, is enshrined in a big decorated box. Also there are some minor altars of Shinran, Rennyo, the seven Patriarchs and Shotoku Taishi. Another important element is that the naijin is placed on a little raised platform, which means that priests actually stay higher than lay people. Because of all these, and also because the altars are in the back of the naijin, lay people who attend the service and Dharma talks from the gejin (outer area/sitting area) can hardly see the statue and the images on the minor altars.

However, at Amidaji temple we’ll never follow these Japanese customs. Now the Hondo (main hall/Dharma Hall) is small, but even when it will be bigger, there will be no naijin or special area for priests.

The wedding ceremony Amidaji style

Click here to read on the Buddhist meaning of marriage and the role of husband and wife

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.)

A short question and answer on the home altar

Yasodhara venerating the Buddha by placing her head upon His feet.

I myself like to place my head on the feet of Amida images/statues and kiss them. 

Question:

"Some say that a Jodo Shinshu follower must have a home altar (butsudan), while others say this is not important. What do you think?"

Answer:

I think it depends on each person. Let me give you an example from daily life.

Some are capable to remember their loved ones even if they don't carry their photos with them every day. Others, even if they also never forget their loved ones, they enjoy looking with love and affectionate thoughts to their photos. I myself never forget the girl I love, even when I do not see her for many days or weeks, but I like to look at her photo anytime I can, so I always carry  one of her photos with me, in my pocket. It is the same pocket I carry a photo with Amida Buddha, too :)

This is somewhat similar with having an altar dedicated to Amida Buddha and an image with Him in your own room. You are never far from Amida, and you know He is always with you, but because your unenlightened eyes of flesh cannot see Him, you may wish to have a painted image with Him and His Name in Chinese or English characters. There is nothing wrong with this, but on the contrary, it may prove helpful.

Also, have you ever kissed a photo of your dear ones, when you thought to them or missed them, or simply out of love for them? In the same way, you can have an image of Amida Buddha to whom you can offer flowers or bow to it, or touch your forehead with it, or even kiss it with devotion. I myself like to do all these things with images of Amida Buddha. It is the way this ignorant and devotional peasant likes to express his faith in his Savior.

But of course, you may be different and you might not feel the need to have sacred images at home. Both choices are ok, as long as you have faith (shinjin), because faith is all that matters. And if you are not yet established in faith, sacred images may help in creating connection with Amida Buddha, along with listening to the true teaching about Him.

- fragment from a letter to a friend -

Rev Oku Kyokai Sensei - a friend of Amidaji has passed away

With Rev Oku Kyokai in 2004  

 Rev Oku Kyokai of Zuikoji temple in Osaka passed away last night at  85   years old.

  First time I met him in 2004 (I was 27 ) when I visited   Japan for the second time. He found about me on internet and invited   me at his   temple on his expanse where he offered me accommodation   for three   weeks. He greeted me warmly and kindly helped me to visit   mount   Koyasan as well as various religious sites in the Kansai area.   We held   religious services together at his temple and in the houses of people from his parish. I remember fondly how I recited Nembutsu, Sambutsuge and Juseige in a tiny Japanese house for a big family with parents, grandparents, children and a dog, all gathered together in front of their obutsudan (home altar).

New guest room at Amidaji

the myogo on the altar was donated
by Cheusa Wend from USA. She also
donated the myogo from the library

CLICK HERE TO READ ABOUT THE NEW UPGRADES AT THE TEMPLE 

After my father (who donated the land for the temple) died, my mother agreed that I can use for Amidaji half of the house where she and father lived  (almost 50 meters from the Hondo  and library), with a separate entrance, so I started to arrange a new space for guests and a guest room there.

this hallway is also used for
guests during retreats

This new guest room can be used especially if the library is already occupied. Here there is a small altar with a myogo. All guest rooms I build or arrange for guests will have a small altar with a myogo (six character Name - Namo Amida Butsu) and/or statue of Amida. 

A new electrical system is also installed in the new place for guests. One of our members Catalin Suru is working on it. Above you can see the photo with the finished work (a few weeks ago) and bellow you can see photos from since the work started, a few months ago.

Amidaji Construction News 2016 (part I)

Before you read this article, you can go here (click here) and read about the general work plan and progress made until now

Scroll down to read the updates!
click here to read - Amidaji construction news 2016 (part III) and an announcement for visitors - 
click here to read Amidaji construction news (2016), part II - THE LIBRARY!

Dear Dharma friends,

working on the inside walls of the little Hondo (Dharma Hall)

Here I am again at the place where I build Amidaji temple. And here is the main plan for this year (2016):

- to pay some taxes for the land of Amidaji and for the little Hondo ( - partially done, read bellow!)

- to add thermal insulation to the inside walls of the little Hondo (Dharma Hall) - done, read bellow!

- to build two toilets and a showers area (plus a little septic tank because the village where I build Amidaji has no sewerage)

- to build a gate for the Amidaji compound (you probably remember the fence I built last year!)

- to build one or more accommodation places for visitors
- to build a well (nowadays our source of water is outside of Amidaji land)

- to make a large concrete platform for a new bigger Hondo (around 50 square meters or more) which will be placed near the actual Hondo (Dharma Hall) - when the bigger Hondo will be built, the actual one will be transformed into the library. This bigger Hondo is scheduled to be built in the next year, but if I raise enough funds I do not exclude the possibility to start working on it this year, too!

Beautiful religious gifts from Izumiya Company (Japan) for Amidaji temple

CLICK HERE TO READ ABOUT THE NEW UPGRADES AT THE TEMPLE 

Various religious items were sent to Amidaji temple by Izumiya Company (Japan) through Rev Oku Kyokai of Zuikoji temple (Osaka): two candle holders (rosokutate), two flower vase (kebyo), one metal incense burner (kanagoro), golden fabric to put on the altar table, and other beautiful things that are too many to mention. In these photos you see how I upgraded the altar of Amidaji with the new items.

I am very grateful for this unexpected presents and sponsorship.

Thank you, Izumiya Company and Rev Oku Kyokai.

Namo Amida Bu 

Thank you! Namo Amida Bu 

Amidaji temple - work plan and progress

(Last update - August 27th, 2024!)

If you wish to read updates and see photos of the progress in building this temple, 

click on the links below  (the last updates are the first in the list):

- First phase of Amidajițs water system finished - your help needed for the second phase (NEW!)

- Plans for Amidaji in 2024 - water and sewage system 

- things I did and improved at Amidaji in 2022 and 2023 - your help is very much needed and appreciated 

- New stove inside Amidado (Hall of Amida)  - December 2021

- -The exterior walls of Amidado (Hall of Amida) are finished (2021)                                    
- I added the outside insulation on the walls of Amidado (Hall of Amida) but there is still more to be done! (2021) 

- Plans for the 2021! 

- I added the inside insulation to Amidado (Hall of Amida) and arranged the new library 

-  added the double doors and windows of Amidado 

- building the walls of Amidado (Hall of Amida)
- the roof of Amidado (Hall of Amida) and the next plan 

- The metal frames for the walls and roof of Amidado (Hall of Amida) - The concrete platform of Amidado (Hall of Amida) 

- New guest room at Amidaji

- A bathroom for the cold season is now available at Amidaji!
- New religious items for Amidaji altar (october 2018)
- Spring work at Amidaji and the plan for 2018
- Invitation to become a Patron (constant supporter) of Amidaji by little monthly donations 
- Works for strenghtening the Hondo and library of Amidaji (part II the Library) 2017
- Works for strenghtening the Hondo (Dharma Hall) and library of Amidaji (part I the Hondo) 2017
- Fund raising for strenghtening the library of Amidaji 
- New trees planted at Amidaji, construction plan for 2017 and a memorial for the donor of the temple's land
- ANNOUNCEMENT - Help needed for the winter season January 2017
- Library of Amidaji affected by a powerful storm and repaired
- Amidaji construction news 2016 - two stoves arived at Amidaji!
- help needed to buy two stoves for Amidaji temple (September 2016)
- Announcement! Amidaji is opened for visitors! 
- Amidaji construction news 2016 - (part III) and an announcement for visitors
- Amidaji construction news 2016 - part II (THE LIBRARY)
- Amidaji construction news 2016 - part 1
- Amidaji construction news 2015 - part 3

 - Amidaji construction news 2015 - part 2 
- Amidaji construction news 2015 - part 1
- I installed the altar of Amidaji temple (2014)

- I installed the little Hondo (Dharma Hall) of Amidaji (2014)
- I built the concrete platform for the Hondo (Dharma Hall) of Amidaji (2013)
- Clearing the land for the Hondo (Dharma Hall) of Amidaji  (2013)

If you can afford to, please consider a small 
DONATION by clicking the small PayPal donation box bellow, or using one of the Bank accounts. You can also buy some my books (click here to go to the books section) 

Bank Accounts:

CIRLEA GHEORGHE ADRIAN

RO73INGB0000999900545998

COD SWIFT INGBROBU

ING BANK 

*

CIRLEA GHEORGHE ADRIAN

RO27 RZBR 0000 0600 1225 1201

COD SWIFT: RZBRROBU

RAIFFEISEN BANK

Revolut account: 

ADRIAN GHEORGHE CIRLEA
IBAN: LT29 3250 0511 4872 5391
BIC: REVOLT21
phone number associated with my Revolut account:  (+40)0745038390

Gratefully yours
in Namo Amida Butsu,

Rev Josho Adrian Cîrlea

The right attitude of mind when working for Amidaji 

---

[1] Calopăr belongs to the commune of Calopăr which has a population of about  4,000 people. Distance between Craiova and Calopar is about 20 km, which can be covered up in 20-30 minute by bus and even faster by car. 

Things I did and improved at Amidaji in 2022 and 2023 - your help is very much needed and appreciated

the new kitchen of Amidaji
in the former accomodation place

 My last post (December, 2021) in the category Amidaji temple - work

 plan and progress was related with the stove that I installed in the

 Amidado (Hall of Amida), so now I am going to tell you what I did since that time. The following information are already present on various social platforms like Facebook, Twitter, etc

 In 2022, I arranged a new kitchen in the former accommodation place and transformed the former little Hondo (Dharma Hall) into a library and accommodation place. There I installed a cooking stove on gas and many useful things. 

in Amidaji kitchen with a guest from Taiwan

In the new accommodation place I also added a good stove made of tiles which is very useful during winter. This stove is even better than that from Amidado Hall which can warm the place for the duration of a service, while the heat in the library and accommodation place lasts for many hours. 

Electricity was also added to both the new kitchen and library.

In 2023 I printed and framed ten images of various Buddhas and Enlightened Bodhisattvas, like Avalokitesvara, Mahasthamaprapta, White Tara, Green Tara, Mahakala, etc, some of them wearing Amida on the crown of their head, as well as images of Shinran Shonin, Rennyo Shonin, the seven Patriarchs (Nagarjuna, Vasubandhu, T’an Luan, Tao’ch’o, Shantao, Genshin, Honen), Shotoku Taishi, and I placed them inside the Amidado Hall.

A vision with Amida Buddha

Today I wish to share with you a personal experience which happened many years ago, even before I became a priest. Whether you believe me or not, it doesn’t matter, as I can’t prove to you that I am telling the truth.  So, you may treat this testimony as you wish. 

Arround 4 a.m. I  woke up from the bed, not feeling well due to a bad experience and an ugly dream I had that night, and I went straight to my personal altar. There I started to say the nembutsu.

Suddenly an image of Amida Buddha appeared floating in the air and a bright but impossible to describe light came from his head toward me. The image was somehow the same as the one from the altar but more bright and with that beautiful light.

When I saw the image and light I instantly became calm and I was overwhelmed with a sense of safety and security. I felt  and I also heard in my head something like "don't worry I am here and I am protecting you". All that experience lasted less than a minute, so I didn't have enough time to savor it, but I felt it very strong and real. It was as if I was looking at somebody sitting in front of me - this is how I saw that image of Amida Buddha. And it was so unexpected.

With that strong sense of security and peace I could finally went to sleep again.

I often remember that experience, and although it may sound incredibile, I know it really happened. And it was not a dream, but a fully awake experience. It is like seeing somebody right in front of me, this is how I saw Amida Buddha’s image emanating clear light. 

I know other ordinary Pure Land followers like me had simmilar experiences, but few dare to speak freely about them. However, today I decided to speak. I was thinking a lot whether to do it or not, as I was and I am still afraid that some might call me a liar or a crazy person having hallucinations…. But as I can do nothing to change their opinions, I think is better to stop worrying about it. We live in a secularized world where to have or speak about such religious experiences or visions might attract exclusion from the company of the so called, respectable people. 

I also hope the readers will realize the mechanism of these experiences and not have a wrong understanding. They appear only due to Amida's Power and not because of some merits on the part of the practitioner. Every good experience the believer has, is due only to Amida. They just happen or don’t happen at all. I think we should not worry if they don’t appear. Certainly, we should not depend on miraculous events or visions.

Whether we have or not have such experiences it has nothing to do with our birth in the Pure Land, as this comes naturally only due to shinjin (faith).  Diamond like faith is all that matters in Jodo Shinshu and this is nothing special, but a simple, firm entrusting to Amida Buddha.

I am not a special kind of person because I had that vision, on the contrary, I remained the same ordinary person as before.  I really don’t know why it happened, but it surely happened and for this I feel grateful to Amida. 

Again, it was a real event in my life and I don’t care if others believe me or not. Indeed I had a vision with Amida Buddha who appeared in front of me in a form adapted to my mind. Nobody can take this experience from me.  

Namo Amida Butsu

- please also read the article Faith is simple, nothing special

Short advice for a person with doubts and attachments to Christianity

 

please click on the highlighted words as they lead to important articles

A Dharma friend told me that  although he finds the Jodo Shinshu Buddhist teaching very appealing  he still has feelings of attachments to Christianity and Jesus. He said that if it wasn’t for my writings against monotheism he might have been swayed by them. He also asked me:

“How can I safeguard myself against these things as I still have lingering doubts and do not want to be led astray? I can’t help but think it may be the tug of Maras (celestial demons) because I’m so close to being out of their grip…”

This is my letter to him:

Remember your guru – Amida Buddha

Somebody asked me if we have a guru in Jodo Shinshu Buddhism. I said yes, but He is not a human being. Our guru is Amida Buddha (as I explained here in this article) and He is always present with us, no matter where we are, or wherever we go. This is NOT a metaphor, but a literal truth, so I encourage you to always remember your guru – Amida Buddha.

When you are happy, think of Amida, when you are sad, think of Amida, when you meet favorable circumstances, be grateful to Amida, and when you meet obstacles, pray to Amida and rely on Him alone.

When you are sitting, think that Amida is in front of you. When you walk, think that He walks with you. When you read a Dharma text, think that He is helping you to understand it. When you are eating or drinking, offer Him the first portion and the first drop. Whenever you wear new clothes or you start using a new nenju (mala/Buddhist rosary), first offer them to Amida and then wear them as if He had given them back to you. You can do the same with the food or water that you offer to Amida at your home altar. After you place fruits, cookies or water on the altar, bow and gratefully receive them as if they are given back to you by Amida.  

Whatever you offer to Amida Buddha is blessed by Amida so I encourage you to always make offerings in the name of all beings. Enjoy Amida’s presence and think that He is always watching you. 
Namo Amida Bu

PS: Everything else beside the relaxed saying of Nembutsu is optional in our tradition, so whatever I teach on daily devotions is not a requirement, but a suggestion if you'd feel like doing something more to enjoy your personal relation with Amida Buddha. 

Verses of aspiration when making offerings

altar of Amidaji temple

- click here for the Portughese version - 

I offer this flower to Amida Buddha on behalf of all beings. By seeing its decaying beauty may we realize that our lives and so called "spiritual achievements" are transitory, and turn our minds and hearts to the Salvific Power of Amida Buddha.

I offer this burning candle to Amida Buddha on behalf of all beings. May we accept Amida's Light which permeates every corner of the Universe, and entrust to Him with unshakable faith.

I offer this incense to Amida Buddha on behalf of all beings. May we become imbued with the perfume of His Dharma, receive faith in Him and be born in His Pure Land after death.

I offer this cup of water to Amida Buddha on behalf of all beings. May our thirst be forever saturated in His Pure Land where we attain perfect Enlightenment.

I offer this cup of rice to Amida Buddha on behalf of all beings. May we receive faith in Him and guide others to faith. May the seeds of Amida Dharma multiply endlessly until the ocean of Samsaric existence becomes empty.

Namo Amida Butsu

*

These words came to my mind spontaneously when sitting in front of the altar of Amida Buddha and making offerings. They are NOT some kind of merit transference, but a simple wish and act of awareness. Every object in the temple is a reminder of Amida's Compassion for us, and the need to rely on Him single heartedly. As far as I know, the flowers, incense and candles signify impermanence, perfume of Dharma and Light of Amida,  respectively, in all Shinshu temples affiliated with Hongwanji. Of course, one can simply say the Nembutsu, without the need for any other verse,  hymns or ritual implements. Its up to everyone to enjoy his (her) personal relation with Amida Buddha as he (she) likes it.

PS: instead of water you can offer tea or any other non-alcoholic drinks

Is Amida Buddha a real person or a symbol/metaphor?

the altar of Amidaji temple

- fragment from a letter to a friend - 

Question: Is Amida a symbol or metaphor for Wisdom and Compassion? Some scholars nowadays support this idea.

Answer: Those scholars are wrong. Amida Buddha is NOT a symbol or metaphor for Wisdom and Compassion, but a real, existing Enlightened Person possessing Infinite Wisdom and Compassion. 

I always insist on the actual, literal existence of Amida Buddha and His Pure Land because without realizing and accepting this existence, faith of unenlightened people becomes abstract and false. There can be no real faith without a real object of faith – in our case, Amida Buddha.

If you can’t say it to yourself and others that the object of your faith is a real, living Buddha, then you don’t have faith. No matter how great scholar you are, if your knowledge and study has not simplified your faith, and if you can’t talk about faith in simple terms, then you don’t have faith.

Os três refúgios no Jodo Shinshu

traduzido do Inglês por Shaku Shinkai

(click here for the English version)

Os três refúgios[1] são:

EU TOMO REFÚGIO NO BUDA

Buddham saranam gacchami

EU TOMO REFÚGIO NO DHARMA

Dhammam saranam gacchami

EU TOMO REFÚGIO NA SANGHA

Sangham saranam gacchami

(clique aqui para ouvir uma gravação)

A primeira linha significa tomar refúgio no Buda Amida que é o Buda central no Jodo Shinshu. Apenas através dele podemos alcançar o Estado de Buda na Terra Pura já que ele é o único Buda dentre todos os Budas que fez um Voto de salvação para todos, independente de suas capacidades espirituais.

Three Jodo Shinshu Buddhist hymns recited in Amidaji style by Rev Josho and Rev Kosho (audio/video)

Here are three hymns recited in the powerful and energetic Amidaji style at Amidaji temple in Romania, during the Nembutsu retreat organized on the occasion of our first monk (priest) ordination (click here to read about it).

Each hymn is followed by the phonetical recitation and the English translation. All the hymns we use as well as various liturgical and worshipping explanations are explained in my book, Worshipping Amida Buddha - Liturgies and Ceremonies of Amidaji Temple, that you cand download for free or buy at this link. 

The Nembutsu liturgy

●●

doshi (the Leader): BU JO MI DA NYO RAI NIU DO JO

we respectfully call upon Amida Buddha to enter this place of practice[1]

doon (together): SAN GE RAKU[2]

as we joyfully scatter flowers of welcome

Monks and nuns ordinations in Amidaji Branch of Jodo Shinshu Buddhism

Fragment from Amidaji Constitution

(last revised July 6th 2022)

Click here to read about the first ordination 

in Amidaji branch of 

Jodo Shinshu Buddhism !

Monks and nuns are men and women who received the tokudo (monk/nun ordination) from any monk and nun in Amidaji system. Monks and nuns of Amidaji are called monks and nuns of the Last Dharma Age or monks in name only (nominal monks) as well as monks (or nuns) without precepts. The doctrinal base for such a monk ordination as well as detailed explanations are presented here (click to read). 

Monks and nuns will not form separate orders inside Amidaji but will be treated equally without any discrimination. However, no discrimination also means that the rules are the same for all. Whenever the term “monk” is used in the present Constitution for easy language, it also automatically includes nuns. 

The tokudo candidate must choose a monk or nun from Amidaji sangha as his/her personal teacher with whom he will train in the doctrine and liturgies of Amidaji. Then he must pass an examination with him. The examination will contain general topics established for all candidates at the level of the entire Amidaji organization as well as special topics decided by his teacher and examiner. He must also meet the necessary requirements of a monk as explained in this section. 

Invitation to become a patron (constant supporter) of Amidaji by little monthly donations

CLICK HERE TO READ ABOUT THE NEW UPGRADES AT THE TEMPLE 

Dear friends in the Dharma,

As you well know, all my Dharma activities, my books, and articles are available for FREE to all who wish to learn about the orthodox Jodo Shinshu Buddhist teaching. Also, at Amidaji temple there are NO taxes or fees for accommodation, religious services or teaching activities. 

Yes, I do have the printed editions of my books on sale on Amidaji website, but I also provide, (according to my religious vow), free online editions for those who can't afford or simply don't want to buy.  Also, printed editions are sometimes given as gifts at various occasions and to people who cannot read online or in pdf, and also cannot afford to buy. 

I am glad to say that, for example, at every two printed copies sold per month, I have at least 50 copies downloaded for free. This is good news and a sign that what I teach and write is useful to many.