31 The Buddha said to Bodhisattva Maitreya, the devas, humans, and others, “The virtue and wisdom of sravakas and bodhisattvas in the Land of the Buddha of Immeasurable Life are beyond verbal expression. Thus, that land is exquisite, blissful, and pure. Why do you not strive to practice the good, be mindful of the spontaneous working of the Way, and realize that all beings in that land attain without discrimination the boundless virtue of enlightenment? Each of you should be diligent and make every effort to seek it for yourself.
The chanting of Ōjō Raisan (Shoya Raisan) is a Pure Land Buddhist tradition established in China by Master Shandao, which was widely embraced among the followers of Hōnen Shōnin. This beautiful liturgy continues to be chanted in the Jodo Shinshu Hongwanji School today. Join us to experience the settling of the mind through focused breathing and meditative listening.
When I deeply contemplate the transient nature of human existence, I realize that, from beginning to end, life is impermanent like an illusion. We have not yet heard of anyone who lived ten thousand years. How fleeting is a lifetime!
Who in this world today can maintain a human form for even a hundred years? There is no knowing whether I will die first or others, whether death will occur today or tomorrow. We depart one after another more quickly than the dewdrops on the roots or the tips of the blades of grasses. So it is said. Hence, we may have radiant faces in the morning, but by evening we may turn into white ashes.
Once the winds of impermanence have blown, our eyes are instantly closed and our breath stops forever. Then, our radiant face changes its color, and the attractive countenance like peach and plum blossoms is lost. Family and relatives will gather and grieve, but all to no avail.
Since there is nothing else that can be done, they carry the deceased out to the fields, and then what is left after the body has been cremated and turned into midnight smoke is just white ashes. Words fail to describe the sadness of it all.
Thus the ephemeral nature of human existence is such that death comes to young and old alike without discrimination. So we should all quickly take to heart the matter of the greatest importance of the afterlife, entrust ourselves deeply to Amida Buddha, and recite the nembutsu.
The chanting of Shōshinge embodies the heart of daily Nembutsu practice in Jodo Shinshu Buddhism. Join us to experience the settling of the mind through focused breathing and meditative listening.
The chanting of Shōshinge embodies the heart of daily Nembutsu practice in Jodo Shinshu Buddhism. Join us to experience the settling of the mind through focused breathing and meditative listening.
Place a pinch of incense directly on the charcoal without raising it to the forehead.
Shinshu Otani-ha (Higashi Honganji)
2 times
Place a pinch of incense directly on the charcoal without raising it to the forehead.
Soto Shu
2 times
First time: raise a pinch of incense to the forehead before placing it on the charcoal. Second time: Place a pinch of incense directly on the charcoal without raising it to the forehead.
Jodo Shu
1 to 3 times
No set guidelines.
Tendai Shu
1 or 3 times
No set guidelines.
Shingon Shu
3 times
Raise a pinch of incense to the forehead each time before placing it on the charcoal.
Rinzai Shu
1 time
Raise a pinch of incense to the forehead before placing it on the charcoal.
Nichiren Shu
1 or 3 times
No set guidelines.
Nichiren Shoshu
3 times
Raise a pinch of incense to the forehead each time before placing it on the charcoals.
Why only one pinch of incense in Jodo Shinshu Hongwanji-ha?
We offer incense as an expression of gratitude to the great oneness that is Amida Buddha.
Why isn’t incense raised to the forehead in Jodo Shinshu Hongwanji-ha
One common understanding is that incense is raised to the forehead as an expression of gratitude for the purification that is received (Jpn. itadaku 頂く) though the offering. In the Jodo Shinshu tradition, the way of offering incense expresses the understanding that the fragrance is not something we receive for our own self-purification, but rather is something that we offer as an expression of our gratitude and reverence for the Buddha’s great compassion. The words of the Buddha found in the Three Pure Land Sutras assure us that the Buddha’s great compassion embraces us just as we as are—with all our impurities of body and mind—so incense does not serve the purpose of purification in the Jodo Shinshu tradition.
Some common explanations for offering incense three times:
The most common understanding is that incense is offered to
Dainichi Nyorai (Mahavairocana Buddha)—as a symbol of the principle of true reality
Kobo Daishi—as a symbol of our Master/Founder
Ancestors—as a symbol of our origin
Another common understanding is that incense is offered to “burn away” or purify the negative karma created by
thought
speech
behavior
Incense may also be offered on behalf a departed loved one
as an expression of homage to
The Buddha
The Dharma
The Sangha
or
in order to eliminate/purify oneself of the three poisons
Anger
Craving
Aversion
before going to the next realm.
A person who offers incense on behalf of a departed loved one shows their respect and honor for the deceased through the intentions described above. Through the power of the Buddha, Bodhisattva, or other being (ex. Fudo Myoo) to which the incense is offered, impurities are transformed into virtues or merit (Jpn. kudoku 功徳) that can support and aid the deceased when they are about to be born into the next realm.
These understandings are based on the Shingon goma fire ritual, in which spiritual thoughts are burned with the fire of the Buddha to create goodness or remove karmic defilements. In this way, the fire, smoke and incense express a goma fire ritual conducted by a representative of the deceased.
Hearing my mom reminisce of how she and a handful of her friends started Obon at San Mateo Buddhist Temple, it quickly caught my attention and found it my mission to contact her friends and listen to their stories. Wish I had known years earlier since I was only able to obtain a few people’s memories. Was quite interesting and wanted to share this story since our Obon is around the corner. Thank you, Mrs. Wada, Mrs. Hashimoto, and mom for reminiscing about San Mateo Buddhist Temple’s first Obon.