About monk –part 1-

This report explains on the theme of monk. Only a vague image will appear, even if it is said what monk is.However, it can be said to be since the name of monk is various according to a case.
First, a Buddhist priest is also called a "priest."Although it is a priest's definition, the person who forsook the world and returned to 僧門, and its group are pointed out.
 In Sanskrit, a group is called sanga. It is transliterated with a samgha, a priest method, and a priest, and has resulted to the present. In the Gautama Buddha era, when the samgha called it the priest, he pointed out four or more male priests' group. Also in one person's case, after Buddhism is introduced into China, it comes to call it a priest, and it could be said that Japan was also subject to this influence. According to the grade, a priest adopts various ways of being called soon. However, all serve as a priest to Kozo like Daisojo or Ikkyu.And all the Buddhist priests can call it "the pupil of the direct descent from God."Although Buddhistic 3 pillars are "the Buddha, law, and a priest", those who spread the Buddhism, and those who self-train are called a "priest" and a "samgha."
Now, although a "Buddhist priest" is the name which came out of the priest, the priest who plays the role which manages a temple and it maintains as you know   It is called a chief priest.This chief priest is an abbreviation of "jujishoku."Juji has a meaning of "protecting Buddhism carefully and maintaining it." and "the person of the job which protects the instruction of the Buddha carefully and maintains it" -- it is a chief priest.The chief priest built the temple at last as a dwelling in the zone of a self-temple, and that was called "Bo."Since it is the Lord, it is a "priest."From this, it will be said that it was not called a Buddhist priest in the first stage other than the chief priest.It is after medieval times that a Buddhist priest came to point out the whole priest.Language, such as a "shaven head", a "sticker-at-nothing", a "late riser", will be soon produced one after another also among the populace at large.The priest can imagine for a Japanese that it was an existence always required close that time so much.
As a Buddhist priest's duties, there are execution of lines, such as sutra recitation, practice, a ceremony, ceremonial occasions, or a Buddhist service, management of a grave, culture activities, etc.
Finally some are introduced for a Buddhist priest's name.
Jushoku  :   The abbreviation for Jujishoku. The Buddhist priest of live-in devotion.
Wajo : a teacher or teacher .The Buddhist priest who teaches people an instruction.
Shonin :person having learning and profit
Taishi:A great teacher's thing.
Kokushi:teacher of a country. There are many to Zen Buddhism.
The rest has " Jushoku ", " Nyudo ",” Bosatsu” ,"Roshi", "Kozo", and the thing " Unsui " etc.

The difference between Japanese temple and temple of the world.

Hello!

How are you ?

I introduce a temple today.

It is not only Japan to hold the place called the temple.

Therefore I introduce the temple except Japan today.

It was hard to narrow it down to one from the country which owned a temple this time.

I want to introduce the characteristic of the Bhutanese temple this time. And I want to compare the difference with structure and the worship method of the temple of Japan.

 At first , It is said that a foreign tourist dropped in at the Bhutanese temple in a sightseeing purpose. However, I do not let you enter to enter the temple in Bhutan. This is one of the points unlike Japan. The temple is an object of the sincere faith for Bhutanese people. Therefore it is not welcomed that foreign tourists throng for curiosity in great numbers. The Bhutanese temple prohibits that a foreign tourist visits it basically. There is the temple admitting the worship of the foreign tourist. However, photography is strict prohibition.

Then I introduce a method of structure and the worship of the Bhutanese temple. There were many points unlike Japan in the same temple. I was surprised to examine it.

1 : Difference in structure

 A Buddhist image and the decoration of the Bhutanese temple are very colorful.The Bhutanese temple is very more showy than a temple of Japan.

2 : Difference in way of the worship

 The worship method of the Bhutanese temple is different from Japan. I perform a throwing away of the whole body on the ground bow at the Bhutanese temple. This name is GOTAITOUCHI.

 At first I put both hands together in order of sum → mouth → chest. These parts have a meaning. The thing which a sum means is a heart. The thing which a mouth means is words. The thing which a chest means is a body.

 Then, I touch a head on the floor to kneel on the ground. And I hold both hands out. Repeat it three times.  Let's hand a money offering afterwards. It may be recommended holy water to you then by Monk. In that case, you will receive the holy water with a palm. And you take the holy water in a mouth and sprinkle it on a head and a body.

These are the different points of a temple of Japan and the Bhutanese temple. Even the same Buddhism was surprised at there being a so different point. I think that the temple of Japan is very splendid. However, I thought that the Bhutanese temple was very wonderful. The once wants to come by all means in this splendid temple. I really think that a more different point is found if I go to the Bhutanese temple.

 I want to introduce a Buddhist priest for two weeks from next week. What kind of thing will the actual situation of the Buddhist priest of the existence that a temple cannot miss be? I am going to introduce it from next week. Don't miss it.

Bye!

The differences between a temple and a shirine

 

Hello!

I went to Kiyomizu-dera Temple the other day.

I pulled a sacred lot.

My friend attracted great good luck.

However, I was bad luck.

The differences between a temple and a shirine In this report, I describe the differences between a temple and ashrine. The common simple way of distinguishing between a temple and ashrine is to check whether that building has a Torii or not. Anothercommon way is to check whether that building has a cemetery or not. If

that building has a Torii, it is a shrine, and if that has a cemetery,
it is a temple. In detail, the place where Buddha statue is installed
and monks who teach about the Buddhist faith is a temple, and where
the soul of Japanese gods are worshipped is a shrine. However, you
might not distinguish them clearly, because both are the places of
religion in this way. I describe the differences from a perspective of
Japanese minds of soul below.
  First, I describe the temples. The temples are for worshipping
Buddha. Buddha statues are installed there and monks teach the
Buddhist faith there. Monks and nuns live in a temple. At a shrine,
you can't see the Shintai (the object in which the God lives).
However, at a temple, you can see the Honzon (the Buddha statue which
the temple worships) while worshipping. Because the Honzon is
installed at Kondo which is the building you worship, you can feel
more familiar with the Honzon of a temple than the Shintai of a
shrine. At the imperial court, Buddhist events and Buddhist rites are
not executed. The rites like giving burials to the departed,
enshrining spirit tablets called “Ihai” of them, and praying at the
family alter called “Butsudan” are unique to Buddhism. They are held
on 7 days, 49 days, one year and three years after the death.
Incidentally, foreign Buddhism do not have funerals, rites, Danka and
Darma name. Hence, the foreign Buddhism are philosophies but
religions. After Buddhism was introduced to Japan, it changed to the
religion unique to Japan.
  Next, about the shrines. The origin of shrines is the altars which
were built temporarily when the celebration was took place. This
cerebration was took place at Iwakura (the rocks which Gods lived in)
or Shintaisan (the mountain where people believed that Gods lived in)
and so on. They were not permanently installed buildings at first. The
shrines are belong to the Shinto, and worship Japanese Gods. Shrines
which have the title “Jingu” like Ise Jingu and Meiji Jingu are high
class shrines of the lot. The titles of shrines are Taisha, Jingu and
Jinja. They all belong to the Shinto. The names of other titled
shrines are given based on the God which the shrine worships. Since in
the Shinto so many Gods are worshipped, shrines worshipping one of
them are called various names. Among them, peculiarly massive ones are
called Jingu or Taisha. Generally, the shrines called Jingu or Taisha
worship the emperor and imperial ancestors. At the entrance of a
shrine, there is a Torii. In a shrine, there is a spot called
“Shiniki” where God come down. To separate this God-coming spot from
human-living area, Toriis are built. This is the reason why only
shrines have Torii. The imperial family execute rites in the Shinto
style. If any imperial person died, funerals with Shinto rites will be
conducted. The item which the soul of the departed live in is called
“Reiji” but “Ihai.” And they pray at the altar called “Tamaya” but
“Butsudan.” The Shinto rites are held in the shape of ceremonies. For
example, 10 days ceremony, 50 days ceremony,  one year ceremony, and
ten years ceremony. Unlike the Buddhism, which was born in foreign
country, the Shinto was born in Japan and it is enshrined only in
Japan. The Shinto's history is longer than the Buddhism's one

Way of the worship

I think many people do not know how to worship at a temple accurately.
This report introduces the fundamental procedure for worshipping.
The procedure for worshipping varies based on each temples. However,
fundamental procedure is same with each. When you visit a temple, you
should follow the procedure below.
1. When you enter into a temple after passing Sanmon, you must bow
deeply (about 45 degrees) or clasp your hands in prayer. For both, you
do toward the Hondo.
2. If there is a Temizuya, you must wash your hands and mouth. First,
you hold a ladle equipped there with your right hand, then you wash
your left hand by watering. Next, you wash your right hand by using a
ladle with your left hand. Finally, you hold a ladle with your right
hand again and pour water to your left hand, then you rinse your mouth
with this water.
3. When you arrive in front of an offertory box in Honden, you worship
there. If the Honden has bells, you should sound a bell.
4. If there are votive candles or incense stick, you can light and
dedicate them.
5. You should toss offerings of money silently (called Osaisen.) Or
more like, you make them fall silently from your hands.
6. If you wear a hat, you must remove it.
7. You should confirm the name of Buddha whom the temple worships.
8. Start praying. You must clasp your hands in prayer and bow deeply.
At that time, you must not clap your hands. To avoid this mistake,
when you visit a temple, you ought to bring your rosary and equip it.
9. You must worship with chanting “Namu xxx” where xxx is the name of
Buddha worshipped there. To put it simply, “Namu” means “hello”,  the
greeting with the mind of respect and dearness. In particular, if
Amitabha (called “Amida Nyorai” in Japan) is worshipped, you should
chant “Namu Amidabutsu,” if Bhaisajyaguru (called “Yakushi Nyorai” in
Japan) is worshipped, you should chant “Namu Yakushi Rurikou Nyorai,”
if Guanyin (called “Kannon Bosatsu” in Japan) is worshipped, you
should chant “Namu Kanzeon Bosatsu” and if Buddha (called “Oshakasama”
in Japan) is worshipped, you should chant “Namu Shaka Muni Nyorai.”
These greetings are not difficult. You should do that when
worshipping.
10. You should chant mantras. Mantra is a spell of Buddhism. Mantra
varies based on which Buddha is worshipped in the temple you visit.
Therefore, you should ask monks what mantra you should chant. For
example, if Bhaisajyaguru temple, the mantra is “Onkorokoro sendari
matougi souka.” In general, you should chant this mantra three times,
but if the number of chanting times is specified you chant that times,
and wish like “I wish my brother recover from an illness.”
11. After you chant, you must clasp your hands in prayer and bow
deeply once again. You take a step back and leave there, then your
worshipping finish up.
12. When you leave a temple before passing Sanmon, you must bow toward
the Honden again.

The structures of temples

The structures of temples.
I introduce it while comparing it with the structure of the Shinto shrine.




Today, the temples and shrines have many designs. For an extreme
example, they are placed in the reinforced concrete building. However,
their fundamental designs are specified. This report describes the
structures of temples and shrines.

 I describe the structure of the shrines, first. The most
characteristic thing is the Torii. Most large shrines have two Torii
gate. One of them is set at entrance, and another is set near a main
shrine. Torii also have many designs. The representative examples are
Shinmei Torii and Myojin Torii. The grounds of a shrine are separated
from outwards by board fences called “Tamagaki” and the range of stone
pillars. There is a “Temizuya”, which is the building having water, in
front of a main shrine, worshippers cleanse their hands and mouths.
Now, some temples also have Temizuya, but originally, it is adjunct
facility of shrine. The most important thing is that the shrines
basically have abundant forests. It is because the shrines were made
from Japanese people’s fears and gratitude to nature. When you visit
old rural area, if you can see thick forest on the fringe, there
definitely is a shrine. Like this, most shrines are placed on the
fringe of old village. The building enshrining the Shintai is called
“Honden” which means a main shrine. The roofs of Honden also have many
designs. The representative examples are Kasuga zukuri and Nagare
zukuri. The special designs are Taisha zukuri (of Izumo Grand shrine)
and Shinmei zukuri (of Ise Grand shrine). Moreover, roofs are
classified into “Tsumairi” and “Hirairi” based on which surface the
entrance of Honden is put in long side or short side. Kasuga zukuri
and Taisha zukuri are Tsumairi. Nagare zukuri and Shinmei zukuri are
Hirairi.

  Next, I describe the structure of the temples. The main
architectures of the temples are gate, tower and Kondo (means main
hall). Gates of the temples are called “Sanmon.” All temples have
their gates. The most characteristic architectures of the temples are
the bell towers and towers. Bell towers hang bells inside of them.
Many temples, not all temples, have their towers. Originally, these
towers were assumed they were incarnations of Buddha, so that they
were main architectures of shrines. As the centuries roll by, towers'
roles had switched from main to landmarks of shrines, moreover to only
scenery shapers. Finally, towers are not essential architectures of
shrines any more. Buddha statues are set at the buildings called
“Kondo.” Today, it sometimes is called “Hondo.”

  At first, temples were created as the space where monks did ascetic
training, study and live. Therefore, old big temples have auditoriums,
dining halls, living spaces and baths. At most temples, Kondo's floors
are directly on the ground. At some temples, their foundations are one
step higher than the ground. This style is called “Kidan.” Roofs of
Hondo are made by tiles or thatches (or rarely by bronze). Most roofs
are same design called “Irimoya.” In principle, an entrance of Hondo
is Hirairi. At some temples, e.g. Zenkouji, their entrances are
Tsumairi. Architectures of the temples are made by clay wall and
stones. A fence which surrounds a temple is also made by tiling clay
wall. In general, temple's architectures are carved decoratively.
Hondo of the temples are far larger than Honden of the shrines. It is
because, when Buddha ceremony or preach are performed, it is needed to
invite many people. Therefore, Hondo's roofs become so high that we
can see them from a distance. If you can see a large roof at the
middle of old rural area, there definitely is a temple.

  I think a bright red building comes up to your mind when you imagine
a shrine. However, old shrines were very simple. Their buildings were
made by wood and roofs were made by cypress. Moreover, their posts
were just set up in holes dug at the ground (this style is called
“Hottatebashira.”) These are the feeling of Japanese people, and the
style of Japanese house. In 6th century, the style of temple
structures introduced from the Korean Peninsula. Buildings of this
style were brilliant so much. They had bright red posts, green windows
(called “Renjimado”) and bright blue roof tiles. Their posts were set
up on foundation stones. From this point, shrine architectures became
richly colored. In fact, Buddhism influenced many parts of shrines, so
that it became difficult to distinguish definitely. Speaking of the
difference of them, at shrines, if their architectures lost color they
were recolored, on the other hand, temple architectures were not
recolored. It is because Japanese God prefer sanctitude, or newness,
but the teaching of Buddhism is anicca, i.e. everything changes and
finally vanishes away. The period of syncretistic fusion of Shintoism
and Buddhism continued until the Separation Order was executed in the
Meiji Era. It continued so long that some of them still have both
characteristics. Therefore, even if the differences of the structures
of temples and shrines were defined clearly, many exist inevitably.