Sunday, January 6, 2013
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.
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