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Written by Anne Spencer on . Posted in Temple Blog.

by Rev. Kathy Chatterton 

This is the time of the year when, in my previous life as a 4th grade teacher, I was preparing for the new school year. There was plenty to do: putting up bulletin boards, arranging desks, stacking textbooks, preparing lesson plans, studying the list of student names. 

Since our temple will be returning to weekly Sunday services, we might also want to prepare ourselves with a review of key elements in our service. 

People sitting in pews at a Buddhist temple

We want everyone who attends service to participate and feel comfortable.  If our veteran service goers happen to be seated next to a newcomer, please introduce yourself and offer your assistance with the service elements. 

Here is a refresher course on some of the terms and rituals that are used in a typical service

  • Before service begins, we enter the “Hondo” or Buddha Hall. It is an expression of respect to stop in the doorway and do a small bow before stepping in. 
  • The start of service is signaled by a tolling of the temple bell or “kansho”. There is a distinct number of tollings. First, you will hear seven tolls, followed by fast beats that begin to slow and then speed up again (known as the “yama” or mountain). Then another five followed by another “yama”, and finally three. You will notice that minister(s) enter during the “kansho”, or a minister may enter after its completion, depending on how many ministers are participating in the service. 

A large metal bell hangs by a chain from the ceiling

Image: The Kansho hangs behind the altar of our temple

  • One of the rituals done before, during, or after the service is the burning of incense (“oshoko”). For “oshoko”, we proceed toward the altar and bow slightly at a distance of about one step in front of the table where the incense burner sits. Step forward (left foot) to the burner, and with your right hand, take one small pinch of ground incense and drop it into the burner. Then we place our hands together in Gassho, say the nembutsu, bow, take one step back (right foot) and bow again. (If someone doesn’t feel comfortable offering incense, a small bow in front of the altar is fine.)

 A large incense burner in front of a gold altar table

Image: The IOBT incense burner

  • During the service, we will “Gassho” which is the Japanese term for putting one’s hands together. This gesture has been a sign of gratitude and respect for thousands of years in Asia and is an integral part of our practice. With palms together, we recite “Namo Amida Butsu” and slightly bow as an expression of respect and gratitude to the Buddha. Some Sangha members may have beads called “nenju” around their hands as they “Gassho”.

  • The phrase “Namo Amida Butsu” is called the Nembutsu. It is a Shin Buddhist’s expression of gratitude to the Buddha for the boundless Wisdom and Compassion that is offered to us. It basically means “I gratefully entrust myself to and rely solely upon Amida Buddha.” Amida Buddha is a symbol of the Infinite Wisdom and Compassion that surrounds us.
  • The service will include sutra chanting. Sutra chanting is a form of verbal meditation. We encourage everyone to participate in the chanting to experience the blending of the voices in oneness.
  • There will be a Dharma message given by the minister which is based on the words of the Buddha or the founder of Jodo Shinshu Buddhism, Shinran Shonin.

We hope that this review will help everyone appreciate our tradition and make you comfortable during the service. The most important practice during the service is listening with your whole heart and mind.

We have this precious opportunity to share in the Dharma (Buddha’s Teachings).

Namo Amida Butsu

Rev. Kathy