Jodo Shinshu and Prayer

As Jodo Shinshu Buddhists, we shall seek to be mindful of our words and deeds, be responsible citizens of our society, and share with others the truth and reality of Jodo Shinshu. Understand­ing fully the principle of causality, we shall not practice petitionary prayer or magic, nor shall werely upon astrology or other superstitions.

“The Essentials of Jodo Shinshu” (KYOSHO)

I’ve been serving as a Buddhist Chaplin at the LAC + USC Medical Center for several years now. Since then, I’ve been called perhaps twenty times to visit Buddhist patients. Sometimes patients just wanted to talk to a Buddhist Priest, but most of the time I’ve been called when a loved one passes away.

I remember one of my first visits, when I was called by the Chaplaincy office. There was a Vietnamese family at the hospital that just lost their father and they requested a Buddhist priest to offer prayers to their loved one. I told the Chaplain on duty that I was a Jodo Shinshu minister which was a Japanese Buddhist tradition, but he said they had tried several Buddhist temples and no one was willing or able to go. Hearing of the chaplain’s predicament, I agreed to meet with the family.

As I drove to the hospital I thought, “What am I going to do? I don’t pray.” When I met the family at the hospi­tal, I expressed my condolences and we talked about their father. I then told them that I was a Jodo Shinshu Buddhist priest and explained that within our tradition we chant with the understanding that we are expressing our appreciation and gratitude to our loved one. However, I told them to please offer a prayer within their own tradition while I chant. After I chanted a sutra, I remained with the family in silence as they wept. As I departed I was touched by their expres­sion of appreciation that I had come to chant a sutra for their father.

Among all Buddhists, Jodo Shinshu Buddhists are the only Buddhists who do not practice prayers, nor do we teach that there can be benefits in this world through petitionary prayer. For most Buddhists, prayer is central in their practice.

The reading I began with is an excerpt from “The Essentials of Jodo Shinshu” (KYOSHO). It can be found on the front page of any Jodo Shinshu service book, under TRADITION: “Understanding fully the principle of causality, we shall not practice petitionary prayer or magic, nor shall we rely upon astrology or other superstitions.” In one sentence, Jodo Shinshu radically differentiates us from all other Buddhist traditions.

Most major religions involve prayer in one way or another. Prayer is probably the oldest form of spiritual/ mystical practice in the history of mankind. It is natural for people to want to be blessed with personal benefit.

As Jodo Shin Buddhists, we reject this form of prayer since the basic teaching rests on the Law of Cause and Effect. Buddhism teaches that happiness and unhappiness are the results of action. And that good fortune and mis­fortune are also the results of one’s thoughts, words, and deeds. If we cannot understand this then for sure we will continue to be frustrated and unhappy.

For Buddhists, we are to awaken or be mindful of our innate inner capacities of strength, compassion, and wisdom rather to petition external forces. The well-being of human life is dependent upon the consequences of our actions. There are no miracles, magic, or prayers that can change the course of events.

Amida Buddha is not a God, a creator of the universe, a being who watches over me and the world, or that judges the action of man. Rather, Amida Buddha is ultimate truth/reality. Amida is the living compassion, free from all limitations.

Therefore, there is no judge and no judgment. There is no wrong and there is no right. There are only the effects of our thoughts, words, and deeds. These effects exist as the consequences of what we think, say, and do. And, how we respond to these effects, determines what our next moment shall be. It determines what type of human being I shall become.

As Shin Buddhists, we do not consider the Nembutsu a mantra or prayer to be used to evoke awakening or to invoke Amida. It’s not even a practice or good action that helps us reach enlightenment.

The recitation of Nembutsu, Namu Amida Butsu, is the outward expression of appreciation and gratitude to Amida. My saying Namu Amida Butsu is not merely my saying it … rather it is Amida calling to me. Therefore, Amida Buddha is not the object I am calling, but rather the subject who calls to me.

The wonderful thing about Nembutsu is that when we say Namu Amida Butsu, anywhere or anytime, it trans­forms the ordinary and mundane into the path of awakening. Nembutsu enriches our lives with deep spiritual connec­tion and makes every moment special, manifesting the Pure Land here and now.

Namuamidabutsu