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| Seattle Nichiren Buddhist Church |
| Frequently Asked Questions |
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| Seattle Nichiren Buddhist Church |
| Frequently Asked Questions |
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What is Gassho? Gassho means to put the hands together. The hands are placed palm to palm, with the fingers and thumbs aligned. The hands are held at about a 45 degree angle just below the chin, and both elbows should be held fairly close to the body. The gassho is a prayer position, but it can also be used to express a greeting, a request, thankfulness, or reverence. When greeting someone with a gassho, people frequently also bow. |
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How Do I Offer Incense? During a service, incense is offered to the Buddha by members and guests . At the Seattle church, this is usually done during chanting of the Daimoku, but sometimes on special occasions when there are a lot of people, it will start earlier in the service. To offer incense, walk to the front where the incense burner is. Bow once toward the altar with hands in gassho, take a pinch of powdered incense and offer it to the Buddha, sprinkle the incense on the hot coal in the incense burner, bow once more with hands in gassho, then walk away. Everyone is encouraged to offer incense, but it is not mandatory. | |
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What Should I Wear to a Service? There is no dress code at the Seattle Nichiren Buddhist Church. Some people dress up when they come to Sunday services, but other people wear casual clothing. You should wear whatever makes you comfortable. | |
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What Are Juzu? Juzu are prayer beads that are used by Buddhists to remind us that we are striving to follow the teachings of the Buddha. Typical juzu have 108 beads representing the 108 evil desires of man. The style of juzu used by Nichiren Shu members has 2 tassles on one side and 3 on the other. Juzu are usually worn looped twice over the left wrist. During prayers when the hands are in gassho, you twist the juzu to make a figure 8 that hangs from the middle finger of each hand. The beads hang between the hands, and the tassels hang on the outside of the hands with two tassels on the right and three tassels on the left. |
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Do I Have to Make a Donation? No, you do not have to make a donation. Attendance at services in Nichiren Shu temples is always free. At the Seattle Nichiren Buddhist Church, members customarily offer a dollar when they go to the front of the temple to offer incense. On special occasions they may offer a larger amount, usually in an envelope. In both cases, however, the donation is entirely voluntary. |
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What Is a Butsudan? A butsudan is a family altar that many Nichiren Shu members have in their homes. The Mandala Gohonzon is the primary object that is enshrined in the butsudan. The butsudan also often has a statue of Nichiren Shonin and/or Shakyamuni Buddha in front of the Mandala Gohonzon. Oihai are also frequently enshrined. Other common items include an incense burner, candles, flowers, and offerings such as water and rice. Nichiren Shu members typically pray before their butsudan twice each day, once in the morning and once in the evening. |
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How Do I Become a Member of Nichiren Shu? There are no standard requirements for becoming a member of Nichiren Shu. Each minister has the authority to make a decision as to whether an individual should become a member. Generally speaking you should have been practicing with Nichiren Shu for at least 6 months and have a basic understanding of Buddhism in general and Nichiren Shu Buddhism in particular. When you and the minister together decide that it is the right time for you to become a member, the minister will perform a ceremony called "jukai," the taking of the precepts. At that time you will receive a Nichiren Shu Mandala Gohonzon. There is a small charge to cover the cost of the Mandala Gohonzon, and it is also customary to make a donation to the minister and the temple. |
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How Do I Become a Member of the Seattle Church? Any member of Nichiren Shu may become a member of the Seattle Church by paying membership dues. There is no fixed amount for dues, but most members donate either $10 a month or $150 a year. |
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What Is an Uchiwa Daiko? An uchiwa daiko, literally "fan drum," is a bodiless, single skin drum that is used only by Nichiren Buddhists. The skin is frequently inscribed with the Odaimoku in the middle or around the edges. The uchiwa daiko is held in the left hand and hit with a small stick held in the right hand. It is usually played during the chanting of the Odaimoku. |
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What Is Shodaigyo? Shodaigyo is a form of meditation that is practiced in Nichiren Shu temples. It includes silent meditation and chanting of the Odaimoku. A detailed description of a typical shodaigyo session can be seen on Ryuei.net, Rev McCormick's website. Shodaigyo is usually offered at the Seattle Church at 10:00 a.m. on the first Saturday of the month. Please check the calendar to verify the schedule. |
Why Do You Call It a Church Instead of a Temple? Buddhist places of worship in the US are usually referred to as temples, not churches. However, some Japanese people who came to the US in the early part of the 20th century chose to refer to their temples as churches in an effort to blend in with their Christian neighbors and reduce discrimination. In Nichiren Shu, various terms are used to refer to places of worship, including temple, church, mission, and sangha. There is no substantial difference in meaning. |
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What Are Oihai? Oihai are memorial tablets for one's ancestors. The tablets contain the kaimyo (posthumous Buddhist name) given to the deceased by a minister and the date of death. The back often shows the original name of the deceased and the year of birth. Oihai range in height from about six inches to several feet. They may be kept in a butsudan or in a Nichiren Shu temple. |
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What Is the Significance of Lotus Flowers? Lotus flowers are often seen in Buddhist art. The roots of lotus flowers grow in the mud of ponds and lakes, but the the flowers rise out of the mud and water to reach for the sky. This symbolizes people's ability to grow out of the mud of every day life and reach enlightenment. Additionally the fact that the lotus has seeds and flowers at the same time symbolizes the principle of the simultaneity of cause and effect. |
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