Inscription of the Nembutsu (myogo) by Rennyo Shonin (from http://www12.canvas.ne.jp/horai/kikigaki-index.htm)

The great practice is to say the Name of the Tathagata [Buddha] of unhindered light. This practice, comprehensively encompassing all practices, is perfect and most rapid in bringing them to fullness. For this reason, it is called "great practice." Saying the Name, then, breaks through all the ignorance of sentient beings and readily brings all their aspirations to fulfillment. Saying the Name is in itself mindfulness; mindfulness is nembutsu; nembutsu is Namu-amida-butsu.

- Shinran Shonin

Namu Amida Butsu

by Rev Kenryu Tsuji

The Nembutsu is the sound of the universe.

It is the sound of the wind

as it rustles the leaves;

It is the roar of the waves

as they rush toward the shore;

It is the song of the robin, the whippoorwill

and the chorus of cicadas on a summer evening.

The Nembutsu is naturalness...

The first cry of the baby

as it emerges into the world

from the darkness of the mother's womb;

It is the powerful cry of independence

of individuality, of selfhood;

But it is also the great cry of awakening

to its dependence on something greater than self...

for its sustenance.

The Nembutsu is the proclamation of the Buddha...

"Above heaven and below heaven,

I alone am the World Honored One."

It is the ultimate declaration of life;

I alone hold my destiny in my hand

leading to perfect Buddhahood.

When I touch the heart of reality,

It is Namu Amida Butsu...

What else can I say?

When I truly share someone's happiness,

it is Namu Amida Butsu;

And in that moment of deep grief

over a loved one's death,

it is just Namu Amida Butsu.

Namu Amida Butsu...

it is the song of gratitude

not of my finding the Buddha,

but Buddha finding me.

In Gassho,

Kenryu T. Tsuji

Reprinted from UDUMBARA: The Journal of Ekoji (Volume I: Summer, 1985)

 

The Recitation of the Nembutsu

The recitation of the Nembutsu is not a prayer; rather, the recitations are meditations. When one recites Namu Amida Butsu, he is said to become one with Amida Buddha and transcends the petty selfishness of the individual.