Jodo Shu Buddhist Practice

This post is a brief summary of the practices of Jodo Shu Buddhism. I am not a Jodo Shu follower, but I follow the related sect of Jodo Shinshu,* and I was friends with some nice people on the Jodo Shu Buddhism Group (JSBG) in New York. The website for the JSBG recently was removed by one of the principal members due to unexpected attrition, and others did not have time to backup the contents so a lot of valuable information was lost.

So, this post is an effort to piece together some introductory information about the Jodo Shu sect and its practices. As stated in my blog, I like to post reference posts from time to time.

Scriptural Basis

Jodo Shu is also known as Japanese Pure Land Buddhism, and like all Pure Land Buddhist sects in East Asia, it derives its teachings from three Buddhist sutras, and ostensibly others:

• The Larger Sutra of Immeasurable Life
• The Amitabha Sutra
• The Contemplation of Amitabha Sutra

Also, Jodo Shu Buddhists rely on the writings of Honen, which were few. There are many recorded conversations of Honen, which provide a wealthy of information, but there are two useful writings of Honen as well:

• The Senchaku Hongan Nembutsushu (or just Senchakushu) – Passages on the Selection of the Nembutsu in the Original Vow
• The Ichimai Kisshōmon – One-Page Testament

In Jodo Shu services, or home practice, it is common to recite the One-Page Testament due to its short length and concise summary of Honen’s teachings, in addition to other practices.

Practice

In terms of practice, Jodo Shu Buddhists do not usually meditate, do prostrations or other acts found in other Buddhist sects. It’s not that Jodo Shu is against other practices, but that Honen the founder felt that in order to bring Buddhism to the peasants of Japan, the focus had to be on one single act: the nembutsu.

Based on both the Larger Sutra above and the Contemplation Sutra, it is taught in Pure Land Buddhism that if one recites the name of Amitabha (Amida) Buddha even as little as 10 times, Amitabha made a vow that they will unfailingly reach the Pure Land he created. The Pure Land, as described in the sutras, is not so much a paradise, but a realm of existence where one can more easily practice Buddhism in a gentle and friendly environment. Many in the Pure Land become Bodhisattvas, who come back to help others.

So, the basic and most fundamental practice in Jodo Shu is the nembutsu. This link provides a great summary of the ways to practice the nembutsu, including a nice flash animation that inspired me to say the nembutsu years ago for the first time.

Honen taught that it is beneficial to practice reciting the nembutsu a fixed amount each day. He often stressed that the amount wasn’t important, but rather consistency and sincerity. However, he also did state that based on the Contemplation Sutra above, that the more you recite, the merrier.

Telling the Rosary in Jodo Shu Buddhism

So for those who like to recite the nembutsu a lot, it’s common to use a Buddhist rosary or o-jūzu for counting. Here’s the one that I have, purchased at the Great Buddha statue in Kamakura, Japan:

Notice that there are two rings. Jodo Shu Buddhist rosaries are very distinct in the use of two rings. In addition to the two rings are multiple sets of beads hanging down, and woven into the fabric. Based on the picture above, here’s a helpful guide on how to use the rosary:

• The beads in the top ring count a single recitation of the nembutsu each.
• The beads in the second ring count a full cycle of the first ring.
• The ten beads hanging down count a full cycle of the second ring.
• The six fat beads hanging down count a full cycle of the ten hanging beads.
• The tiny bead just under the metal loops (hard to see in picture) counts a full cycle of the six fat beads.

If you did a full cycle using all beads, that would be 60,000 recitations! Very few Buddhists go this far, but the rosary makes it possible to count a small number of recitations or a large number, depending on your inclination.

Approaching Jodo Shu Practice

Again, Honen emphasized consistency, so if you feel like only reciting 10 times, and that’s a feasible number, then keep at it. Don’t worry about what the other guy is doing.** Honen, basing his teachings off the Chinese Buddhist master, Shan-Tao, taught that consistent, long-term practice yields the Three Minds:

1. The Sincere Mind.
2. The Profound (or Deep) Mind.
3. The Dedicated Mind (toward the Pure Land).

And the Four Modes of Practice:

1. Reverence to Amida Buddha and the Bodhisattvas of the Pure Land.
2. Whole-hearted and exclusive practice of reciting Amida’s Name.
3. Uninterrupted practice.
4. Long-term practice.

Honen taught that as one makes the nembutsu the bedrock of the Buddhist practice, it will gradually lead to a flowering of the individual, and they will not only be happier person, but will oftentimes take up additional Buddhist practices as an expression of the nembutsu (meditation, mindfulness, sutra chanting, etc). So again Honen did not contradict other teachings in Buddhism, but simply made the nembutsu the starting point. The Pure Land, likewise, is not a final paradise and resting place, it is only the beginning of one’s Buddhist practice, but an excellent place to practice.

Through his emphasis on consistent practice, Honen felt that this will increase confidence and through Amida’s compassion and wisdom one would gradually transform in a positive way.

If you now more, please feel free to comment and contribute. Thanks!

Namuamidabu

P.S. List of Jodo Shu holidays can be found here.

* – Jodo Shu was started by the Japanese monk, Honen, while Jodo Shinshu was one of many branches of Buddhism that derived from Honen’s disciples. Jodo Shinshu was founded by Honen’s disciple Shinran, but all his life, he never felt he was doing anything other than carrying on Honen’s work. The distinction grew generations later. Indeed, Shin Buddhists consider Honen the 7th and last patriarch of our lineage.

** – The Buddha taught that conceit is any mental effort in comparing yourself to another person, even if you feel that other person is better or equal to you. Point being, don’t get caught in that trap!