The nembutsu is the core practice for Pure Land Buddhists across the world. It is a way of aligning ourselves with the wholesome energy of Amida Buddha, the Buddha of Infinite Light. We do this by saying ‘I entrust myself to Amida Buddha’ in different languages, most often using the Japanese: Namo Amida Bu.
In order to start the practice, you don’t need a clear idea of exactly what Amida is or how nembutsu works. To begin with you can see Amida an unfolding wholesome energy, as the spirit that moved the Buddha to live a good life, or as unconditional love. We would encourage you to try it for a week or for 30 days and to pay attention to any changes in your mood or in your daily life. If it works for you, keep going!
Nembutsu is a simple practice and it requires no special equipment or specialist knowledge. It doesn’t require the practitioner to study long texts or sign up to any dogmas. It is suitable for those with busy lives, and for those who are struggling with self-destructive habits or with feelings of despondency, anger, sadness or confusion. Nembutsu practice also connects us with the beauty in the world, with gratitude for all we receive and with a more meaningful way of life.
To practice nembutsu, chant ‘Namo Amida Bu’ for five minutes, once or twice a day. That’s it. You can either say the words, as you can hear here, or use a tune which you can hear here. Feel free to chant along with the audio, or chant alone and vary the speed or pitch to suit your own voice.Some people feel self-conscious when they first start chanting, or worry about whether they’re getting it ‘right’. If so, just keep going for a few days and these feelings will likely fade.
How can you get started?
- You might want to practice at the same time every day to help form a habit. If you’re a morning person, set your alarm ten minutes early. Some people chant during their lunch break or in the evening before they go to bed.
- Choose a quiet space to practice. If you enjoy being outside, you could do your chanting in the garden or whilst walking.
- Some people like to light a candle or light an incense stick before they begin.
- If you find it difficult to find the privacy to chant sometimes, just move your lips without making a noise, or say the words inside your head.
- Sometimes you might want to chant for longer. Some days you won’t find the time or you’ll forget – that’s okay – just say ‘Namo Amida Bu’ and carry on the next day.
We can’t say exactly how this wholesome energy will affect you as we don’t know what you need. Sometimes we don’t know what’s best for us either. We do trust that something good will begin to unfold. As the days go on you may begin to feel more peaceful, or gain more perspective on your problems. Some people notice themselves dealing with their emotions differently, and having more patience with themselves and with the people around them. Most people feel more settled and more secure.
We hope that you enjoy your explorations with nembutsu, and that it brings you inspiration, peace, courage and comfort.
Namo Amida Bu!
Nembutsu - Simple Practice ~ Dharmavidya
The core element in Pureland Buddhist practice is nembutsu. Nembutsu means being with the Buddha. Buddhists “take refuge” in being with the Buddha. It’s as simple as that. This is why Buddhists have Buddha statues, so that they keep in mind being with the Buddha. We are greatly affected by the company we keep and the best possible company to keep is to be with the Buddha. This is what we want for ourselves and one another in this life, in the next life, in any conceivable life. So nembutsu is it.
Nembutsu literally means "keeping Buddha in mind". As a practice it generally means reciting a phrase such as "Namo Amida Bu" which achieves this end. This can be done as an intensive practice, as when sitting alone or together before the Buddha shrine, or it can be a "dispersed" practice in which one integrates saying the nembutsu phrase into daily life. When something good happens - Namo Amida Bu. When something bad happens - Namo Amida Bu. When something else happens - Namo amida Bu... and so on. There are a variety of possible forms of phrase, but Namo Amida Bu is most common. Nembutsu can also cover other more difficult practices such as visualisation which is another way of keeping Buddha in mind. The basic aim is to keep the Buddhas in mind by one means or another as much as possible and the calling of Namo Amida Bu is the most common way to do this.
Nem is the Japanese for "mindfulness" so you can also say that nembutsu is mindfulness of Buddha. It is the most popular form of Buddhism in Japan and very widespread throughout the Chinese influenced world. This is in part because it is both simple in concept and convenient in practice - you can do it while walking, driving, sitting in a deckchair, or whatever.
Nembutsu practice is a kind of continuous prayer. It is assisted by having a mala (rosary) of beads.
Namo Amida Bu
Audio of five minutes of chanting with a tune
Audio of five minutes of spoken chanting
Some notes about how to practice and understand nembutsu - the Ichimai Kishomon
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