NEMBUTSU

Nembutsu - "recite - Buddha’s name." The recitation of the Nembutsu is the practice emphasized in Jodoshinshu. This is the simple recitation of "Namuamidabutsu" or Namoamidabutsu." The Nembutsu is not the cause of one’s awakening, but it is encouraged as a practice to keep the teaching before the "mind’s eye." Independent recitation of the Nembutsu is traditional. The leader-and-response repetition of the Nembutsu is an American invention created to encourage independent recitation of the Nembutsu. More often than not however, it has resulted in a reluctance to say the Nembutsu unless someone is there to lead in its recitation.

 

Buddhist rituals (from Traditions of Jodoshinshu Hongwanji-ha)

In English the word "ritual" is very often used to mean a habitual, mindless activity. Ritual is often regarded as unimportant relative to the activity of logical thinking. The Buddhists have long known the importance of their being a balance in the six senses of sight, sound, smell, taste, touch, and thought. Awareness is not limited to mental awareness, but is one which involves the totality of the senses. Buddhist ritual is an exercise towards awareness with one’s body, speech, and mind - the three categories of Karma or "action." The body-action takes the form of various body postures and hand gestures; the speech-action takes the form of chanting, singing, recitations, and breathing; and the thought-action takes the form of study, deep thought, calm thought, etc. Meditation can and does take all three forms of thought, speech and action.