Nianfo

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Nianfo ( Chinese  念佛 , Pinyin niànfó , W.-G. nien-fo ; jap. 念 仏 , nembutsu ; kor. 염불, yeombul ; viet . : niệm phật ) in Mahayana - Buddhism denotes methods for the visualization of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas , especially the Buddha Amitabha . This visualization can be done through visualization techniques or invocations by means of recitations or singing ( Shōmyō- Nembutsu). The literal translation of Nembutsu is "make Buddha present" ( Buddhānusmṛti , Chinese  佛 隨 念 , pinyin fó suí niàn ).

Invocation of the Buddha Amitabha

Nianfo has a special place in the schools of the Pure Land . The recited formula is in Japanese "Namu Amida Butsu" ( Japanese for "worship of the Buddha Amitabha"). If done with total devotion, these schools believe that it can bring about rebirth in the Pure Land of Amitabha, which is the ultimate goal of the practice of these schools.

The original Sanskrit formula was Namo Amitabha Buddha . With the spread of Buddhism in Asia, the pronunciation of this formula has changed over time:

language Notation pronunciation
Sanskrit नमोऽमिताभाय namo amitābhāya
Standard Chinese Abbreviation :南无阿弥陀佛
traditional characters :南無阿彌陀佛 		námó āmítuó fó
Japanese Kanji : 南 無 阿 弥陀 仏
Hiragana : な む あ み だ ぶ つ 		namu amida bu (tsu)
Korean Hanja : 南 無 阿彌陀佛
Hangeul : 나무 아미타불 		namu amita bul
Vietnamese nam mô a di đà phật nam mo a si / yi da bland
Mushono-Dainembutsu, paper amulet

Most pure land schools assume that invoking Amitabha can bring about rebirth in Amitabha's pure land. There people can then practice without the sufferings and difficulties of human existence and thus achieve enlightenment more easily. Originally, this practice was seen as an aid to people who, due to bad karma, are unable to follow Buddhism with its extensive practice.

In the teaching of the Jōdo-Shinshū , the Nembutsu was reinterpreted. Here it is used as an expression of gratitude instead of asking Amitabha Buddha. The basic assumption is that even with a sincere trust in Amitabha, rebirth in the pure land is guaranteed and other efforts or efforts are not necessary. Salvation is not achieved through one's own strength, but through the strength of Amitabha (the " Other Force ").

origin

In Buddhist literature , the Nianfo has its roots in the Great Pure Land Sutra (Sukhāvatīvyūha-Sūtra, Sutra of Immeasurable Life), in which Amitabha, still only a student, decides to forego enlightenment until all living beings are saved are. In the Sutra it is described that Amitabha made 48 vows (see Bodhisattva vows ). The eighteenth vow reads accordingly: “When sentient beings in the countries of the ten cardinal points call themselves my name sincerely and joyfully entrusting me with the wish to be born in my country, if only ten times - if they are not here If I am born here because I have attained Buddhahood, I will forego enlightenment. Except from birth in my country are those who commit serious crimes and revile the true Dharma. "

The Nianfo practice became popular with lay people in India and spread to East Asia.

Typological classification

In a comparative religious view, the Nianfo / Nembutsu belongs to the type of prayer of names .

literature

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