Temple Protocol
What follows is a routine for visiting a temple while on henro...
At the Gate
Gasshō (合掌) three times, saying,
恭しくみ仏を礼拝し奉る
うやうやしくみほとけをらいはいしたてまつる
uyauyashiku mihotoke o raihaishi tatematsuru
At the Chōzubachi (手水鉢)
The chōzubachi (手水鉢) is a purifying basin; virtually every temple and shrine has one. The procedure for purifying yourself is as follows:
- Take one of the ladles from the chōzubachi in your right hand, scoop up some water from the basin, and pour it over your left hand
- Transfer the ladle to your left hand, fill it with water from the basin, and pour it over your right hand
- Transfer the ladle back to your right hand, refill it from the basin and pour some water into your left palm; take it into your mouth (don't swallow!) and then spit it out outside (not into!) the basin
- Tip the ladle up so that the remaining water runs down the handle; this purifies the ladle for the next person
In the Hondō (本堂)
 In the hondō, we pay respects and offer prayers to the gohonzon, the patron Buddha or bodhisattva of the temple. It's usual to begin by offering incense and lighting a candle. |
Kaikyōge (開経偈): Sutra-opening verse
無上甚染微妙法
百千萬劫難遭遇
我今見聞得受持
願解如来真実義
むじょうじんじんみみょうほう
ひゃくせんまんごうなんそうぐう
がこんけんもんとくじゅじ
がんげにょらいしんじつぎ
mu jō jin jin
mi myō hō
hyaku sen man gō nan sō gū
ga kon ken mon toku ju ji
gan ge nyo rai shin jitsu gi
Hannya Shingyō (般若心経): Heart Sutra
See the Hannya Shingyō page for more details and a translation.
摩訶般若波羅蜜多心経 観自在菩薩行深般若波羅蜜多時 般若心経 |
ma ka han nya ha ra mi ta shin gyō kan ji zai bo sa gyō jin han nya ha ra mi ta ji han nya shin gyō |
You can listen to it being chanted:
Gohonzon Shingon (ご本尊真言): [7 times]
The main henro page lists, for each of the 23 temples in Tokushima-ken, the temple's gohonzon (patron Buddha or bodhisatva) and the appropriate shingon (mantra). Recite the shingon seven times.
Komyo Shingon (光明真言): The Mantra of Light [3 times]
オンアボキャベーロシャノーマカボダラマニハンドマジンバラハラバリタヤウン
ON A BO KYA BEI RO SHA NŌ MA KA BO DA RA MA NI
HAN DO MA
JIN BA RA HA RA BA RI TA YA UN
You can listen to it being chanted:
Leave an o-fuda in the box to the right of the altar.
In the Daishidō (大師堂)
One may chant the kaikyōge and Hannya Shingyō at this point again, if one wishes to do so. |
In the Daishidō, we pay our respects and offer prayers to Kōbō Daishi.Gohōgō [21 times]
南無大師偏照金剛
なむだいしへんじょうこんごう
namu daishi henjō kongō
You can listen to it being chanted:
Eko no Mon (回向の文): Dedication of Merit
願わくばこの功徳を普く一切に及ぼし我等と衆生と皆共に仏道を成せんことを
ながわくぼのくどくをもっていっさいにおよぼしわれらと
しゅじょうとみなともにぶつどうをじょうせんことを
nagawakubo no kudoku o motte issai ni oyoboshi warera to
shujō to minatomo ni butsudō o jōsen koto o
Leave an o-fuda in the box to the right of the altar here as well. Some pilgrims will do shakyō, sutra-copying, of the Hannya Shingyō while on the henro in order to be able to leave a copy at each temple.
At the Nōkyōsho (納経所)
 No prayers necessary here, just your nōkyōchō and 300¥. Get in line and wait for the monk to stamp your book and write in it. Then it's off to the next temple! |