Nianfo
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Nianfo (Chinese: 念佛, pinyin: nianfo; Japanese: 念佛 nembutsu; Korean: 염불 yeombul; Vietnamese: niệm Phật), literally "mindfulness of the Buddha" is a term commonly seen in the Pure Land school of Mahayāna Buddhism. It refers to praise offered to Amitabha Buddha as a devotional act. The original Sanskrit phrase would have been Namo Amitabhaya Buddhaya, which can mean either "I trust in the Buddha of Immeasurable Light" or simply "Homage to the Buddha of Immeasurable Light".
In time, the pronunciation has changed as the phrase moved into various Asian countries as shown in the examples found in the following chart:
| Language | As written | Phonetic |
|---|---|---|
| Chinese, Mandarin | 南無阿彌陀佛 | Námó Āmítuó Fó |
| Japanese | Kanji: 南無阿彌陀佛 Hiragana: なむ あみだ ぶつ |
Namu Amida Butsu |
| Korean | 남무아미타불 | Nammu Amita Bul |
| Vietnamese | Nam mô A di đà Phật | Nammo Ayeeda Fut |
In the mainstream Pure Land tradition, mindfully chanting of the name of Amitabha Buddha allows one to obtain birth in Amitabha's Pure Land of the West. It is felt that this act would help to negate vast stores of negative karma that might hinder one's pursuit of Buddhism. In addition, the Pure Land is a place of refuge where one can become Enlightened without being distracted by the sufferings of our existence.
In the Jodo Shinshu Buddhist tradition, the nembutsu is reinterpreted as an expression of gratitude to Amida Buddha rather than a petitionary act. The idea behind this is that rebirth into the Pure Land is assured the moment one first had faith in Amida.
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[edit] Origins of the Nianfo/Nembutsu
The nianfo is derived from the Larger Sutra of Immeasurable Life where Amitabha Buddha, still merely a bodhisattva, resolves to save all beings or he will never achieve Enlightenment and become a Buddha.
According to the Sutra, he made 48 vows as part of his efforts to become a Buddha and save all beings. Of particular note is the 18th Vow, which states:
If, when I attain Buddhahood, sentient beings in the lands of the ten quarters who sincerely and joyfully entrust themselves to me, desire to be born in my land, and call my Name, even ten times, should not be born there, may I not attain perfect Enlightenment. Excluded, however, are those who commit the five gravest offences and abuse the right Dharma.
Thus, the practice of the nianfo became popular in India, and rapidly spread to East Asia. The Theravada tradition of South-east Asia does not recognize the practice of the nianfo devoted to Amitabha Buddha because the Larger Sutra is not found in the Pali Canon.
[edit] The Nianfo/Nembutsu in Literature
The purpose of the Nianfo can be summed up by the words of Professor Shigaraki:
...The Pure Land Buddhist path in effect consolidates the various and sundry practices into one act that is easy to perform. Therefore the Pure Land path of hearing the Name and saying the Name is consistent in its adoption of the basic structure of the original Buddhist path: through the cultivation of various roots of good, one realizes the experience of awakening.[1]
Thus, from the Pure Land Buddhist perspective the nianfo is a way for others who cannot practice more intense methods to still cultivate good, and experience awakening. Another quote, from Shinran Shonin, founder of Jodo Shinshu Buddhism states:
Amida's Primal Vow does not discriminate between the young and old, good and evil - true entrusting alone is essential. The reason is that the Vow is directed to the person burdened with the weight of karmic evil and burning with the flames of blind passion. Thus, in entrusting ourselves to the Primal Vow, no other form of good is necessary, for there is no good that surpasses the Nembutsu. And evil need not be feared, for there is no evil, which can obstruct the working of Amida's Primal Vow.[2]
