In the spiritual cultural life, visiting temples, burning incense, and performing rituals on death anniversaries and holidays is a common practice for many Vietnamese. These occasions offer people a chance to express their reverence to deities and ancestors, as well as to wish for a peaceful and joyful life.
During these rituals, most individuals will join their palms together in a prayer position and chant “Nam mô a di đà Phật.” However, not everyone understands the significance of this action.
Why do Vietnamese people often chant “Nam mô a di đà Phật” during incense burning and rituals?
According to Thanh Nien newspaper, Mr. Hoang Trieu Hai, Director of the Center for Research on Oriental Studies, offered the following interpretation of the phrase “Nam mô a di đà Phật”:
“Nam mô” is the transliteration of the Sanskrit word “Namah.” This word carries multiple meanings, including reverence, refuge, determination to follow, and submission to the Buddha. This stage is known as the initial awakening, marking the first step on the path to enlightenment in Buddhist teachings. It encompasses practices such as mantra recitation, discipline, and profound observation of the world.
“A di đà” is derived from the Sanskrit word “Amitābha,” translating to “immeasurable light and life.” This stage is referred to as the continuous awakening, signifying the successive period of constant chanting throughout the journey to enlightenment. It involves practices such as continuous chanting, deep meditation on the Dharma realm, and the equality of innate wisdom.
“Phật” is an abbreviation of “Phật đà,” which is the transliteration of “Buddha” in Sanskrit. It signifies enlightenment, liberation, and freedom from the cycle of rebirth. This final stage is known as intrinsic enlightenment, encompassing the achievement of innate chanting, wisdom, and the attainment of the ultimate Buddha fruit.
The phrase “Nam mô a di đà Phật” is a transliteration of the Sanskrit phrase “Namah Amitabha.” However, many people do not use this chant appropriately. The chant “Nam mô a di đà Phật” is only applicable when facing the Buddha. In places of worship dedicated to deities or saints where the Buddha is not present, this chant is inappropriate. Additionally, using this chant in royal tombs is also unsuitable, as ancient kings were considered sons of heaven, or tien zi, standing above all others. During ritual ceremonies, the king would only pay homage to the previous ruler, or Tiên Đế.
Why do people join their hands during rituals?
The act of joining hands in a prayer position originates from Buddhism and various Indian faiths. Known as the Añjali Mudrā, it carries multiple meanings and is considered a respectful greeting to the Buddha and an expression of reverence toward the Enlightened One.
If you observe closely, you will notice that during rituals at communal houses or temples, the chief celebrant does not join their hands in front of their chest as done when paying respect to the Buddha. Instead, they turn their right palm downward, place their left hand on top, and cup their palms to form a triangle, creating a circular shape with their arms.
This hand placement symbolizes the yin-yang concept, with the left (yin) taking precedence over the right (yang). By placing the left hand on top of the right, the celebrant expresses the primacy of yin over yang.
In essence, it is important for individuals to understand the underlying principles of traditional ritual practices to ensure they are performed correctly.
Hopefully, this information clarifies why Vietnamese people often join their hands and chant “Nam mô a di đà Phật” during incense burning and rituals.
