The essay excerpts below, written by Jane Imamura, expresses the spirit of the Nembutsu as articulated through music, from the time of Gautama Buddha to the present:

Music is the art that takes over from words

When words no longer prove adequate

“Throughout history, deep and profound ideas and experiences have always found ways of expression in the art forms.  As is evident today, the Buddha’s teachings have manifested in all the Asian countries in the great Buddhist paintings, images, architectures, sculptures, music, poetry, gardens, cultures, etc.

In the sutras music is mentioned.

Bishop Chitoku Morikawa, respected Buddhist scholar, pointed out that in the second chapter of the Lotus Sutra, it is described that ‘both vocal and instrumental music implement the seeing of the Dharma.”

Professor Ryugyo Fujimoto, another revered Shinshu scholar and sage, said, ‘In the Ashvaghosa’s Awakening of Faith, is mentioned, ‘He composed an excellent tune that he might by this means bring the Dharma to the people.’

In the Amida sutra which we all chant at our services, the Pure Land’s beauty and comfort is described by ‘beautiful five-toned music among the trees.’

In the paintings of Raigo, depicting Amida descending to meet us, Amida is surrounded by heavenly beings playing musical instruments.

In 749 AD, when the famous Great Buddha of Nara was dedicated in Japan, that ceremony remains as one of the historical visual and sound highlights, impressive artworks describing the hundreds of priests from China, India, Mongolia and many other countries chanting the sutras and musicians in elegant robes playing the gagaku, remain for us to visualize the great event.

More recently, major symphonic music based on Buddhism, such as the Nirvana Symphony by Mayuzumi, and countless Buddhist music were composed, performed and sung in Japan and abroad.

Meanwhile in our personal lives music surrounds us.  There has never been a baby without the mother humming a lullaby over him or him.  There is no romance without music.  When happy, a song comes.  When in doubt, music gives courage.  And when sad, music consoles.  Music is a language understood by all regardless of race, age or creed.  It is indeed called the universal language.

Since Gautama Buddha’s time, 2,500 years ago, the teachings were changed in melodic tones.  Today in our temples the beauty and serenity of the atmosphere at our services are determined by the music.

Therefore, it seems incumbent for us…to include music in all our programs, and make effort to learn gathas well, so that joy will fill the temples and elevate the atmosphere of our services.”