Reishu Sakuma ／ Prayer Rooted in Daily Life
Frost Descent · Light rains sometimes fall
Norito and Sutras: When the Direction of Your Voice Changes, Your Prayer Changes
What is the difference between norito (Shinto ritual prayers) and the sutras chanted in Buddhism? Looking at "where the words are sent," this article explores the origin of the word norito and my own experience of noticing how my voice changes.
Translated from the Japanese original. Read in Japanese
The short answer
I understand norito as words that praise the kami and are sent outward, from oneself toward the divine. Sutras are chanted for many different purposes, but when I chant the Heart Sutra, I feel my voice turning inward. This is not a question of which is superior. When the direction of the words differs, the way the voice comes out naturally changes too. When you pray at your kamidana (a household shrine), try being conscious of "delivering your voice to the kami." I feel that this alone changes how your prayer feels.
01If norito feels unfamiliar to you
Many people have heard sutras at memorial services and funerals, so they feel familiar. Norito, on the other hand, may be heard at a shrine, but there are few occasions to recite it yourself. Many people wonder, "What are they saying?" or "Am I allowed to say this out loud?"
In fact, sutras and norito differ greatly in their very purpose. Once you understand this difference, the way you pray before your kamidana, and the way you chant a sutra, will change a little.
02What kind of words are norito?
In Shinto, the words offered to the kami are called norito; in Buddhism, the words chanted are called sutras. The etymology of the word norito is debated, but a widely known view traces "nori" to noru, "to declare," that is, to speak words before the kami. The characters used to write it, 祝詞, are said to have been applied later.
Whatever the etymology, norito are words that praise and honor the kami. Through their kototama (the spiritual power believed to dwell in words), I feel that we can sense the kami, connect with them, and connect with our guardian deities and guardian spirits.
03The direction of the voice is different
When I recite norito, I have the sense of bringing my voice out from inside myself and delivering it to the kami. The direction is outward.
Sutras are chanted for many purposes, so I cannot say "a sutra is this kind of thing" in a single stroke. But when I myself chant the Heart Sutra, I feel the words heading inward, into myself.
What is interesting is the result. When I chant the Heart Sutra and when I recite norito, an entirely different voice comes out of me, as if I were another person. Since norito goes outward and the sutra goes inward, perhaps this is only natural. I am not changing it on purpose. It simply happens. Kototama is truly fascinating.
04What to keep in mind when you pray at your kamidana
If you pray at a kamidana at home, please try one thing. Be conscious of "delivering your voice to the kami" as you speak.
You do not need to speak louder. Simply by being aware of where you are sending your voice, I believe a clear, resonant voice will come out.
Conversely, when you chant a sutra, try chanting as if "delivering the words to your own heart," facing inward. Even in the same language, the purpose changes how the voice comes out.
05The essence of words appears on the far side of effort
When you recite norito or chant sutras wholeheartedly, there are moments when the essence of those words becomes visible. The body understands the words before the head grasps their meaning.
It is like cooking: the same ingredients taste different depending on how they are cooked. Prayer is the same. The same words reach different places depending on where you send your voice.
In Japanese daily life, two directions have long lived side by side: sending one's voice to the kamidana in the morning, and quieting the heart with palms together before the butsudan (a household Buddhist altar). Both are precious forms of prayer. Please bring a little of this awareness of "direction" into your own daily prayers. The energy of kototama will surely become your ally.
Be the first to join your hands.
Frequently asked
- Do I need any qualification or special etiquette to recite norito at my home kamidana?
- No qualification is needed to offer norito as your own prayer. Keep a straight posture and speak the words clearly, delivering them to the kami.
- Is it a problem to recite both sutras and norito?
- I do not think so. Japanese households have long honored both the kamidana and the butsudan. Because their purposes differ, being conscious of each direction as you speak deepens both.
- Can I recite norito silently, in my heart, instead of aloud?
- I feel that the heart placed in the words reaches the kami even when recited silently. Still, when you can, try saying them aloud, with the intention of delivering them to the kami.
Terms in this article
- norito 祝詞
- Words offered to the kami in Shinto rituals. A leading theory traces the word to noru, "to declare."
- sōjō 奏上
- To respectfully address the kami or a superior. Offering norito to the kami is often described as sōjō.
- kototama 言霊
- The spiritual power believed to dwell in words. In this article, I understand it as the power of the spoken word to carry a prayer.
- Hannya Shingyō 般若心経
- The Heart Sutra, a Mahayana Buddhist scripture that expresses the idea of emptiness in a short text. It is widely chanted across many Buddhist schools in Japan.
Read next
One Minute Each Morning: The Habit of Speaking to the Kami with Norito
How to Clap Kashiwade: Clearing Negative Ki and Reading the Ki of a Place
From the same season
Kototama and the Japanese Vowels: What Phonetics Confirms, and What Our Ancestors Believed
Next frost descent, new writing will join this list.