How to Read “Morning Nichiren chant, evening Pure Land prayer”
Asa daimoku ni yoi nenbutsu
Meaning of “Morning Nichiren chant, evening Pure Land prayer”
“Morning Nichiren chant, evening Pure Land prayer” refers to an inconsistent religious attitude. It describes someone who chants the Nichiren sect’s daimoku in the morning and the Pure Land sect’s nenbutsu at night.
This proverb criticizes people who lack principles. They change their positions and opinions to suit whatever situation they’re in.
People use this saying to warn against those who shift their stance based on profit or circumstances. They have no consistent beliefs.
In business, it describes people who say different things to different clients. In politics, it refers to those who frequently switch party support.
In daily life, it criticizes friends who only approach people when it’s convenient for them.
Even today, this expression effectively teaches the importance of beliefs and consistency. It warns against bending your principles for short-term gains.
It also cautions against two-faced people who change their attitude depending on who they’re talking to. This meaning continues to resonate across generations.
Origin and Etymology
To understand this proverb’s origin, we must first look at two religious terms: “daimoku” and “nenbutsu.”
Daimoku refers to the Nichiren sect’s chant “Namu Myoho Renge Kyo.” Nenbutsu refers to the Pure Land sects’ chant “Namu Amida Butsu.”
In Japanese Buddhist history, these sects held different teachings. They sometimes clashed intensely with each other.
Especially after the Kamakura period, each sect established its own unique faith. Followers were expected to devote themselves to their chosen teachings.
Against this background, chanting Nichiren’s daimoku in the morning and Pure Land’s nenbutsu at night symbolized a lack of faith. It showed someone had no principles.
The exact first written record is unclear. However, scholars believe it spread among common people during the Edo period.
For people back then, religion was deeply connected to daily life. Choosing which sect to follow was an important decision.
Therefore, conveniently switching between different sects became a target of strong criticism.
This proverb went beyond its religious context. It became established as an expression warning against inconsistent attitudes and changing positions based on circumstances.
Interesting Facts
The “daimoku” and “nenbutsu” in this proverb have interesting characteristics regarding repetition. The Nichiren sect recommends chanting the daimoku many times throughout the day.
The Pure Land sect also considers chanting nenbutsu numerous times as virtuous.
This means the person described in this proverb appears to pray earnestly morning and night. Yet they actually hold no real beliefs.
This ironic contrast is built into the saying itself.
During the Edo period, the temple registration system required each household to belong to a specific temple. Moving between different sects was actually difficult in practice.
Therefore, this proverb was likely used more in a metaphorical sense rather than describing actual religious behavior.
Usage Examples
- He acts like a reformer in front of his boss but says conservative things to his subordinates. That’s truly “Morning Nichiren chant, evening Pure Land prayer.”
- That politician makes completely opposite campaign promises in different districts. This is exactly “Morning Nichiren chant, evening Pure Land prayer.”
Universal Wisdom
“Morning Nichiren chant, evening Pure Land prayer” has been passed down through generations. It contains insight into a fundamental human weakness.
Everyone has the desire to make choices that benefit themselves. We say things Person A wants to hear when we’re with them.
We adjust our attitude to match Person B when we’re with them. This behavior can actually be understood as a survival strategy.
However, our ancestors saw through the danger of this behavior pattern. You might gain benefits in the short term.
But in the long term, you lose trust. You even lose sight of your own core values.
An inconsistent attitude eventually leads to not knowing who you really are. This is a loss of identity.
This proverb shows us the essence of trust in human relationships. Trust comes from expecting that someone holds consistent values and acts predictably.
Who can believe someone who says different things in the morning and at night?
This proverb also teaches the danger of self-deception. As you keep changing positions conveniently, you stop knowing what you truly believe.
This is what modern psychology calls cognitive dissonance. It creates mental distress.
Our ancestors knew that holding consistent beliefs actually leads to peace of mind. This wisdom remains valuable today.
When AI Hears This
Humans choose “9,000 yen now” over “10,000 yen in one year.” Yet they can calmly wait one year when choosing between “10,000 yen in 10 years” and “10,000 yen in 11 years.”
This phenomenon is called hyperbolic discounting. People can judge distant future choices rationally. But when something is right in front of them, they suddenly can’t wait.
Mathematically, this creates a hyperbolic curve. The value decreases more gradually as time passes.
The morning and evening changes in this proverb capture the moment when time discounting distance shifts. When you chant daimoku in the morning saying “I’ll be disciplined today,” evening temptations are still over 10 hours away.
They’re in the distant future. So you can make calm, correct judgments.
But when evening comes, the desire in front of you becomes a “right now” choice. The steep curve of hyperbolic discounting kicks in.
Your earlier resolution vanishes. Research shows that when time to reward drops below one day, human discount rates jump several times higher.
What’s interesting is that this proverb expresses this through changes in religious practice. Both daimoku and nenbutsu should be matters of belief.
Yet they change depending on the time of day. This reveals the irony that human decision-making is controlled more by the brain’s time perception system than by beliefs or values.
Lessons for Today
This proverb teaches you the importance of having your own axis. In our modern world with developed social media, various opinions fly around constantly.
It’s easier than ever to get swept up in the mood and change your opinions. But this is exactly why holding consistent values has become more valuable.
The key is not to become stubborn. Deepening your thinking with new information is completely different from changing your position for convenience.
The former is growth. The latter is lack of principles.
Know what you value and what you believe in. Hold firmly to that core.
This becomes the first step to earning trust from people around you.
At work or with friends, sincerity that doesn’t change based on who you’re with will always be valued. Sometimes it might feel like you’re losing out.
But in the long run, real trust gathers around people who maintain consistent attitudes. Have the courage to live sincerely while cherishing your own beliefs.
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