I have a wrist Nenju. As you know, it is different from the power beads. It does not have any power like the power beads. I am wearing a Nenju most of the times as a Buddhist because it is a symbol of Nembutsu follower, not as fashion or charm. People often asked me what am I wearing your left wrist at the supermarket, airport, gas station, and so forth.

When I was serving as a minister of Honpa Hongwanji Hawaii Betsuin, I was living on Honolulu. At that time, I was wearing a long sleeve shirt every day to work in the office. So I have to clean the shirts every day. To clean the shirts, twice a week I went to Hakuyosya which is the cleaner. If I wash the shirts, it is free. However, If I wash, I have to press the shirts. It really bothered me, because I was a still single. So I just brought my shirts to the shop and picked up the shirts. However, since coming to Kapaa, I had a wife. So, she always washes and presses my shirts.

After finishing my job, I went to bring or pick up the shirts. Usually, the time was evening time. So, I could see different part-time girls. One day, one of the girls asked me what was I wearing on my left wrist? So I simply replied this is a Nenju because I am a Buddhist minister and a follower of Buddha’s Teachings. This is why I am wearing this Nenju as a symbol of Buddhist. Then, she surprised, "Oh, are you a minister? You look so young. Is it really?" I replied, "Yes, I am a minister." Then, she asked me the meaning of the Nenju.

A formal Nenju contains two parents’ beads and 108 children’s beads which are joined together by a strong string. The compact Nenju is a single strand of 54 or 27 or some smaller number of beads. We always held the Nenju on the left hand, because our left hand is the symbol of our blind passions. Buddhists tell us that we have 108 passions. The children’s beads represent the blind passions like anger, jealousy, greed, and so forth. Each one of children’s beads reminds us of our ignorance, selfishness, and so forth. On the other hand, our right hand means the world of Amida Buddha. Amida Buddha is always embracing us with His timeless Wisdom and limitless Compassion. This is why there are two parents’ beads in the Nenju. The two parents’ beads remind us Amida Buddha’s Love like our mother and Wisdom like our father. Then, those children’s and parents’ beads are joined together with a tread. It means that Amida Buddha and all of us are one and together always.

I could not speak English at all, when I came to Hawaii about four years ago. So, I could not fully reply the girl’s question in English. So, I translated my Japanese thoughts in English in my office. Then, I went to the cleaning shop again and replied to the girl. I wonder she understood my thoughts or not. However, after finishing the answer to the girl, she requested me to give a Nenju. I told her, "I do not have an extra Nenju right now. So if you want to have this, come to our Sunday service." I thought she would not come. However, next Sunday, she came to the service. Since then, I became a good friend with her through the wrist Nenju.

Nowadays, many people are wearing power beads on their wrists like our Buddhist symbol, Nenju as if they are Buddhists. To wear the power beads, they seek their love, health, luck, fame, money, and so forth. For example, some people wear the power beads to make money, when they go to Las Vegas. Some people wear the power beads to attain their fame. Some people wear the power beads to get lovers. We always depend on such things in our daily lives. This is the truth and reality of our human lives. However, no matter how much you rely on the power beads, nothing changes. It does not help at all.

Why do we tend to seek and depend on such a power beads that is no effect on us? People do so because they do not know what is really reliable and yet they are uneasy and anxious without the power beads. However, our founder, Shinran Shonin taught us what is truly reliable.

We, human beings have passions of various kinds that cannot be completely removed. Since the moment we are born and until the day we die, we will not be able to get rid of the passions. We persistently cling to our blind passions to survive. Although we try to control our passions, we are constantly obstructed by them. This is why we are always desiring and striving to get something like the power beads. However, children’s beads of the Nenju remind us how blind and ignorance we are to the truth and reality, the parents’ beads remind us how deep is Amida Buddha’s Love, and our Nenju reminds us how interconnected are Amida Buddha and I. Amida Buddha grasps all beings and never abandons us although we are always blinded since our births to deaths. Amida Buddha vowed to save all beings at all times and in all places without any discriminations. This is why we always wear the Nenju in deep gratitude that we, ordinary people, who are happened to be born as human beings, can across the world of sufferings to the True World. Let us see the truth and reality in the Light and Life of the Amida Buddha and His Teachings.

Namo-Amidabutsu