Lucky charm?

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[M Butt]

Hey guys, just a general question.

A few years ago I went to Japan to visit spiritual places and various temples (to aid my martial arts training). In one of the temples I met a monk who was kind enough to give me a gift but due to the language difference, I don't really know what it is.

It is a small, gold pouch about 2 inches in size with what looks like a reverse swastika on the front and Japanese writing on the back. Inside the pouch is, what appears to be, a gold charm with a man on the front. He looks like he's holding something in his left hand and he looks to be a buddha. There is Japanese writing beneath him.

Does anyone know what this is and what it is for? I'd love to know as I've been wondering for so long.

As always, all help is greatly appreciated.

Martin.

[Joseph Madden]

:) Martin,
The Buddhist monk you met made you a gift of a Buddha charm. The swastika was an symbol of peace for many religions the world over, particularly Buddhism and Hinduism before the Nazis perverted it. The Buddha holds something in his left hand because only by achieving a period of enlightenment can you know what is in your left hand. When you sit in seiza in Jodo or Kendo, the right hand is placed into the left hand as you meditate. This is because only the Buddha can know what is in the left hand. The writing in Japanese is probably wishing you the best happiness on your journey to the same level of enlightenment that the Buddha has achieved.

Joe

[boyana]

Joseph where one can purchasea gift of Buddha charm?

[Joseph Madden]

Boyana,
You can find them on the internet and purchase them. Also, many Buddhist temples offer them.

:)

[Pierre Kewcharoen]

Im thai and I have many buddhist charms. The most known ones are from thailand. You can "buy" some from there but they will be nothing more than a cosmetic charm and/or a piece of jewerly. Charms that are blessed by monks which are believed to instill powers of protection and good luck must be given to a person as a gift or passed on from generation to generation. If they are sold for money, they lose all their religious importance and or power. My family has ties to monks and are monks themselves which is why I have alot. The religious charms are worth alot of money (they even have magazines that detail the worth of these charms). My mother actually has one worth around 80k which is really really old and actually emits EMF signals.

These charms are not simply blessed like a catholic priest bless people, these charms can get blessed for days or weeks by many monks. But like I said, once their sold for money, it loses its importance.

[Pierre Kewcharoen]

Boyana,
You can find them on the internet and purchase them. Also, many Buddhist temples offer them.

:)

True many buddhist temples offer them, but none like the ones stated above.

[boyana]

Thak you.I wish to get some for my friends!

[David Partington]

Hi Martin,

The Japanese generic word for a lucky charm is omomori.

If you could remember the name of the Temple it could help to narrow down what kind of lucky charm it is. Most (if not all) temples are famous for at least 1 kind of omomori, be they specific to travellers, healthy pregnancy & of course success with exams/work etc.

[akiy]

The Japanese generic word for a lucky charm is omomori.

That would be "omamori" (お守り).

-- Jun

[Ron Tisdale]

I got one for successful pregnancy (for my best friend's wife) in Nara I believe.

Best,
Ron (good thing I gave it away...I could be in REAL trouble now...) :D

[ramenboy]

I got one for successful pregnancy (for my best friend's wife) in Nara I believe.

Best,
Ron (good thing I gave it away...I could be in REAL trouble now...) :D

or you could be on the cover of time magazine, or popular science....

:P