Why do we put our hands together at the monk

The Jodo Shinshu sect is one Buddha, so I don't think it's determined by manners in that sense.

Out of respect for monks, I presume they could fold their hands together.

However, if you think about manners separately, Japanese Buddhism refers to “all sentient beings having Buddhism,” so it is conceivable that monks also have Buddha characteristics, and they join hands with that Buddhism.

Rather than being a monk, I think the Buddha nature that that person possesses (regardless of whether they are a monk or not) is extremely precious.

Namunamu, my name is Tetsuya Urakami from Nagomi-an.

I think this differs depending on the denomination, but in the Jodo Shinshu sect, which is my sect, there is no rise or fall between monks and ordinary people.
So when I put my hands together, I think, “Shake hands with the Buddha, not me.”

Incidentally, in India, both monks and the general public put their hands together and greet them with “namaste.”
Namas = I believe
Te ~ = you
In that sense, it seems that they are showing that they have nothing to hide in front of their partner and express “I believe in you.”

When this namasu is translated into Chinese, it becomes “Nanmu,” and “Namu Amida Buddha” becomes “I believe in Amida Buddha,” and “Namu Myoho Renge Kyo” “believes in the Lotus Sutra, which is a strange law.”

Namunam

Nice to meet you. I saw your question.
The origin of gassho is also said to be India, but it is unclear.
“Om Manipadmehum” is a Tibetan mantra (mantra), but the etymology is Sanskrit, and its original meaning is “I salute (Kyorai) the orb in (your) lotus.”

In a “gassho,” which is reminiscent of a lotus bud, it is a greeting that acknowledges each other's holiness and offers respectful salutation for it.

Therefore, I think it can be said that putting hands together with a monk is a proper practice, and it is also a way to make each other more sacred.

So-called “sacred places” are not only places of tranquility, but I think that by “offering your sacred self” — in other words, the very act of visiting them as something sacred (place), will make that place more sacred.

Gassho
Kono Hidekaihaku

The origin of Buddhism is Buddha.
Many people think that Buddha is ❝ the person who opened Buddhism ❞, but strictly speaking, this is not the case.
Speaking of why it is different, Buddha was originally the first human race to take his own life and gain enlightenment rather than religion or Buddhism. I became a Buddha. They also taught teachings that would make everyone happy and calm.
It's just that people from later generations named the Buddha's teachings ❝❞ Buddha's teachings = Buddhism ❞.
“No matter who you are, if you treat yourself according to this teaching, you will always be happy.”
The method that was born within that group is Gassho.
It's also an act of respecting others and losing oneself.
“You too can gain enlightenment”
“You are irreplaceable and precious”
“I respect the precious humanity within you that allows you to become a wise person”
“Let's have a peaceful heart for each other”
“Let's be better for each other”
“Let's live a better life together”
“Let's awaken each other's Bodhicitta”
“Let's circle each other's Bodhi”
“Let's complete our mutual peace of mind”
“Let's respect each other as good friends (Katsutomo)”
・
・
・
I think it can be infinitely meaningful, but the origin is that the Buddha gained enlightenment and gained a state where he could be free from suffering and trouble, so it means that we also respect and respect that heart.
You too can become a wise person or Buddha.
Everyone has the power to be saved from trouble and suffering.
Therefore, I also share my sympathies with you.
Thank you very much for your question.

Namunamu-sama

This is Kawaguchi Hidetoshi. This is my humble answer to the question.

There was a commercial phrase called “Gasshou”... “Combine the wrinkles and wrinkles on your face, be happy, kiss!”, but you can think that “matching” actually has a big meaning.

Since ancient times, there have been strong ideas of Brahmin and Hinduism in India, and one of them is that the right hand is treated as a hand representing holiness and purity, and the left hand is treated as a hand representing secular, unclean, and affliction, and the meaning of “gassho,” the idea of Bonga Iskyō and Fuji Monism in Brahmin and Hinduism influenced Buddhism, and it is thought that gassho was also adopted in Buddhism.

I know that “Anger Is Bodhi” and “Life and Death Is Nirvana” can also be said to be a part of that. (*However, I have opinions that differ slightly from common opinions and myths about the way of thinking “suffering is immediate bodhi” and “life and death is nirvana.”)

By the way, there are twelve typical forms of gasshou [steady heart classhaw, unshiki lotus gassho, first split lotus gassho, shiki lotus gassho, kongo gassho (kimei gassho), inverted clasps, inverted clasps, horizontal pronged clasps, covered hands downwards, and covered hands clasps].

Among these, the gassho we usually do is a “steady state of mind.”

Actually, in Esoteric Buddhism, combining this right hand and left hand to reveal the secret truth or function of Nyorai's enlightenment is called a handprint (handprint), and gassho is one of them, and there are various forms.

As others have already answered, I believe that one of the things we hold hands with is that we salute the Three Treasures of the Buddha, Dharma, and a monk, and furthermore, it can be said that it is an expression of devotion aiming for enlightenment and nirvana. A steady heart can also be thought of as an expression of a steady Bodhi spirit to aim for enlightenment.

Also, I believe that putting hands together with a monk can be viewed as an object to be saluted who protects and practices Buddhism, or as something that can be treated out of respect as a thankful person who can lead lost and suffering sentient beings.

I would also like to “join hands” that all sentient beings may somehow reach nirvana.

Kawaguchi Hidetoshi Gassho