The Nenju or O-nenju is a circular set of beads worn/carried on the left hand. The length of the O-nenju might be small (worn like a bracelet around the wrist) or larger and carried in the left hand.  In Buddhism, these beads represent our negative and selfish thoughts and feelings that motivate us in ways that hurt ourselves and others.   A full-sized bead chain has 108 beads, but at our Jodo Shinshu temples most people wear or carry a much smaller O-nenju. During certain parts of our temple services, people place the palms of their right and left hands together (in a gesture called “gassho” which literally means “palms together”) with the o-nenju around both hands while bowing.  Carrying/wearing the beads on the left hand is a reminder that we are incomplete/imperfect—that no matter how hard we try, as humans, we will experience the “3 poisons” of greed, anger, and ignorance.  And putting our left and right hands together, surrounded by the circle of beads, re...