Activity

?This can be a commonly asked question, which implies another question: Can it be required for lay Buddhists to set up an altar at home? If that’s the case, how as long as they get it done? The solution really depends upon the person situation. In the event the dwelling is small, or you live in a dormitory, share a place or perhaps a house with co-workers or classmates, it would not be useful to setup an altar. In these cases, should you worship regularly with a fixed time, you might convey a sutra that you would normally place a Buddha statue. In this case, there is no need burning incense or candles, or offer water or flowers. Both before and after worshipping, it might be appropriate to bow with joined palms, and prostrate to demonstrate respect and sincerity. If your roommates or housemates can also be Buddhists, it would definitely be fine to put together a common altar or even a worship room. If you are the only Buddhist, then you should not be so particular as to insist upon establishing an altar; as it can certainly court others’ resentment and dismay.

?If you are the only Buddhist inherited, it’s also necessary to follow similar guidelines just like you reside in a dormitory; otherwise, it might create discord in the household. Don’t let your Buddhist practice result in ill feelings and resentment toward Buddhism inside family. In the event the whole family believes in Buddhism, or perhaps you are head of the household, or both spouses practice, as there are space, it could be the top to put together an altar or possibly a worship room. When starting an altar in the living room, find the side in the room the location where the main furniture would normally be. There shouldn’t be any window behind the statue, as well as statue should face a door or window, there would be plenty sunlight, and altar is clearly in sight when folks enter in the door.

?The altar could be the heart of the home; it ought to produce a sense of stability and security. Are you aware that locations and directions suggested by geomancers, they could be utilized as reference for consideration; one should not be superstitious and feel constrained by them. It would be fine so long as the Buddha statue does not directly face the restroom, the stove, or a bed. In the event you create a worship room, pick a quiet quarter where children or pets don’t roam inside and outside easily. The area should not be any location for receiving guests, chatting or entertaining; it needs to be used simply for worshipping, chanting, and Chan practice, not for anything else. However, in case there are already non-Buddhist pictures, plaques, and statues employed for worshipping, such as Guangong, Matzu, earth gods and ancestors, we ought to not get rid of them straight away, just because we now practice Buddhism. They must be removed in depth, gradually.

?The initial step is always to put the Buddha statue during the altar, in the middle of statues in the non-Buddhist deities, and ancestors’ memorial plaques. You shouldn’t have to put together an incense burner and candle holders. The reason for this arrangement is simply because all benevolent deities and ancestors will protect, support, and be fascinated by the 3 Jewels. After the altar is to establish, they may also become disciples with the Three Jewels and enjoy the Dharma. Next time you move the altar or worship room, you may then remove those non-Buddhist deity statues and store them away as keepsakes. When it comes to ancestors’ plaques, they don’t must be placed or worshiped at home; they are often moved to the hall of rebirth in the temple or monastery. If someone insists on continuing to worship them in your house, they can be either put on the particular level beneath the Buddha’s statue. Or, they could be gone after another location onto a smaller altar and become worshiped separately.

?In larger temples, for example, you’ll find halls of rebirth specially for placing ancestors’ plaques. Smaller temples usually allow ancestors’ plaques and longevity plaques to become placed over the side walls in the main hall. In this manner, it not just expresses our prudent filial piety and reverence to ancestors, but also shows our sublime faith to the Buddha. In such a way, it distinguishes our sublime faith for the Buddha in the filial piety to our ancestors.

?In the home there’s applications multiple statues in the Buddha and bodhisattvas, as that might help to increase clutter. One statue from the Buddha can represent all buddhas, and one bodhisattva statue can represent all bodhisattvas. In addition to statue of Shakyamuni Buddha, most families pick one from among Guanyin Pusa (Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva), Amitabha Buddha, and the Medicine Buddha.

?When you have both Buddha and bodhisattva statues, then your Buddha statue ought to be used in the guts or with a advanced in the back of the altar, even though the bodhisattva statues they fit around the sides or at lower positions in front. Quite simply, the Buddha statue should stick out to demonstrate his revered prominence. How big the statue ought to be equal in porportion for the scale of the altar and worship room, less than big or not big enough. If the statue is small but made from one of several seven precious treasures (gold, silver, lapis lazuli, crystal, agate, ruby, carnelian), then a specially carved, multi-leveled shrine can be used to set off the statue’s unique grandeur.

?After having a new Buddha or bodhisattva image or statue, lots of people would hold an initiation (“opening light”) ceremony to consecrate it. However, from the Buddhist viewpoint, a real ceremony is not necessary. Buddha and bodhisattva images and statues are tools for practice. We make use of them as objects for reverence. Although buddhas and also the bodhisattvas are omnipresent, without statues and images, we won’t have a very focus to receive our prostrations, offerings, and respect. It’s through such reverential practices that we receive benefits of cultivation and responses from the buddhas and bodhisattvas. However the most important thing is our faith, sincerity, as well as a a feeling of respect, not the statues or images themselves. Therefore, an initiation ceremony for the images and statues is certainly not important.

?When Shakyamuni Buddha was still living, he attended the Heaven in the Thirty-three Devas for several months to provide sermons to his mother. His disciples missed him, so they really sculpted his image for worship; yet, there wasn’t any account of the initiation ceremonies. In subsequent generations, sutras, images, Buddhist articles, pagodas and also temples, became representations of Buddha’s presence and the continuing transformation on the planet. Nevertheless, solemn ceremonies often generate deep respect and faith in people. Gradually, many different types of rituals in connection with worship and offerings launched; the initiation ceremony was one too. Therefore, to this day, every time a temple installs a new Buddha statue, followers collect to have initiation ceremony. Such as a new firm opening for business, or even a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a new building, a ceremony is a strategy to come up with a solemn announcement to the public.

?However, when we setup Buddha and bodhisattva statues in your own home, there’s no need on an announcement, hence, you don’t need to hold an initiation ceremony. If you set up the statues with sincerity and respect, and earn daily offerings of incense, flowers, and fruits, keeping the offerings and altar fresh, clean, and tidy, you’ll have a sacred and holy atmosphere to induce the dedication of practitioners. To help keep the indoor air clean and fresh, the incense burned in your house needs to be of refined grade with delicate, light fragrance. When burning incense in the home, it’s best to burn just one stick at a time. Tend not to pollute air in the house with too much incense. Natural sandalwood and agarwood incense have quality; it is not best to use synthetic chemical or animal-based incense sticks.

?Inside the worship room of the modern home, candles may be replaced by bulbs. It’s important to wash the offering table, incense burner, candle holder often, and keep them dust free, and free of withering flowers and rotting fruits. Every day we have to set a certain time for you to conduct the practice, at the very least burning incense and offering water each day and evening. Prior to going and after coming back home, we have to prostrate to Buddha expressing our gratitude, respect, and remembrance.

More details about Vach Ngan Ban Tho Treo Tuong have a look at our new website