common buddhist rituals and chanting. rituals and chanting rituals : prostrations offerings of...

Common Buddhist Rituals and Chanting

Rituals and Chanting

Rituals : • Prostrations

• Offerings of various items

• Sharing of Merits

• Circumambulation

• Sacred Threads

• Kathina Robe Offerings

• Hungry Ghost Festival

• Offerings

• Sacred Threads

Chanting : • Homage to the Buddha

• Taking Refuge

• The Five Precepts

• Recollection of the qualities of the Triple Gem (the Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha)

• Taking Refuge

Rituals, chanting, prayers, petitions and worship are usually not considered part of the Noble Eightfold Path as taught by the Buddha.

• Why do Buddhists resort to these practices?

• Should Buddhists continue with these practices?

The Noble Eightfold Path

Right SpeechMorality - SilaRight Action

Right Livelihood

Right EffortMental Development - SamadhiRight Mindfulness

Right Concentration

Right Understanding Wisdom - PannaRight Thought

Right Livelihood

Right Concentration

Right Livelihood

Right Concentration

Right Livelihood

Right Concentration

Rituals

Prostrations :

Made towards a statue which represents the memory of the Buddha, to show our respect and gratitude for his compassion and teachings.

Prostrations are also made to cultivate humility and lessen our conceit.

Knowledgeable Buddhists do not pray to, worship or ask favours from these statues.

Rituals

Prostrations :

Rituals

Prostrations :

Rituals

Prostrations :

Rituals

Prostrations :

This is usually the first thing that a Buddhist does when he goes to a temple. Three prostrations are made - to the Buddha, the Dhamma and the Sangha.

Theravada Buddhists make a five point prostration. Tibetan Buddhists make a full body prostration, which can be a practice by itself when done in large numbers.

Rituals

Prostrations :

This is usually the first thing that a Buddhist does when he goes to a temple. Three prostrations are made - to the Buddha, the Dhamma and the Sangha.

Theravada Buddhists make a five point prostration. Tibetan Buddhists make a full body prostration, which can be a practice by itself when done in large numbers.

Rituals

Offerings of various items :

Candles - the Dhamma dispelling the darkness of our ignorance and delusion.

Incense - the fragrance of the Dhamma pervading the world.

Flowers - the impermanence of our bodies.

Water - to purify our minds.

Fruits - we are subject to our own kamma.

Rituals

Sharing of Merits :

To share the positive kamma that we have accumulated with our departed relatives and all other beings for their happiness.

Water (our merits) from a pitcher is slowly poured into a small cup (our departed relatives) which is in a larger bowl. The water overflows signifying our generosity.

Rituals

Sharing of Merits :

Rituals

Sharing of Merits :

Rituals

Circumambulation :

Walking around an object of veneration such as a stupa, Bodhi tree or Buddha statue. Usually done at least three times in a clockwise direction.

This should be done mindfully while contemplating the object of veneration and its meaning and significance. Otherwise it is a meaningless practice.

Rituals

Circumambulation :

Rituals

Circumambulation :

Rituals

Sacred Threads :

A ball of coloured thread (usually orange or white) is unravelled during special ceremonies and held at the fingertips of the monks, and sometimes the devotees also.

It is believed that the chanting will imbue the thread (sometimes connected to bottles of water) with blessings and good luck. It is later cut into small pieces and tied around the wrist.

Rituals

Sacred Threads :

Rituals

Sacred Threads :

Rituals

Kathina Robe Offerings :

This stems from a rule made by the Buddha that monks have to spend 3 months in a year staying in one place, during the rainy season in India.

This is called “Vassa” and the Kathina festival celebrates the end of this period. It is usually held in the new moon day of October where the laity present gifts to the monks, especially robes, in gratitude.

Rituals

Hungry Ghost Festival :

This is celebrated during the 7th month of the lunar calendar when it believed that the gates of hell are open for the spirits of the deceased to visit the land of the living.

Prayers, food, ‘hell money’ and even paper houses and cars are offered to the spirits of dead relatives to ease their suffering in hell. Concerts are even staged for the spirits, with empty seats reserved for them.

Rituals

Both Buddhists and Taoists claim to have originated this festival but it is likely that this is rooted in traditional Chinese folk religion and culture and ancestor worship.

In Buddhism, it is called Ullambana taken from a Mahayana Sutra of the same name, written several hundred after the Buddha’s passing. It is observed primarily by Mahayana and Tibetan Buddhists.

Rituals

Both Buddhists and Taoists claim to have originated this festival but it is likely that this is rooted in traditional Chinese folk religion and culture and ancestor worship.

In Buddhism, it is called Ullambana taken from a Mahayana Sutra of the same name, written several hundred after the Buddha’s passing. It is observed primarily by Mahayana and Tibetan Buddhists.

Rituals

The Ullambana Sutra describes the experiences of one of the Buddha’s chief disciples called Maudgalyāyana (Sanskrit) or Moggallana (Pali) or Mu Lian (Chinese).

He discovered that his mother had been reborn as a Hungry Ghost due to her misdeeds. The Buddha instructed him to offer food and robes to the monks and dedicate the merits to his mother.

Rituals

The Ullambana Sutra describes the experiences of one of the Buddha’s chief disciples called Maudgalyāyana (Sanskrit) or Moggallana (Pali) or Mu Lian (Chinese).

He discovered that his mother had been reborn as a Hungry Ghost due to her misdeeds. The Buddha instructed him to offer food and robes to the monks and dedicate the merits to his mother.

• Taking Refuge

Chanting

Homage to the Buddha :Namo tassa, bhagavato, arahato, samma-sambudhassa.

Honour To Him, The Blessed One,The Worthy One, The Fully Enlightened One.

Chanting

Homage to the Buddha :

To express our respect and gratitude to the Buddha for his compassion and teachings.

Chanting

Homage to the Buddha :

To express our respect and gratitude to the Buddha for his compassion and teachings.

Chanting

Taking Refuge :

To reaffirm our commitment as Buddhists and maintain our kammic link with the Triple Gem for all of our future lives.

Chanting

Taking Refuge :

To reaffirm our commitment as Buddhists and maintain our kammic link with the Triple Gem for all of our future lives.

Chanting

Taking Refuge :Buddham Saranam Gacchami. To the Buddha for Refuge I go.

Dhammam Saranam Gacchami. To the Dhamma for Refuge I go.

Sangham Saranam Gacchami. To the Sangha for Refuge I go.

Chanting

Taking Refuge :Dutiyampi Buddham Saranam Gacchami. For the second time to the Buddha for Refuge I go.

Dutiyampi Dhammam Saranam Gacchami. For the second time to the Dhamma for Refuge I go.

Dutiyampi Sangham Saranam Gacchami. For the second time to the Sangha for Refuge I go.

Chanting

Taking Refuge :Tatiyampi Buddham Saranam Gacchami. For the third time to the Buddha for Refuge I go.

Tatiyampi Dhammam Saranam Gacchami. For the third time to the Dhamma for Refuge I go.

Tatiyampi Sangham Saranam Gacchami. For the third time to the Sangha for Refuge I go.

Chanting

The Five Precepts / Panca Sila :

To remind ourselves of these training rules and our commitment to try our best to observe them.

Chanting

The Five Precepts / Panca Sila :

To remind ourselves of these training rules and our commitment to try our best to observe them.

Chanting

The Five Precepts / Panca Sila :Panatipata veramami sikkhapadam samadiyami. I undertake the training rule to abstain from taking life.

Adinnadana veramami sikkhapadam samadiyami.I undertake the training rule to abstain from taking what is not given.

Kamesu micchacara veramami sikkhapadam samadiyami. I undertake the training rule to abstain from sexual misconduct.

Chanting

The Five Precepts / Panca Sila :Musavada veramami sikkhapadam samadiyami. I undertake the training rule to abstain from false speech.

Sura-meraya-majja-pamadathana veramami sikkhapadam samadiyami.I undertake the training rule to abstain from intoxicants and drugs that causes heedlessness.

Chanting

Recollection of the Qualities of the Triple Gem :

To recollect, contemplate and remind ourselves of the qualities of the Buddha, the Dhamma and the Sangha.

Chanting

To recollect, contemplate and remind ourselves of the qualities of the Buddha, the Dhamma and the Sangha.

Chanting

The Buddha The Blessed One is an Arahant, perfectly enlightened, accomplished in true knowledge and conduct, fortunate, knower of the world, unsurpassed leader of persons to be tamed, teacher of devas and humans, the Enlightened One, the Blessed One.

Chanting

The DhammaThe Dhamma is well expounded by the Blessed One, can be directly experienced, with immediate results, to be approached to be seen, capable of being attained, to be comprehended by the wise for himself.

Chanting

The SanghaThe Sangha of the Blessed One's disciples is good, upright, wise and dutiful. That is, the four pairs of persons, the eight types of individuals. This Sangha is worthy of gifts, hospitality, offerings, reverence, and is the unsurpassed field of merit for the world.

Why do Buddhists resort to these practices?

• Respect and humility• Remind and recollect• Reinforce good habits• Psychological support • Exercise generosity• Therapeutic effects• Prelude to other practices• Social activity

• Ignorance• Wrong views• Attachment to tradition• Excessive faith and devotion• Over dependence • Easy way out • Greed and desire • Hatred and aversion

These practices may be done in ignorance or for the other wrong reasons.

However, these may be ‘stepping stones’ for people who are not knowledgeable, or who are not ready to commence on the proper practice of Buddhism.

Thus, we should always be mindful of our own reasons for doing these practices.

Should Buddhists continue with these practices?

No - if it hinders our progress.

Yes - if it assists our progress.

No - if it increases our greed, hatred and delusion.

Yes - if it increases our generosity, compassion and wisdom.

Prepared by T Y Lee

www.justbegood.net

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