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Buddhist Rituals
In reading Simon's post to Brigid about how he lit candles and incense, offered tobacco and flowers for her, it got me thinking....I would love to know more about some Buddhist Rituals like that. Are there such things, or is this just something Simon does? Does everyone do something different? I would love to have my own little "ritual" but I am not really sure what to do.
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I also have a few others that I have just started doing.
I'm sure others could much more helpful on this than myself.
I'm sure in the ritual you were talking about, he also involved Odysseus, Cu Chulain and Godzilla.
He's such an odd duck - but he's all ours
-bf
Indeed, I do construct my own liturgies and rituals. I have been writing 'services' for more than half my life. I used to know the Rituale Romanum by heart!
These days, I use a much simpler approach, a sort of 'skeleton' of ritual. Which does not mean that I avoid great liturgies: I sometimes attend Choral Evensong at our cathedral and attended (to me incomprehensible) rites at the [SIZE=-1]Tsuglag Khang.
[/SIZE][SIZE=-1]Interesting that you mention Odysseus, BF, and synchronous: I am rereading Book XI and reflecting on what Jung calls the 'second journey' and Helen Luke writes so well about in "Old Age". So, perhaps, I do 'invoke' the shade of the wily old fox of Ithaca.
As for the Hound of Ulster, Ireland is a constant wound in my awareness.
Godzilla, in the original, fascinates me but i had never thought to invoke the spirit of such a terrifying and pathetic archetype.
An 'odd duck'? No, no, I am the only one in step.
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Me likey the Hound of Ulster.
You mean, "ducks in a row?" - I'm right there behind you
-bf
Is that where my Godzilla statue went? I sure miss it!
Here is an offering prayer that we use when making offerings as well as an explanation of the different offerings we place on our altars. If you wanted to make these offerings, you can use either just bowls of water to represent them or the actual substances.
HUNG YAN LAG GYED DAN DUDTSI DZING BU DI
HUNG Offering a lake of nectar possessing the eight qualities of pure water
CHOM DAN KHOR DANG CHE LA BUL WAR GYI
To all the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas,
ZHE NE DAG DANG SEMCHEN THAMCHED KYI
By acceptance of the offering, may I and all sentient beings
TSHOG DZOG DRIB TAG KHORWA TONG TRUG SHOG
Accumulate merit and wisdom, purify obstacles and liberate all beings.
OM SARWA TATHAGATA SAPARIWARA ARGHAM PRATITSA PUDZA MEGHA SAMUDRA SAPARANA SAMAYA AH HUNG
One night in a dream a white dakini appeared to Dudjom Lingpa. She said that she was Sukha Siddhi and proceeded to recite the above offering stanzas for the sake of all sentient beings. She said that this wishing prayer included everything. This vision arose in the dream of Dudjom Lingpa after a prayer for water offering was requested of him by Lama Tsultrim Dorje. It was recorded by Dudjom Lingpa’s secretary, Phuntsog Tashi.
The stanzas and mantra are recited thoughout the water offering ceremony.
The water is poured into the bowls from left to right. If the offering is poured correctly, obscurations are dispelled and benefit is obtained. If the water is poured incorrectly, obscurations may increase. It should be poured carefully and steadily, with an even flow, not with irregular movement. The bowls should be in a straight line, close but not touching. The bowls should be filled but not to the point of overflowing.
Water is a modest offering, neither the cheapest nor the richest.
The bowls of water, from left to right, have the following representations:
1) Argham (Chod yon): pure stream water gathered from all the universe, offered to the Three Jewels. The purity of the water has eight qualities: crystal clarity, coolness, sweetness, lightness, softness, freedom from impurities, soothing to the stomach, and makes the throat clear and free.
2) Padyam (Shab sil): water for cleaning an object of refuge, as water offered for a Lama to clean himself.
3) Pushpe (Me tog): represents all the offering flowers in the universe, including medicine flowers, fruits and grains.
4) Dhupe (Dug po): represents burning all appropriate incense for the whole universe.
5) Aloke (Mar me): water representing an offering of all natural lights (sun, moon, stars) and all man-made lamps, to dispel all darkness of the mind.
6) Gendhe (Dri chab): water representing perfume, pleasant to smell and drink and put on the body.
7) Nevide (Shalse): water representing food offered to the Three Jewels.
The seven water bowls are traditionally set foremost on the shrine, with candles or lamps, two or more, just behind them.
The offering stanzas and mantra are said only when opening the shrine in the morning. When the shrine is closed in the evening, no prayer, mantra or anything special is said. The water bowls are simply emptied, wiped dry and overturned.
Palzang
I'm not sure who Helen Luke is, but I love the Homer! Interesting that, after all the travels and adventures, it's the return to 'home' and married life that is the departure for another round of adventure/s.
Cicero also articulates wisdom about ageing:
http://www.bartleby.com/9/2/
I'm not fond of this particular translation, but still quite useful.
Peace
Did you get married? I forget what the date was at the moment.
Very good to see you, friend!
Be well.
Brigid
No... I don't know where your Godzilla "statue" went.
Simon said he saw it next to your:
GI Joe "statue"
Mr Potato Head "statue"
Ken "statue"
Malibu Barbie "statue"
and your Cabbage Patch "statue"
He just didn't have to heart to mess up all your "statues"...
-bf
http://www.kpc-sedona.org/index.html
Hey, Brigid and all. My partner and I did tie the knot. Yes, I'm sort of 'back'--I'm helping put on a workshop that keeps me jumping for the next few days. I've been able to steal onto the site and poke around a bit. My trothed put some pics on the web, if you'd like to see them: http://www.flickr.com/photos/solstice_wedding/. It was a grand event. I wish you all could have poked your heads in!
More from me later!
Peace,
Palzang
We plan on doing a lot more soon, including live teachings and recorded teachings you can listen to.
Palzang
Quest, beautiful photos! You and your wife looked gorgeous and her dress was KILLER! The flowers were stunning, hot pink gerberas in the centerpieces, fabulous, and her calla lillies were perfect for her dress. I especially love the photo of you and her standing on your chairs kissing. I'm so happy for both of you! Congratulations and I wish you both great peace and joy throughout your lives.
As far as rituals, I have few and even they are pretty much hand-picked. I have what I think is a beautiful, suitable home altar before which I meditate and pray. It is Soto Zen which I feel the strongest attraction but my altar is probably NOT the norm for a Zen practitioner. I have a 13" Buddha with two antique and ornate brass vases from Japan filled with simple arrangements of "atrificial" flowers. Before the vases on either side is a small framed photo of each of the two Tibetan Refugee Monks I sponsor in India and directly before Buddha is a small Tibetan copper and brass offering bowl that I use for incense. The incense I use is called Nag Champa and smells soothing despite being a cheap version sold in pkg's of 20 sticks for 88 cents at....dare I utter the name of Wal-mart?
I simply place my hands together and bow deeply & slowly once and take a seat at my Japanese wooden bench (I have severe neuropathy in my feet and legs that prevents me from sitting on the floor). I light a few sticks of incense and begin to meditate, sometimes guided by a CD by S.N. Goenka, sometimes silently. Thats about it for ritual in my daily practice.
Your alter really does sound just beautiful................