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What kind of benefit have you received from prostrations.
Jeffrey
Veteran
This topic is about hearing from people who enjoy prostrations. Maybe they can say something about it. In particular what frame of mind do they have towards it that they think helps them to have a nice feeling for them.
Don't post anything for or against the legitimacy of prostrations unless you are someone who enjoys them but at one time felt they were illegitimate and they had some change in attitude.
Again this is not the thread for telling why people should or shouldn't do them. It is a thread about how you like them, but not how you don't like them unless the nays are in measure and do not dominate. And only post nays if you can talk from your own experience from having experimented with them.
Again this thread is about personal experience with prostrations and not about whether we should or shouldn't do them or if the Buddha taught them.
Don't post anything for or against the legitimacy of prostrations unless you are someone who enjoys them but at one time felt they were illegitimate and they had some change in attitude.
Again this is not the thread for telling why people should or shouldn't do them. It is a thread about how you like them, but not how you don't like them unless the nays are in measure and do not dominate. And only post nays if you can talk from your own experience from having experimented with them.
Again this thread is about personal experience with prostrations and not about whether we should or shouldn't do them or if the Buddha taught them.
0
Comments
I do them now, and I enjoy them. I don't do 108 a day or anything. I do them before and after meditation, and sometimes I just feel like doing them all of a sudden when I walk by my alter.
The very first time I did them, actually, was when I took my Refuge Vows. i was really anxious about doing them, too, plus I had to do it in front of a group and my teacher! But he explained the significance of it and it made more sense.
It's no longer embarrassing or anxiety-inducing. It just is a nice beginning practice and ending practice to my meditation. It helps center me and prepare me. It reminds me to be humble, but does not make me feel below anyone/anything. I don't feel like I'm bowing down to something so much as I'm honoring myself, Buddha and everyone else. It reminds me very much about how we all bow in prayer pose to each other at the end of our Sangha meetings.
As for religious purposes, we would prostrate three times upon meeting and taking leave from a monk, after prayers, after offering gifts to a monk and whenever we show respect to Buddha's or any other holy beings' images. Prostration would be done three times in a row which signifies respect towards the Three Jewels, ie. the Buddha, the Dhamma and the Sangha.
For me, prostrations are a great way to show respect, faith, gratitude and to humble oneself towards the Buddha and his teachings. For each prostration I would silently recite a short prayer/mantra in Pali to recollect that each prostration is dedicated to one of the Three Jewels. Whenever I do prostrations at holy sites, in front of ancient Buddha images or monks whom I highly respect, then I usually get a noticeable calming effect on the mind.
I also remember distinctly when I first went to Bodh Gaya (place of enlightenment of the Buddha in India) on a Buddhist pilgrimage of the four holy sites and it was the first time I saw Tibetans engaged in repeated full prostrations, I felt it was so beautiful and it had a very uplifting effect on my mind to see what I believe to be their way of physically expressing deep respect and faith in the Buddha and his teachings. I guess it's similar to when I see people sitting in meditation or doing walking meditation, it uplifts the heart and I rejoice in their act of high merit.
I used to find it a little comical but was used to it from martial arts, so happy enough to do it.
As an actual meditational sadhana, it is excellent for depression, when doing in stints of 108. A full prostration is healthy exercise.
It is a bit like dance.
People gyrating, what is that?
Then you dance.
Then you get it.
Do it for a month.
It is a practice and for the physically or mentally jabbering, it stills the monkey . . .
I will do 108 today to prove even the clowns can slowly and gently and mindfully fit in some pre breakfast practice . . . can hardly wait . . .
:bowdown:
So, I love doing it. Before I first did them, I didn't have a negative attitude towards them, but thought it would not be beneficial. But it is, at least to me.
They are really comfy.
I do find it just gets my body in the mood for what I'm about
to do.....
Depending on how my health is at the time, some days are
super good....others, are me barely bending my head
over, let alone my back....and don't get me going on
the knees..... I just try to do something with my body that
connects the form to the mind.
At home I do twice a day...before my sitting meditation.
It is possible to do prostrations as a visualisation or from a chair.
I tend to start by placing my prayer hands behind my head and leaning back.
If in a chair, personally I would get up if in a group situation but I have seen people in wheelchairs do excellent prostrations . . . without tipping over.
There are also meditations done in full extended prone position. What we are really aiming for is a formal refuge, humbling and dedication.
To the Buddha for refuge I go
To the Dharma for refuge I go
To the Sangha for refuge I go
Find the good stuff. Do the good stuff.
Life improves. The Middle way is so simple.
Prostrations always strike me as something you can dedicate and also benefit from. Plus it is exercise. How wonderful.