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water offering
Hi,
I'm relatively new to Buddhist. I'm practicing Soto Zen.
Can anyone explain to me why a candle, flowers, incense and water are offered on a home altar?
I understand that when we bow to the Buddha image, we are actually bowing to the Buddha within ourselves. So, I assume we're not offering these items TO Siddharta Gautama as if he were a god, since he's not.
Do the items have a symbolic meaning that we're supposed to remember when offering them? How does one actually make the offering, ie. do we make bows before or after, is there a verse to be said at the time off the offering, etc.? I understand that sometimes food is also put on the altar. What is the purpose? I understand that the offerings differ among the different schools.
I'd appreciate any help ya'll can offer!
Chris
I'm relatively new to Buddhist. I'm practicing Soto Zen.
Can anyone explain to me why a candle, flowers, incense and water are offered on a home altar?
I understand that when we bow to the Buddha image, we are actually bowing to the Buddha within ourselves. So, I assume we're not offering these items TO Siddharta Gautama as if he were a god, since he's not.
Do the items have a symbolic meaning that we're supposed to remember when offering them? How does one actually make the offering, ie. do we make bows before or after, is there a verse to be said at the time off the offering, etc.? I understand that sometimes food is also put on the altar. What is the purpose? I understand that the offerings differ among the different schools.
I'd appreciate any help ya'll can offer!
Chris
0
Comments
Palzang
Lovely post, Palzang.
I like that - inviting Buddha into your home as a guest.
::
I have been searching the Web to find out HOW to offer the water, candle and incense, but haven't had luck finding such instructions. I don't know if I should do gassho before or after, or what kind of verse to say. Basically I know zip!
So, if anyone has any idea how to go about it, please do let me know!
Peace to all!
Chris
We use a little offering prayer, and no doubt there is a Zen one as well, but I think just a gassho before you offer the water is quite enough. You just do the best you can. The rest will come when it comes. The act of offering to the Buddha is itself extremely meritorious, so whether or not you mumble a prayer with it seems a bit irrelevant. It's the thought that counts!
Palzang
Thank you!
Chris
Hi Chris,
Over the years, having learned and practised lots of ritual and "rite words in rote order", private devotions have become far more flexible and variable than public or group practice.
What I have come to do is that I start by cleaning and tidying the place where I shall practise. Incense ash, untrimmed candle-wicks, faded flowers, whatever I put there last time I was there - it all needs preparation. I bow to the space and then prepare it, just as I would tidy up for a dear friend's visit. Each action gently focuses my mind on the job in hand, increases mindfulness.
I'm lucky because I am classed as ill and not employed so that I have plenty of time to prepare but when I travel, with a small folding 'altar', preparation can be quite short. It doesn't really matter: it fixes my intention.
Then, when it comes to the devotions themselves, I simply allow whatever arises from the 'stock' that I have accumulated: bows, mudras, prostrations, ritual words, whatever. I no longer imagine that there is some sort of magical formula, a spell or incantation which has to be got 'right'.
I see what you mean, and after Palzang's post, I've come to believe that things are much more flexible than I originally thought, as long as what I'm doing comes form the heart.
Right now I'm pretty much doing as you have written. And as preperation for meditation, I'm doing exactly what we do at our Zen sangha each week, that is: chant the Great Prajna Paramita Heart Sutra, then Enmei Jukku Kannon Gyo, and after meditation either the verse of the Kesa (after dawn zazen) or the Four Vows (after evening zazen). I think in the future I would like to get a decent bell and mokugyo to enhance the practice.
The above is working well, I think, and in line with Zen practice.
Chris
(I'm sorry...is it just me, or does anyone else see 'Bran-Rain.'....?):crazy:
It's nice to meet you! Lovely thread.
Great to have you aboard, with us!
Thanks for the welcome!
Gee, I never saw it as Bran-Rain, but now that you mention it . . . !
Happy Holidays to all!
Chris