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Place of reflection

ska-buddhiska-buddhi
edited June 2005 in Buddhism Basics
I have this spot in my room where i meditate, light incense, concentrate on an image of the Dalai Lama (so that i can remind myself of all the righteous and compassionate things that he's done and is doing) and a couple of small statuettes of the Buddha. But I feel as though there's something missing from my "altar". Can anyone suggest something, like chants or rituals that they use, or have maybe heard of? I feel kind of lost here...not sure what im really supposed to include in or at my altar...

Comments

  • BrianBrian Detroit, MI Moderator
    edited June 2005
    A chant that I recite is:

    Namo Tassa Bhagavato Arahato Sammasambuddhasa

    Roughly translated:

    Honor to the blessed one, the worthy one, the fully enlightened one.
  • SimonthepilgrimSimonthepilgrim Veteran
    edited June 2005
    I really don't know what ought to be in a personal shrine.

    My own 'prayer table' changes almost daily. Part of my preparation is to clean and 'lay' the table. Mindfully choosing among all the various items I have collected over the years and placing them together in a special place brings a sense of ceremony to the time.

    Today, for example, I have an old, chipped staue of the Buddha Shakyamuni, a small Christian diptych (present from HHDL) and a statuette of the Great Mother made by one of my late wife's friends. Behind them, is a thangka of Avalokiteshvara. I went out and found a white rose, which I have placed in front of the three objects. Today, the air is sweet so that I did not light incense nor candles because the sun is a blessing. Having cleaned and prepared the space, I can step into it, barefott and reverent, as if it were the finest temple in all the millions of worlds.
  • BrianBrian Detroit, MI Moderator
    edited June 2005
    Simonthepilgrim wrote:
    the finest temple in all the millions of worlds.

    And it is :D
  • YogaMamaYogaMama
    edited June 2005
    I am very new to meditation, but I have read that some people also put up pictures of family members and other things that they are grateful for. I have not made my "altar" yet, but am working on it!
  • comicallyinsanecomicallyinsane Veteran
    edited June 2005
    I meditate alittle throughout the day but my real focused deep meditation is at work. I taje a chair and put it next the table I do my prep on everynight. I sit down and I meditate with all the noise of everyone working and all th ephones and humming of the frezzers and the oven and I just block it all out. I do this at work because my job is the main suffering in my life. I beleive that I am my own altar. After I am done meditating I can clock in and start focusing on my night at work.
  • federicafederica Seeker of the clear blue sky... Its better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to speak out and remove all doubt Moderator
    edited June 2005
    comicallyinsane wrote:
    I beleive that I am my own altar.


    Comic, you've done it again.... come up with those few words tht put it all into perspective.... very insightful of you.....deep bow 'ghasso' to you..... :)
  • comicallyinsanecomicallyinsane Veteran
    edited June 2005
    <Bows back /a> the little "/a" is my Kung Fu bow. The treasure in the hand. I have never read any kind of book on Buddhism. I kind of believe that if we read what others have thought of it taints out perceptions and out own thoughts. Not that I won't ever read what others have done or thought. I am just not ready yet. I read what others say here and I think that is enough mixture into my own ideas. But a philosophy teacher friend of mine in Cyprus told me that it doesn't matter where the idea came from. The idea is what matters. I thank everyone for their help. There's my acceptance speech. LOL
  • ska-buddhiska-buddhi
    edited June 2005
    All are beautiful responses...I believe maybe i could make several altars...like MYSELF...my own meditation place in my room...some other important place...thank you all for getting my mental juices flowing!!!
  • comicallyinsanecomicallyinsane Veteran
    edited June 2005
    Just don't spill the juices. :)
  • ska-buddhiska-buddhi
    edited June 2005
    lol...ill try not to!
  • YogaMamaYogaMama
    edited June 2005
    federica wrote:
    Comic, you've done it again.... come up with those few words tht put it all into perspective.... very insightful of you.....deep bow 'ghasso' to you..... :)

    I have seen the word "ghasso" on here a few times. What does that mean exactly? :confused: Gosh, I am so new with SO many questions, aren't I??
  • BrianBrian Detroit, MI Moderator
    edited June 2005
    don't worry, I don't know what it means either :p
  • YogaMamaYogaMama
    edited June 2005
    AHA! I found this on the internet:

    "Ghasso is a Japanese Buddhist term for the act of putting the palms of your hands together in a sign of respect and gratitude. "
  • emmakemmak Veteran
    edited June 2005
    Comic you amaze me. You rock. Truly.
  • comicallyinsanecomicallyinsane Veteran
    edited June 2005
    Well thank you. :D :bowdown:
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