Puja question

odonata

Hi all,
I'm hoping to get some thoughts back on the question of Puja (hope I've spelled it ok?)
I went to my first puja last week and sort of enjoyed it, but was alarmed at how a group of sane, rational people full of great ideas about developing a still mind and the right attitudes to life; suddenly turned into seemingly unquestioning people, bowing and chanting.
While it was a beautiful ceremony to watch, I couldn't help but feel uncomfortable at the religious rites and rituals.
Can anyone tell me why this aspect of Buddhism is so important? As someone who has never been part of an organised religion, I can't understand this at all.

I don't mean to be disrespectful at all- just incredibly curious!

Frizzer

When I attended my retreat I was surprised by the amount of ritual that went on in the monastery. On the first day I stood back from it as it was all new to me, even though the sutras were all translated into English.
On the second day though I felt more comfortable with the whole thing and joined in. It was far more fulfilling actually taking part.

I guess that ritual is very important in Buddhism as it gives you the opportunity to put mindfulness into practice rather than when just sitting on your cushion. The joining in also created a sense of unity between the monastic and lay community. I quite liked the bowing side of it (even though it's hard on the knees!) as it's a means of showing respect for the teachings and also to each other.

These are obviously just my opinions based on the Soto tradition that I'm trying to follow. Ritual may play a far bigger role in other traditions but I'm afraid I don't know much about them !

zenmonk_genryu

Frizzer put it well. Buddhism engages the body and mind, emotions and intellect. Buddhism is after all a religion - a practice for the whole person, not just something that goes on up in our heads. As Daido Loori Roshi says,

"In ceremony there are forms and there are sounds, there is understanding and there is believing. In liturgy there is only intimacy. Liturgy is a constant reaffirmation of the experience of a group of people. Bodhidharma said that invocation is not about chanting words or sounds. You invoke with the mind. You do zazen with the mind. You do liturgy with the mind. Please don't take this practice lightly. Know that in every single aspect of it there are multiple levels of depth to be seen, appreciated, realized and actualized. It is only then that we give life to the Buddha."

—John Daido Loori, from Celebrating Everyday Life


These links may be of use:

Ritual and Form - James Ishmael Ford Roshi

Maezumi Roshi on Chanting

odonata

Thanks Zenmonk and Frizzer, it was interesting to read your thoughts on my question. I read through the links you gave me zenmonk and was really pleased to recognise that I have a "beginner's mind"!
I understand a little more about the value of chanting and bowing - about letting go of my solid, clingy 21st century mind and starting an adventure of "I don't know"; and bowing, chanting, simply being part of the sangha is all part of it.