9
votes
Praying to God - What are the consequences?
How you should consider what do to depends on your situation. Have you converted to Buddhism? Do you believe in an all powerful God? If you haven't converted to Buddhism and still believe in a God and ...
- 7,376
8
votes
Accepted
Confession in Buddhism
This is a good question; if the monks can confess their "sins", why can't lay people?
On the one hand, monastic confession is a product of the rigidity of monastic practice, which requires some ...
- 23.9k
6
votes
Praying to God - What are the consequences?
Chogyam Trungpa spoke about theistic vs. non-theistic perspective:
For most people, God is a dualistic concept. Meaning, for a typical person the unspoken assumption is: "I am here and God is over ...
- 55.4k
6
votes
What is done with offerings after they've been on the altar awhile?
Once an offering is made to the Buddha, it becomes the property of the Buddha, the person who offers it no longer has the ownership. However, Buddha is no longer present to consume them, so the place ...
- 4,203
5
votes
Accepted
Should we bath after funeral?
Buddhists usually cremate the bodies. But there's no Buddhist funeral law. You may or may not bath before, after or during the funeral if you see any health benefit to it.
- 25.6k
5
votes
Is there a ritual free form of Buddhism?
Yes. The "original tradition" i.e. of the time of the Buddha himself, did not have a lot of the rituals and customs that are practised today.
There was some recitation of the Dhamma and Vinaya, but ...
- 34k
4
votes
Confession in Buddhism
The experience I have of confession within Buddhism is mostly within the context of a ritual. I practice with the Triratna Buddhist and in one of our more lengthy rituals we have a section on ...
- 20.9k
4
votes
Accepted
How death anniversaries take place by Buddhist rituals?
Sadhu, Nyom. What ever day, is a good day to show respect toward the ancestors, to give Alms to the Sangha to benefit them, to listen to the Dhamma by your self.
Don't forget, if it had not been done ...
3
votes
Ṛta, ritual and Buddhism
Clinging to rites and rituals
It is mis-belief in something miracle and shortcut. It is mis-belief in worshipping the creator or god can bring the worshipper's liberation/salvation. It is something ...
- 1,119
3
votes
What is done with offerings after they've been on the altar awhile?
It is also often given as gifts to volunteers or lay members of the temple who can/will use it. It is a gesture of kindness/compassion, as well as giving a blessing to that persons body in the form of ...
- 31
3
votes
Is there anything one can do to save the deceased from the consequences of their Kamma?
I like to make the following points (from a Theravada standpoint.):
Sañcetanika Sutta and Loṇa,phala Sutta deals with how Karma can be eradicated or results can be limited.
If you have done a large ...
3
votes
How does one do an "eye opening" for a new statue?
My answer refers to Tibetan Buddhism, I am not sure whether the same applies to other traditions.
Eye opening ritual is the final stage of a statue filling ritual. A newly bought statue is hollow ...
- 2,756
3
votes
Accepted
Food enchanted by spells (SN 7.8)
See pages 96-97 of Piya Tan's essay:
The Saṁyutta Commentary paraphrases the significance of the two verses, thus (as the Buddha’s
arrière pensée):
Though I have stood for such a long ...
- 43.4k
2
votes
How does one do an "eye opening" for a new statue?
In Thailand you can take to the Abbot in a temple. They will do a blessing and open the eye. I have one Buddha I took to the temple In Koh Phangan and the Abbot actually drew on the Buddhas eyes and ...
- 21
2
votes
Praying to God - What are the consequences?
An archetypal Christian prayer is this one, from the Garden of Gethsemane:
And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, ...
- 43.4k
2
votes
Accepted
Is ritual described in the Pali canon?
I do not know of a sutta where the Buddha suggested ritual. (There may be one; I just don't know of it.) But I do know of a sutta where the Buddha guided a follower to understand that ritual is ...
- 9,482
2
votes
Social context of Buddhist rituals
In a sense, this series of questions is probably too broad to be answered in this format. Given Buddhism's 2,558 year history, it's rich and varied traditions, and it's spread throughout Asia and much ...
- 9,482
2
votes
Accepted
Significance of Three Customs Involving String
Chanting and good thoughts of the monks (even any other being) generate positive vibes. The string is used as a better means of conducting the vibration than may be air. (If you attach a tin to the ...
2
votes
Accepted
Information on string ceremony
While the recital continues there will be found a pot of water placed
on a table before the monks. On this table there is also a sacred
thread (pirit nula). For an all night pirit ceremony the casket
...
- 25.6k
2
votes
Accepted
Ṛta, ritual and Buddhism
Sīlabbata-parāmāsa: Attachment to rites and rituals
I struggle with this one but I think the key word here is attachment. Coffee, tea, cell phones: at what level is the attachment? Being aware of ...
- 144
2
votes
Is there any ritual or ceremony for House-Warming?
Generally, we invite Sangha for a meal.
After the meal, they chant some blessings.
In Sri Lanka, we have overnight Pirith chanting in the new house.
- 5,568
2
votes
Should we bath after funeral?
Bath after funeral is proper, if bath make wholesome consciousness arise.
But bath after funeral is not proper, if bath make unwholesome consciousness arise.
- 5,887
2
votes
Online Funeral vs Actual Funeral (Buddhism)
Funeral rituals do not determine whether a dead person goes to heaven or hell.
Instead, their own karma determines their outcome.
The following sutta (SN 42.6) explains this.
Then Asibandhakaputta ...
- 34k
2
votes
Accepted
Baby Buddha Bathing
The Buddha himself discouraged focusing on his form and instead recommended to focus on the teachings (Dhamma).
Vakkali: “For a long time, venerable sir, I have wanted to come to see the
Blessed One, ...
- 34k
1
vote
What would be some Japanese Buddhist/Shinto routines or rituals that households will do?
This article about Buddhism in Japan mentions visiting temples, having an altar, saying grace, and greetings.
Some traditional Japanese arts have Buddhist influences or applications: including flower ...
- 43.4k
1
vote
Rituals in Buddhism
Are there any rituals in Buddhism?
Culturally there is. E.g. Kandy Esala Perahera. Even morality or even service or even generosity sometimes maybe in the form f a rite or ritual. There can be some ...
1
vote
Is there anything one can do to save the deceased from the consequences of their Kamma?
There is a sutta (can't find it now) documenting a case when someone asked Buddha about posthumous prayers helping a sinful person obtain better rebirth and his reply basically was that this was like ...
- 55.4k
1
vote
What does breaking the fetter 'Clinging to rites and rituals' actually mean?
The coarser or more general context:
It's about not being attached to symbolic rites and rituals or taking them to be literally true.
For e.g. from SN 7.21:
The Buddha said to Sangarava:
“Is it ...
- 34k
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