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Buddhism
Buddhism is a tradition that focuses on personal spiritual development. Buddhists strive for a deep insight into the true nature of life such as Ahinsa, Karma, and Dharma.
5,024 Questions
What is on the altar of Buddhist people?
How to setup an Altar or Shrine
by Ven. Tenzin Yignyen of Namgyal Monastery Why Have an AltarA proper alter holds images or representations of the Buddha's enlightened body, speech and mind which serves as reminders of the goal of Buddhist practice -- to develop these qualities in oneself so as to be able to fully benefit all sentient beings. The reason for setting up an altar is not for fame, for showing off wealth, or to increase pride, but rather it is to reduce one's mental afflictions and to seek the ability to help all sentient beings.Where to Place the AltarThe best place for an altar is in a separate shrine room, but if you live in a small place and cannot set aside a separate room for worship, any room can be used. The size of the altar is not important, but it should be in a clean and respectful place, higher than the level of your head as you sit facing it. If it is in your bedroom, the altar should be placed near the head of your bed, never at the foot, and it should be higher than the bed. The altar should be either on a separate shelf or on a table set aside for this purpose that does not double as a coffee table or night stand. The Objects and What They RepresentA proper Buddhist altar holds symbols of enlightened body, speech and mind, traditionally represented by displaying a statue or picture of Buddha Shakyamuni, a scripture, and a stoup. At the very least, the altar should hold an image of Buddha Shakyamuni, the founder and source of the teachings in our time.Regarding the placement of the images, it is important that Shakyamuni Buddha be the central figure. Other images are not requisite, but if you have them place them around the central figure in this order: root lamas, Yidams (highest yoga tantra deities, yoga tantra deities, performance tantra deities, then action tantra deities), dakinis, and finally protector deities. The order of the arrangement is never by the quality of the material or the artistry. Often it is better to have only a few images, as too many can be distracting.The scripture representing the speech of the Buddha does not need to be written in Tibetan or Sanskrit, but can be in any language. It can be the Heart Sutra if you wish to represent all the teachings of the Buddha, or it can be a special scripture related to your practice. If the altar consists of three or more levels, the scripture should be placed highest on the altar, above the Buddha statue. If the altar is on one level, the order should be, from left to right: scripture, Buddha, stupa.The mind of the Buddha is traditionally represented by a stupa of enlightenment, but you need not go out and buy a costly silver or gold one. A photograph or a clay model is perfectly acceptable. The stupa should be placed to the right of the Buddha image, or below the Buddha if the altar consists of several levels.The objects on the altar also represent the Three Jewels of Refuge. If there is only a statue of Buddha Shakyamuni, think that it represents all Three Jewels. If there is also a scripture and a stupa, think that the stupa represents the Buddha Jewel, the scripture represents the Dharma Jewel, and the image of the Buddha represents the Sangha Jewel.It is important to keep in mind that the objects on the altar serve as a means for directing one's mind to the Buddha and the Buddha's enlightened qualities, which one aspires to emulate for others' benefit. In maintaining an altar one is trying to cultivate the qualities of the Buddha -- his enlightened body, his enlightened speech and his enlightened mind.By remembering these qualities and aspiring to develop them, one reduces the negative qualities of attachment, hatred and ignorance, and increases positive qualities like faith, respect, devotion and rejoicing.Making OfferingsMaking Offerings There is no limitation to what can be offered, and there are many levels of offering. In general, one can offer any pleasing object, particularly objects pleasing to the five senses -- form, sound, smell, taste, and touch.In the Tibetan Buddhist tradition it is customary to offer seven bowls of water which represent the seven limbs of prayer -- prostrating, offering, confession, rejoicing in the good qualities of oneself and others, requesting the Buddhas to remain in this world, beseeching them to teach others, and dedicating the merits.Flowers, candles or butterlamps, and incense are also commonly offered. It is customary to offer a part of every meal on the altar before eating and a portion of tea before drinking. The things that should be offered should be clean, new and pleasing. Good should be of only the best part, fresh, and clean -- never old, leftover, or spoiled food.It is best to offer things that you already have or can obtain without difficulty. Don't think that you have to deceive others in order to get offering materials -- they should not come from stealing, cheating or hurting others in any way. Rather, they should be honestly obtained. In fact, it is better not to offer things that were obtained in even a slightly negative way.As you make offerings, think that what you are offering is in nature your own good qualities and your practice, although it appears in the form of external offering objects. These external offerings should not be imagined as limited to the actual objects on the altar, but should be seen as vast in number, as extensive as space.Offer food with the wish that all beings be relieved of hunger, and offer water with the wish that all beings be relieved of thirst.It is important to think that the deities accept the offerings, enjoy them and are pleased. Think that by making these offerings all beings are purified of their negative qualities and their thirst for knowledge of the ultimate nature of reality is satisfied.The purpose of making offerings is to accumulate merit and in particular to develop and increase the mind of generosity and to reduce stinginess and miserliness. By making offerings you also create the causes for the future results of becoming wealthy and becoming naturally and spontaneously generous.Placing the Offerings on the Altar If you have the space, place the offerings a little lower than the objects of refuge on your altar. When you awaken in the morning, it is customary to wash at least your face before approaching the altar to offer prostrations and then offerings -- this is a sign of respect for the objects represented there. One is making offerings as if one is accepting a dignitary or a great being into one's home, and it is important to be gracious and respectful.To offer water on your altar, you should have a minimum of seven bowls. Start with fresh water every day. The bowls should be clean. Pour a little water into each bowl before placing it on the altar. Place the bowls in a straight line, close together but not touching. The distance between the bowls is traditionally measured by the width of a grain of wheat. The bowls should then be filled up to the space of a grain's width from the top -- neither too little nor too much. Pour water like the shape of a wheat grain -- in a thin stream at first, then gradually more, then tapering off at the end.Try not to breathe on the offerings. If you have a butter lamp, you can place it on your altar between the third and fourth water bowls. Lamps or candles symbolize wisdom, eliminating the darkness of ignorance. In Tibetan monasteries hundreds of lamps are lit as offerings. There is really no limit to the quantity of either water bowls or lamps. Blessing The OfferingsAfter pouring the water, lighting the candles and offering incense, bless the offerings by dipping a piece of kusha grass (or a tree twig) into the water, reciting three times Om AH Hum (the seed syllables of the Buddha's body, speech, and mind), and then sprinkling the offerings with water. Visualize that the offerings are blessed.DedicationWhether external offerings become pure or not, or whether they become a cause for good rebirth in the next life, a cause to achieve liberation, or a cause to achieve enlightenment to benefit all beings depends on one's motivation and dedication. Dedication is crucial.It will not exhaust or limit one's store of merit but will multiply and increase it. It is excellent to dedicate the merit of making offerings to the elimination of suffering and its causes from all beings, to their achievement of lasting happiness, and to world peace. Removing the OfferingsAt the end of the day, before or at sunset, empty the bowls one by one, dry them with a clean cloth and stack them upside down or put them away. Never leave empty bowls right side up on the altar. The water is not simply thrown away but offered to the plants in your house or in the garden. Food and flowers should also be put in a clean place outside where birds and animals can eat them. Bowls of fruit can be left on the altar for a few days and can then be eaten when they come down -- there is no need to put them outside. Hope this helped - www.myspace.com/tavonjlewis
What does sudhodana give the prince and princess?
Prince Siddhartha, also known as Gautama Buddha spent a lot of his childhood time surrounded by the wealth of his father at several palaces. He was mostly raised by his mother's younger sister, Maha Pajapati. He started to develop some ideas too.
What is the nature of man in Buddhism?
According to Buddhism, it is the nature of man to misinterpret everything around him and then to mindlessly act on his misinterpretations. He has knowledge, but not understanding. He has accomplished what some consider great things, but does take time to reflect or to know his own mind. Buddhists say he can become enlightened if he so chooses.
What does Buddhism teach for all beings?
The teachings of Buddhism, known as the buddha dharma, are intended for the benefit of all sentient beings. However, only human beings are able to hear, understand, and practice the teachings. Buddhism teaches us to have compassion for all beings, especially those beings who are unable to receive the dharma, for example because of the limitation of their intelligence, such as animals. By dedicating the merit of their positive deeds to the benefit of all beings, Buddhists help those beings to be reborn into human form, where they will be able to strive for enlightenment. When we realize that in the course of countless incarnations, all beings have been our mother at one time or another, and tenderly cared for us so that we might have life, the natural response is love and compassion for those beings. Love is the wish that they be happy, and compassion is the wish to relieve their suffering. The ideal of Mahayana Buddhism is to devote one's life to serving all beings so that they might attain the goal of life, which is complete enlightenment and release from samsara, the ceaseless wheel of birth and death in illusion.
Buddhism means enlightenment so it is a natural course of mental/spiritual/emotional evolving, individually and collectively. That process exists irregardless of what humans name it. It exists in all intellectual life, and with quantum physics, possibly else where's too. The core of the many faceted diamond, so to speak. The population growth will reach not much further than mother earth can nurture it. Some countries already have population control measures, most just wing it until the wheels fall off.
The greatest kushan leader who got converted to Buddhism was?
Kanishka. He ruled the Kushan Empire from around 127 to 151 CE and is known for his patronage of Buddhism. Kanishka is credited with convening the Fourth Buddhist Council, which was an important event in the development and spread of Buddhism.
According to Trijang Rinpoche: "Dorje Shugden always helps, guides and protects pure and faithful practitioners by granting blessings, increasing their wisdom, fulfilling their wishes, and bestowing success on all their virtuous activities." According to some sources, Dorje Shugden is said to be the successor of Nechung (Pehar) as the Head of the wrathful forces protecting Buddhism against evil. This make Dorje Shugden a particularity important deity in the Tibetan pantheon
What is the geographical area for Buddhism?
Buddhism started in northern India and spread out to the countries of south east Asia Nepal and Tibet as well as the Far east adapting their teachings to the needs of the pupils that joined them and it wasnt until the nineteenth century that the western scholars began to show an interest in the scriptures of the Buddhist and then not until the later half of the twentieth century that westerners saw Buddhism as a religion before taking off the world over which is where it remains today known as the religion of inner peace and happiness and accessible to people of every class world wide it is often said to be the worlds religion because there are no restrictions or conditions to meet to become a Buddhist.
What history and development did Buddhism have?
In the year 534 BCE, a young Indian prince named Siddhartha Gautama (age 29) was deeply troubled about the fact that so many people suffer. So he left his wife and child and renounced his throne to find out the answer to why there was suffering. Now it should be noted when Buddhists speak of suffering this includes dissatisfaction (unhappiness) with the way things are. Siddhartha went to study with various gurus to try to find the answer to his question. Theses gurus had him do various types of yoga and meditation to try to help him with his quest. None of them seem to have an answer to his question though.
Siddhartha left these various gurus and joined in with a group of ascetics. Asceticism is a path in which you deprive the body in order to conquer and control the mind. He practiced asceticism fiercely, almost to the point of death. At that point he realized that giving in to pleasure, as he did when he was a prince, nor trying to punish the body, was the proper path to finding the answer. So he sat down and meditated under a pi-pal tree. During this meditation he discovered the root of all suffering and the path to how to overcome suffering and became enlightened.
After his enlightenment he meets up with his ascetic friends, who by now were critical of him for leaving the path of asceticism. But he explains to them what he had discovered and they were instantly converted. From there The Buddha taught for 45 years until his death at 85 converting many to his teachings and now Buddhism is the 4th largest religion in the world.
What happens if you beak a laughing Buddha?
well if you break a laughing Buddha then it is considered very unfortunate luck and that you would be coursed with being turned into stone...but that is as legend has it which means that it is not necessarily true.
The Buddha taught that belief in talismans and rituals as having any supernatural effect is erroneous. See the MAJJHIMA SUTTA, for instance.
What advantage did the Buddha have with the middle way?
The Buddha was born as a prince. He discovered that the life of luxury did not bring an end to suffering. He then went to the other extreme, the life of self-mortification. He discovered that this, too, did not bring an end to suffering. He then discovered that the Middle Way was the perfect life for attaining enlightenment and bringing an end to suffering.
Where is the Tiger's nest Buddhist Monastery?
There are several places with that name, but I believe the most famous one is situated north of Paro in Bhutan. The monastery there is called Tiger Nest or Taktsang Monastery. Many famous Buddhist masters like Milarepa have meditated in the caves nearby.
What belifsndo Buddhism and jainism share?
Buddhism and Jainism share similar beliefs in non-violence, karma, and the pursuit of spiritual liberation. Both religions emphasize the importance of leading a virtuous and ethical life, and both reject the caste system and ritualistic practices. Additionally, both Buddhism and Jainism advocate for the practice of meditation as a means to attain enlightenment.
What is the promise of Buddhism?
There is no promise in Buddhism as in other religions such as Christianity. Buddhism only states that there is a way of ending suffering (by following the Eightfold Path). It does not say that a person can be assured of attaining this goal in any specified number of incarnations, it does not offer the intervention of Buddha (as a Christian's Jesus intervenes in salvation), and it does not offer a reward at the end except the ability to abandon the sense of self and achieving Nirvana if a person desires to do so.
Is there an accepted method of exigesis of the sutras in Buddhism?
There is no universally accepted method of exegesis for the sutras in Buddhism. Different schools and traditions within Buddhism may have their own approaches to interpreting and understanding the sutras. Some common methods include historical and cultural analysis, comparative study with other Buddhist texts, and contemplation and meditation on the teachings. Ultimately, the meaning and interpretation of the sutras is subjective and may vary among practitioners.
Gautama Buddha was known as the "Enlightened one" as well as Karma
Siddhartha spent several years fasting and practicing what?
Siddhartha spent several years fasting and practicing asceticism, which is a severe self-discipline that avoids all type of human indulgences. However, he later rejected this type harsh type of asceticism because it impeded the ultimate path to nirvana. He modified this to a practice that while not descending into the self denial of asceticism, did not cross over into luxury and indulgence either.
The Bodhi tree at the Mahabodhi Temple is called the Sri MahaBodhi. According to Buddhism, after his Enlightenment, the Buddha spent a whole week in front of the tree, standing with unblinking eyes, gazing at it with gratitude. A shrine was later erected on the spot where he so stood, and was called the Animisalocana cetiya (q.v.). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bodhi_tree
They may do. Buddhists vary widely in the diets they adopt. While monks and nuns are usually vegetarian, or even vegan, there is no reason why they can't have vegetarian pizza. Other followers of the faith have much wider diets, including meat, so I'm sure many of them enjoy pizza.
What foods are forbiden for Buddhism?
There are no foods restricted to Buddhists, but it is good thing to avoid killing any sentient being, so some Buddhists choose to not eat meat. Others eat meat, but avoid killing the animals they eat.
How would you compare Buddha and Mohammed?
Buddha saw the world as it is. Mohammed saw the world as he wished it to be. Jesus saw mankind as he would wish it to be. I can't believe that any of them really had a clue about the afterlife.
Answer:
This is the cause of much controversy. I am a Buddhist, yet I eat meat. This is because many Buddhists believe that one can eat meat as long as it is blameless. This means that the one must not see, hear, or suspect that the animal was killed because of one alone. Also, it is suspected that the Buddha himself, and his followers ate meat.
Answer:
HH the Dalai Lama has written on this. The eating of meat is neither inherently good or bad, as answerer #1 indicates the desire to eat meat and causing harm to the animal specifically to satisfy that desire is where the harm arises . Refusing to eat meat prepared by a host is bad - it falls under the affectation of saying "Look how good I am!" Wasting food is bad as well.
I Believe That If The Animal That Is Being Consumed Is Remembered For His Life Being Given And Respected As Well By Saying "Namu Amida Butsu" And Giving Thanks Then It's Ok. I Just Don't Agree With Killing Animals For Sport/Pleasure But Only For Our Sustenance/Survival. Does Any Other Buddhist Agree With Me?
Because when you eat meat you kill a animal to eat it and they don't want to kill so that's why Buddhists don't eat meat.
