Buddhims Practices Flashcards
Temple
Visited by lay people for study, meditation and practice.
Offerings brought to support the temple.
Pagoda/Stupa
Relics placed in the centre and Buddhists walk around to receive prayers.
The Buddhas remnants were placed inside a stupa.
Layers of the stupa:
1) wisdom - point
2) other elements
3) Earth - base
Shrines
Temples or at home.
Offerings:
- candle light - represents widsom (drives away ignorance)
- flowers - represents annica (impermanence)
- Incense - represents purity
Monastery/Vihara
Monks and nuns whom have dedicated their lives to practice the Buddha.
“To the sangha for refuge I go”
Purpose of worship
- express gratitude to the Buddha
- focus on faith and importance of the Buddha
- deepen understanding
- change their lives for the better
Chanting
- monks used to chant to preserve teachings
- pure land buddhism - chant Amitabha’s name to reach the pure land
- drives away ignorance
Mantras
- SOME believe that mantras can transform
- focus the mind
- refer to spiritual qualities
Eg - “om mani padme hum” - compassion
Meditation
- calm and focus the mind
- deepen understanding
- bring enlightenment
- “even the god’s envy those awakened and mindful” - Buddha
Thangkas/Mandalas
- understand impermanence
- represent a significant aspect of wisdom
- visual image in the mind
Paranirvana day
Mahayana festival to remember the Buddha passing into nirvana.
- celebrate teachings and life of the Buddha
- practice and meet in unity
Retreats
- deepen understanding of Buddhist practice
Theravada Buddhists observe Vassa
Wesak/Vesak
Commemorates:
1) Birth of the Buddha
2) Enlightenment of the Buddha
3) Passing of the Buddha
- offerings made to the Buddha and monks
- light is an important symbol
Theravada Funerals
- little money spent
- cremation is more tradition and common
- can give merits to increase good kamma
Tibet
- ‘sky burial’ - body is gifted to vultures
Japan
- Pureland Buddhists may have the head point west
- bones from ashes removed with chopsticks by relatives
