Devotion

Question 1

What is Puja?

Answer 1

Puja is the act of showing honour, worship and devotional attention. Acts of Puja include, bowing, making offerings and chanting. These devotional acts are generally performed daily at home as well as during communal festivals and on special days at a temple.

Question 2

explain offerings

Answer 2

flowers remind us of impermanence
candles represent enlightenment
incense represents the spread of the Dhamma

Question 3

explain chanting

Answer 3

Chanting is to help them remember the teachings of the Buddha eg. The three refuges or the Patimokha rules.
Chanting creates a calming affect on the mind but is also a way of showing commitment.

Question 4

Explain Mantras

Answer 4

A mantra is a short phrase that has a deep meaning, chanted over and over. reciting these may lead to enlightenment, the most famous mantra is: OM MANI PADME HUM, meaning, the jewel in the lotus

Question 5

Explain Mudras

Answer 5

Mudras are hand gestures to help the buddhists focus on a particular quality of the Buddha.

Question 6

Explain the use of statues

Answer 6

States are used as an object of contemplation
the statues represent the qualities of enlightenment, eg. wisdom, compassion, courage, determination, patience and generosity.

Question 7

Explain bowing

Answer 7

Bowing Indicates the denial of the self (anatta)
They often bow three times in recognition of the Buddha, the Dhamma and the Sangha
when bowing before a Buddha statue, Buddhists are not worshipping but acknowledging the value of the qualities of the Buddha

Question 8

Explain showing devotion elsewhere

Answer 8

Buddhists may show devotion through taking part in festivals such as Wesak, also known a buddha day represents, the birth, enlightenment and death of buddha. Wesak is celebrated in several ways, releasing paper lanterns symbolises the fight to the path of enlightenment through overcoming the darkness of ignorance. Some buddhists release caged birds, representing the Buddhas release from Samsara.

Buddhists may also take part in retreats
lay buddhists may stay in a monastery for a short time
some buddhists may visit sites from the buddhas life like the bodh gaya, the place of his enlightenment

Question 9

Explain prayer flags

Answer 9

these have mantras written on them, these are hung from trees so that blessings can be blown through the world

Question 10

explain prayer wheels

Answer 10

prayer wheels contain mantras. Buddhists believe they receive a blessing every time they turn the wheel

Question 11

What is the importance of Puja?

Answer 11

• reinforces the teachings of the Buddha
• Helps one strive for enlightenment
• communal puja allows one to come together with other buddhists and this can strengthen faith
• acts as a daily reminder of the teachings of the buddha and helps deepen their understanding
• Helps one develop a calm mind which is needed to have a clear mind
• Helps create positive Karma which is vital for good health.