Puja- Page 33- 34 Flashcards
What is Puja?
A formal act of worship before a shrine
What are the three core elements of Puja?
Bowing to the Buddha
Making offerings
Chanting
How many times do you bow to the Buddha and what does this represent?
Three times to represent the three refuges (Buddha, Dharma, Sangha)
What offerings are made during Puja?
Flowers, candles, incense, food
What do flowers represent?
Beauty of enlightenment
Impermanence- even the most beautiful things wilt and die
What do candles represent?
The light of the Dharma in the dark of ignorance
What does incense represent?
Buddhism is suitable for any place
Why do people chant during Puja?
To focus their mind on the Buddha’s teachings
Why do people do Puja?
To show devotion and thankfulness to the Buddha
What section of the Eightfold Path does Puja show?
Right Mindfulness
Give two advantages of practising Puja at home
Study is self guided
Done on own terms (time, material covered, etc…)
Effort goes into making shrine
Give two advantages of practising Puja at a temple
Monks offer advice
Shrines full of artefacts
Effort goes into attending the temple
What is a Mantra?
Repeated phrase to bring about a specific state of consciousness
What is a Mala?
Set of prayer beads
How many beads are there on a Mala and what do they represent?
108- represent worldly desires
