Buddhist devotion

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Buddhist devotion is an important part of the practice of most Buddhists.^[1] According to a spokesman of the Sasana Council of Burma, it is essential for the realization of truth.^[2] In particular, most Buddhists use ritual in pursuit of their spiritual aspirations.^[3]

Examples of devotional practices:

• bowing:
  • to images of the Buddha, and in Mahayana also of other Buddhas and bodhisattvas; such images originated some centuries after the Buddha's time
  • to religious superiors:
    • a monk to a monk ordained earlier
    • a nun to a nun ordained earlier
    • a nun to a monk, regardless of date of ordination
    • a lay person to a monk or nun
• offering flowers, incense etc. to images
• chanting:
  • the Three Refuges
  • protective chanting: in texts recognized by most scholars as early, we find the Buddha recommending certain texts for protection from snakebite^[4] and evil spirits^[5]
  • mantras and dharanis in Mahayana: includes the Heart Sutra and om mani padme hum
  • homage to Amitabha in Pure Land Buddhism
  • homage to the Lotus Sutra in Nichiren Buddhism
• pilgrimage:
  • according to sources^[6] recognized by most scholars as early, the Buddha, shortly before his death, recommended pilgrimage to four places:
    • his birthplace (Lumbini, now Rummindei in Nepal)
    • the site of his enlightenment (Bodh Gaya)
    • the site of the preaching of his first sermon (near Benares)
    • the place of his death (Kusinara)

Other places were later added, particularly in other countries, where pilgrimage to the original sites would be daunting.

A very important form of Buddhist devotion is Pure Land Buddhism, which is practised by most Chinese monks, some combining it with Chan (Zen).^[7] It exists as a group of independent denominations in Japan, the most radical, and largest, of which, Jodo Shinshu, believes in salvation by faith alone (cf Lutheranism).

[edit] See also

• Puja (Buddhism)

[edit] Notes

1. ^ Harvey, page 170
2. ^ Morgan, pages v, 73
3. ^ Macmillan (Volume One), page 139
4. ^ Anguttara Nikaya, volume II, page 72 (Pali Text Society edition pagination)
5. ^ The Atanatiya Sutta in the Digha Nikaya, number 32, in volume III
6. ^ Digha Nikaya, volume II, pages 140f (PTS pagination)
7. ^ Welch, page 396

[edit] References

• Harvey, Peter, An Introduction to Buddhism: Teachings, History and Practices, Cambridge University Press, 1990
• Macmillan Encyclopedia of Buddhism, 2004
• Morgan, Kenneth W., ed, The Path of the Buddha: Buddhism Interpreted by Buddhists, Ronald Press, New York, 1956
• Welch, Holmes, The Practice of Chinese Buddhism, 1900-1950, Harvard University Press, 1967