5 basic principles when going to temples and pagodas you need to know
(Baonghean.vn) - According to Dr. Dinh Duc Tien, Faculty of History, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, the world of Buddha is a world of purity and serenity. Just by stepping through the threshold of the Tam Quan gate, people going to the temple will enter another world. No matter how disturbed and chaotic the mind is outside, when entering the Buddha's gate, the mind must be kept pure.
Therefore, temple-goers need to equip themselves with the following 5 principles when present at the Buddha's door:
1. Costumes
According to Buddhist beliefs, in sacred places of worship, simplicity and solemnity are always put first. Therefore, when you come to the Buddha's door, you should choose clothes with elegant colors. Do not wear short skirts, tank tops, slit skirts, cut-out clothes...
Buddhists must wear ceremonial clothes when going to the Buddha shrine in the temple.
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| If possible, choose clothes that have the same color tone as the robes that Buddhists often wear when going to the temple, which are brown and blue. Photo: Internet |
2. Prepare offerings
When offering incense at pagodas, you should prepare vegetarian offerings such as: incense, fresh flowers, ripe fruit, cakes, sticky rice, sweet soup, etc. Do not place meat offerings in the Buddha hall area, which is the main hall, which is the main place of worship of the pagoda.
Do not buy votive paper money or hell money to offer to Buddha at the temple. Real money should not be placed on the altar in the main hall but should be put in the donation box.
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| Fresh flowers for Buddha offerings are lotus, lily, peony, plum blossom... Photo: Internet |
3. Prayer
According to Buddhist beliefs, Buddha only blesses peace and protects his children, but cannot bless them with career, fame, wealth, or fortune. Therefore, when we pray to Buddha, we should ask for Buddha's protection and care. At temples and shrines, you can pray for luck in your career, love life, etc.
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| Prayer is an expression of gratitude and repayment to ancestors, grandparents, parents, relatives... an expression of love, care, and concern for each other such as: praying for the dead, praying for peace, repenting... Photo: internet |
4. Entry and exit principles
Temples and pagodas are peaceful places. When entering a temple or pagoda, you should walk lightly and speak softly.
When passing through the main gate to the temple, you should enter the Gia Quan gate (on the right) and exit through the Khong Quan gate (on the left). The Trung Quan gate is only for the Emperor, high monks, and scholars to enter and exit the temple through this gate.
After that, visitors can meet the abbot. The reason is because the temple is managed by the abbot. With monks and nuns, the temple can be preserved and Buddhism can be spread, so when entering the temple, one must follow the rules.
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| When standing to pray, you should not stand straight at the altar but should stand to one side. Photo: Internet |
5. Principles of address
With monks, address yourself as Amitabha Buddha, Master, etc., and address yourself as a child. Addressing yourself like this means that when you see a monk, you remember Master Shakyamuni. Addressing yourself like this is addressing Buddha Shakyamuni.
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| With monks, call yourself Amitabha Buddha, Master, etc. and call yourself a child. Photo: Internet |
If the monk is your spiritual guide, then addressing him as "teacher" has the above meaning, but also means that he teaches you the Dharma. When addressing a monk, you should clasp your hands in the shape of a lotus bud.
