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How to Set Up a Buddhist Shrine
Adapted from How to Setup an Altar or Shrine by
Ven. Tenzin Yignyen of Namgyal Monastery.
Why Have an Altar *
A proper altar holds images or representations of the Buddha's enlightened body,
speech and mind which serves as reminders of the goal of Buddhist practice
-- to develop these qualities in oneself so as to be able to fully benefit all
sentient beings. The reason for setting up an altar is not for fame, for showing
off wealth, or to increase pride, but rather it is to reduce one's mental
afflictions and to seek the ability to help all sentient beings.
Where to Place the Altar*/Shrine
The best place . . . is in a separate shrine room, but if you live in a small
place and cannot set aside a separate room for worship, any room can be used.
The size of the altar is not important, but it should be in a clean and
respectful place, higher than the level of your head as you sit facing it.
If it is in your bedroom, the altar should be placed near the
head of your bed, never at the foot, and it should be higher than the bed. The
altar should be either on a separate shelf or on a table set aside for this
purpose that does not double as a coffee table or night stand.
The Objects and What They Represent
A proper Buddhist altar holds symbols of enlightened body, speech and mind,
traditionally represented by displaying a statue or picture of Buddha Shakyamuni,
a scripture, and a stupa [Tibetan: chorten].
At
the very least, the altar should hold an image of Buddha Shakyamuni, the
founder and source of the teachings in our time.
Regarding the placement of the images, it is important that Shakyamuni Buddha
be the central figure. Other images are not requisite, but if you have them,
place them around the central figure in this order: root lamas, yidams
(highest yoga tantra deities, yoga tantra deities, performance tantra deities,
then action tantra deities), dakinis, and finally protector deities. The
order of the arrangement is never by the quality of the material or the
artistry. Often it is better to have only a few images, as too many can be
distracting.
The scripture representing the speech of the Buddha does not need to be
written in Tibetan or Sanskrit, but can be in any language. It can be the Heart
Sutra if you wish to represent all the teachings of the Buddha, or it can be a
special scripture related to your practice. If the altar consists of three or
more levels, the scripture should be placed highest on the altar, above the
Buddha statue. If the altar is on one level, the order should be, from left to
right: scripture, Buddha, stupa.
The
mind of the Buddha is traditionally represented by a stupa of enlightenment,
but you need not go out and buy a costly silver or gold one. A photograph or a
clay model is perfectly acceptable. The stupa [Tib.: chorten]
should be placed to the right of the Buddha image, or below the Buddha if the
altar consists of several levels.
The objects on the altar also represent the Three Jewels of Refuge. If
there is only a statue of Buddha Shakyamuni, think that it represents all Three
Jewels. If there is also a scripture and a stupa, think that the stupa
represents the Buddha Jewel, the scripture represents the Dharma Jewel, and the
image of the Buddha represents the Sangha Jewel.
It is important to keep in mind that the objects on the altar serve as a means
for directing one's mind to the Buddha and the Buddha's enlightened qualities,
which we aspire to emulate for others' benefit. In maintaining an altar one is
trying to cultivate the qualities of the Buddha -- his enlightened body, his
enlightened speech and his enlightened mind.
By remembering these qualities and aspiring to develop them, one reduces the
negative qualities of attachment, hatred and ignorance, and increases positive
qualities like faith, respect, devotion and rejoicing.
Making Offerings
There is no limitation to what can be offered, and there are many levels of
offering. In general, one can offer any pleasing object, particularly objects
pleasing to the five senses -- form, sound, smell, taste, and touch.
In the Tibetan Buddhist tradition it is customary to offer seven bowls of
water which represent the seven limbs of prayer
-- prostrating, offering, confession, rejoicing in the good qualities of oneself
and others, requesting the Buddhas to remain in this world, beseeching them to
teach others, and dedicating the merits.
Flowers, candles or butter lamps, and incense are also commonly offered. It is
customary to offer a part of every meal on the altar before eating and a portion
of tea before drinking.
The things that should be offered should be clean, new and pleasing. . . . only
the best part, fresh, and clean -- never old, leftover, or spoiled food.
It is best to offer things that you already have or can obtain without
difficulty. Don't think that you have to deceive others in order to get offering
materials -- they should not come from stealing, cheating or hurting others in
any way. Rather, they should be honestly obtained. In fact, it is better not to
offer things that were obtained in even a slightly negative way.
As you make offerings, think that what you are offering is in nature your own
good qualities and your practice, although it appears in the form of external
offering objects. These external offerings should not be imagined as limited to
the actual objects on the altar, but should be seen as vast in number, as
extensive as space.
Offer food with the wish that all beings be relieved of hunger, and offer water
with the wish that all beings be relieved of thirst.
It is important to think that the deities accept the offerings, enjoy them and
are pleased. Think that by making these offerings all beings are purified
of their negative qualities and their thirst for knowledge of the ultimate
nature of reality is satisfied.
The purpose of making offerings is to accumulate merit and in particular to
develop and increase the mind of generosity and to reduce stinginess and
miserliness. By making offerings you also create the causes for the future
results of becoming wealthy and becoming naturally and spontaneously
generous.
Placing the Offerings on the Altar
If you have the space, place the offerings a little lower than the objects of
refuge on your altar. When you awaken in the morning, it is customary to wash at
least your face before approaching the altar to offer prostrations and then
offerings -- this is a sign of respect for the objects represented there. One is
making offerings as if one is accepting a dignitary or a great being into one's
home, and it is important to be gracious and respectful.
To offer water on your altar, you should have a minimum of seven bowls. Start
with fresh water every day. The bowls should be clean. Pour a little water into
each bowl before placing it on the altar. Place the bowls in a straight line,
close together but not touching. The distance between the bowls is traditionally
measured by the width of a grain of wheat. The bowls should then be filled up to
the space of a grain's width from the top -- neither too little nor too much.
Pour water like the shape of a wheat grain -- in a thin stream at first, then
gradually more, then tapering off at the end.
Try not to breathe on the offerings. If you have a butter lamp, you can place it
on your altar between the third and fourth water bowls. Lamps or candles
symbolize wisdom, eliminating the darkness of ignorance. In Tibetan monasteries
hundreds of lamps are lit as offerings. There is really no limit to the quantity
of either water bowls or lamps.
Blessing The Offerings
After pouring the water, lighting the candles and offering incense, bless the
offerings by dipping a piece of kusha grass (or a tree twig) into the water,
reciting three times OM AH HUM (seed syllables of the Buddha's body, speech, and
mind), and then sprinkling the offerings with water. Visualize that the
offerings are blessed.
Dedication
Whether external offerings become pure or not, or whether they become a cause
for good rebirth in the next life, a cause to achieve liberation, or a cause to
achieve enlightenment to benefit all beings depends on one's motivation and
dedication. Dedication is crucial.
It will not exhaust or limit one's store of merit but will multiply and increase
it. It is excellent to dedicate the merit of making offerings to the elimination
of suffering and its causes from all beings, to their achievement of lasting
happiness, and to world peace.
Removing the Offerings
At the end of the day, before or at sunset, empty the bowls one by one, dry them
with a clean cloth and stack them upside down or put them away. Never leave
empty bowls right side up on the altar. The water is not simply thrown away but
offered to the plants in your house or in the garden.
Food and flowers should also be put in a clean place outside where birds and
animals can eat them. Bowls of fruit can be left on the altar for a few days and
can then be eaten when they come down -- there is no need to put them
outside.
~ made available by Snow Lion
Publications
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*Some people object to the use of the English word altar in
reference to the surface upon which we keep objects symbolizing the 3
Jewels. The word altar derives
directly from the meaning high place with the connotation of sacrifice
and proximity to the gods.
It goes against fundamental Buddhist teachings to
make offerings to beings with the idea of appeasing or bribing them.
Read on to see why it is better to think of this table or set of shelves as a shrine
- with the idea of remembrance- rather than an altar.
<
butterlamps
The Meaning of the 8 Offerings
edited from a talk by Khenpo Konchog Gyaltsen Rinpoche (5/1/1993)
". . . enlightened beings do not want or need these things. We make offerings
for our own benefit, to accumulate great merit and wisdom.
Enlightenment, Buddhahood, is achieved through the two great qualities -
accumulation and purification. As you know, the Buddha has limitless qualities,
which were gained through the great accumulations and purifications. Our
offerings are a simple way to accumulate both merit and wisdom.
1. WATER TO CLEANSE THE MOUTH OR FACE - Auspiciousness
It signifies auspiciousness or all the positive causes and conditions which
bring positive effects. So, make an offering of water which is clean, fresh,
cool, smooth, light, delicious, comfortable to the throat and stomach - these
qualities are the qualities of auspiciousness. When you drink that kind of
water, it is healthy; if you take a shower with it is healthy. While you make
this kind of water offering to the enlightened beings, visualize an ocean of
water.
Then we dedicate this water to become a cause for all sentient beings to also
collect positive causes and conditions. So this is the first water offering - to
cleanse the mouth or face.
2. WATER TO WASH THE FEET - Purification
This is clear water mixed with incense or sandalwood which is made as an
offering to all enlightened beings' feet. The symbolic meaning is purification.
By cleansing the feet of the enlightened beings, we cleanse all our own negative
karma and obscurations. By making offerings to clean the enlightened beings
feet, we are really cleaning the "feet" of our own mind.
With respect, devotion and confidence, we offer an ocean of this kind of
water to all enlightened beings to purify all the temporary obscurations of
ourselves and all sentient beings. Obscurations are called "temporary"
because they can be purified. If they were permanent, we could not purify them
even if we make an effort. So meditate on this when you make these
offerings.
All the different types of obscurations -- gross, subtle, negative karma,
afflictive emotions, and obscurations to enlightenment -- all these different
types of obscurations become fully purified.
3. FLOWERS - Generosity
Next is offering of ... the flower of the beauty of enlightenment. It signifies
the practice of generosity and opens the heart. A flower is very beautiful; so
you naturally want to keep it.
But when you offer it to others, there is some special feeling in the mind.
With that connection, make the offering and practice freedom from stinginess.
Milarepa said there is no special practice of generosity if one is free from
stinginess. Meditate on that by offering flowers, which signifies the
practice of generosity.
May all sentient beings achieve the freedom and endowment of a precious human
life. Flowers are offered to the head of the enlightened beings, for them to
wear on the crown of the head. Within the practice of generosity, we immediately
think of giving wealth, giving fearlessness, giving wisdom -- there are many
different types of generosity.
Usually when we say generosity, we immediately think of giving wealth, but it
is not only that. For example, giving fearlessness means giving life. If someone
is afraid for their life, like drowning in water, and if you give them safety
from the water, this is called giving fearlessness, giving freedom from danger
to life.
Giving wisdom is very special generosity. When we give teaching to one who
has no wisdom -- does not know what samsara is, what enlightenment is, or
what the cause of suffering is -- that is such a great gift. To help them
understand "Oh, that is samsara, that is enlightenment." Such a great
gift! So, offering a flower symbolizes generosity.
4. INCENSE - Discipline, Moral Ethics
Moral discipline is one of the most important practices. In the West, maybe
discipline and morality are a little bit different. What I mean here is that
when we have good discipline, there is morality. Discipline is in the teaching
of the Dharma. For instance, it says, "do this, this, this. Sit like this,
meditate like this." It is taught like discipline. So when we do that, it
is good moral ethics; when we cannot do these things that are taught to be done,
then there is no morality, no ethics.
In Sanskrit, this is called shila ... . means coolness, freshness.
When we have good discipline, it cools the mind free from suffering. When we
stay in that position well, it relaxes the mind and frees it from agitation. All
these disciplines are part of the process of progressing in our meditation
practice. Unless these disciplines and moral ethics are there, it is not
possible to achieve enlightenment.
Therefore, Buddha gave these three teachings -- moral ethics, samadhi
and wisdom -- called the Three Trainings. These Three Trainings are very
important. Wisdom or special insight comes from samadhi, [meditation] the
stability and strength of the mind. That kind of strength in the mind is based
on discipline and morality. So they are all related to each other, are connected
to each other and depend on each other.
Therefore, moral ethics is a very important aspect of path. Incense, which is
the nature of morality, makes offerings to the nose of the enlightened beings.
The enlightened beings are not attached to smell, but to our purity. All people
respect those who have kept moral ethics well. It doesn't matter who they are,
they get respect because they are trustworthy and dependable. That kind of
person gives a good smell, good odor, and people are attracted to that. not only
people, but the qualities of enlightened beings are also attracted by that
morality. It is their foundation/basis, like the ground which grows ... the
"crops" of ... enlightened qualities.
5. LIGHT - Patience
Light . . . signifies the stability and clarity of patience, the beauty which
dispels all ignorance. The light offering is made to the eyes of all the
enlightened beings, who see clearly without mistake. Some people feel patience
is showing weakness or pessimism. But, actually, patience shows the strength and
clarity of mind, which are based on wisdom and compassion.
Without proper wisdom and compassion, one cannot practice patience. So light
shows that the strength of the mind, the clear, stable nature of the mind,
achieved through the practice of patience. Because the mind is not disturbed by
other forces, it has such great qualities: clarity knows what is to be done,
which is necessary, which is not necessary. That dispels ignorance.
Patience can be practiced in all different forms, different ways, not just
when people are faced with anger. For example, there is patience in Dharma
practice and study. First, this is based on wisdom, so we should have such
wisdom to really know how Dharma is, what quality it has, the depth and vastness
of Dharma, and how we can achieve these qualities. Seeing those great qualities,
then we need patience to study and practice. When we have that, there is a mind
of clarity, of stability.
On the other hand we should not be patient with our afflictive emotions. When
we have anger, desire, jealousy, pride, don't practice patience with these! This
is the wrong way to practice patience. Even if it is hard or painful, these are
subjects to get rid of or purify; they don't do any good thing. Without
sacrificing something, there is no chance that we will have peace and happiness.
So no matter what kind of pain we face, what difficult circumstances we face, we
have to go thru it. Even if we have to sacrifice this life, it is worthwhile to
sacrifice.
A lot of people commit suicide to get rid of all these afflictive emotions.
They are overpowered by the afflictive emotions and they kill themselves. That
is the wrong way to sacrifice this life. We have to sacrifice this life the
other way around. Buddha said that if we have to lose our life to keep the moral
discipline, it just finishes this life, but next lives will be higher and
higher, better and better. But if we do it the other way around and sacrifice
this life for the afflictive emotions, then we will go worse and worse.
In Shantideva's text it is said that we
should not commit suicide or give this body without much purpose. Rather, we
should cherish this precious human life. An explanation is given. When a
medicinal tree is very small plant, it has to be protected in order to grow into
a huge tree. If you pick it up when it is small, it will benefit only a few and
then it is finished. But if you protect it well with many fences, it will grow
into a huge tree that will bring fruits, flowers, roots, leaves, branches for
the benefit of many, many sentient beings.
Similarly we have a fragile mind at this time. We must protect this precious
human life with all these antidotes, fences, and let it grow big. Then we can
benefit many sentient beings. By the practice of patience, all the 112 major and
minor marks of a Buddha will come. Of course, we should not expect it, but the
result of patience is a healthy, good body, to which all people are attracted,
which is respected and admired. All this comes from the practice of patience.
6. FRAGRANCE - Perseverance
. . . the fragrance of saffron or sandalwood. -- all the different types of
perfume . . . signifies perseverance or joyous effort. Through that one quality,
one develops all the qualities of enlightenment. Without perseverance, without
joyous effort, nothing can be achieved. Even in samsara, we have to work so hard
to achieve anything. A lot of people sacrifice a lot of things just for samsaric
achievement. You sacrifice your life for your work; if you die, what will you do
with your wealth? So now, see the other side -- Dharma study and practice. When
we could make such a great effort to study, practice Dharma, we have to
sacrifice some little thing.
It is said in Shantideva's text that studying Dharma is the cause to freedom
from suffering. To achieve ultimate enlightenment, ultimate happiness, why can't
we do that? Others in samsara, . . . even sacrifice their life for their
achievements, but that becomes a cause only for suffering.
As flowers were offered to the eyes of enlightenment, perfumes are offered to
the Buddha's mind because perseverance is the heart of enlightenment. Perfect
generosity, moral ethics, patience, samadhi, wisdom -these all depend on
perseverance. Without joyous effort none of these can be accomplished, so it is
the heart, the essence. Meditate that by this offering, may all sentient beings
progress in their attainment of the qualities of enlightenment.
7. DELICIOUS FOOD - Samadhi
. . . food which has a lot of different tastes. The delicious, excellent quality
of food signifies . . . nectar or ambrosia to feed the mind. This is an
offering to the tongue of the enlightened beings, the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. Samadhi
is also the source of all the siddhis like clairvoyance.
There are two different types of clairvoyance -- ordinary clairvoyance is
usually from other lifetimes. The other type is special insight clairvoyance,
which we achieve this lifetime through meditation practice. Flying in the sky,
different types of miraculous power, these can all be achieved through samadhi,
the virtuous one-pointed mind.
The very stable mind, one-pointed, clear, calm, peaceful mind of samadhi becomes
a basis to achieve all the enlightenment qualities. Food symbolizes samadhi
because eating food maintains this body, and samadhi is a kind of food
that maintains the mind as well as the physical body.
When you achieve any kind of samadhi, it is the fruition of the effort
you made before, and it can also become a path to get higher fruition.
Generally, when we eat nutritious healthy food, it makes our health
better. ... the nutritious food of samadhi, it keeps the health of
the mind. It makes the mind healthy, clear, calm and peaceful. By making this
offering of delicious food, may all sentient beings have the health which
results from the samadhi food. May all sentient beings have the samadhi
nature, quality.
8. MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS - Wisdom
There are different types of instruments -- cymbals, bells, guitars, lutes
-- all of these are offered. Their nature is wisdom, which makes an offering to
the ears of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas and all the enlightened beings.
Sound represents wisdom because wisdom is a special power of the mind which
penetrates phenomena. Compassion is achieved through great wisdom;
interdependence of all phenomena is realized through great wisdom. of course all
phenomena have the nature of interdependence, causes and conditions, but sound
is especially easy to understand. If you play a guitar, what does the sound
depend on? It does not come just from the piece of wood, the string, not
from the finger.
So where does it come from? It comes from all these things, none alone is
sufficient to produce the sound. That nature is called illusion. We can hear the
Sound, but it has no independent existence. So we should see all sound having
that nature. It just comes and goes like an echo. That realization is wisdom,
and through that realization we can attain supra-mundane quality.
May the wisdom, that quality of the supra-mundane, arise
within the minds of all sentient beings and free them from all confusion and
ignorance. May they achieve enlightenment.
Questions & Answers
Q. Should the bowls be emptied every evening?
A. Yes, when you empty them, you should meditate on impermanence. Now all the
enlightened beings are fully satisfied. Dedicate the merit accumulation of
making these offerings to all sentient beings. May all those beings also become Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, free from confusion and suffering.
Q. Do you have to have actual flowers, or can I use rice or water?
A. Buddha said that there are so many different levels of meditation practice
-- from 100% to 1%. So all this we can do depending on the individual
practitioner. But even the 1% . . . -- it's better than nothing.
When we make offering by filling all the bowls with rice, it is wonderful.
The Buddha said that even if you take one piece of flower and throw it in the
air while focusing on the Buddha, that will become a cause for freedom from samsara.
Q. Some people make it very elaborate and elegant, expensive looking; others
have simple white bowls with water.
A. No matter what, you have to have a pure motive. This is very important.
With pure motivation, any offering you make is good. Expensive is great because
you sacrifice a lot of things for that offering. but if you do not have pure
motivation, like doing it to show wealth, then maybe it's not so pure.
We work this entire life, so for us these things mean so much. When we make
an offering of them to the enlightened beings, it has meaning for us. We
sacrifice that part of our life. In this way, offering becomes a special
meditation practice."
~ from a talk by Khenpo Konchog Gyaltsen Rinpoche on May 1,
1993 at the Tibetan Meditation Center, published in The Dharma Wheel,
Summer 1993 and made available online by Sacred Texts.
~ offering photo ArtToday.com
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