The Spring Festival holiday is coming, presumably everyone can't wait to go to the temple to visit and pray for blessings, first of all, remind everyone that there are many people during the Spring Festival, and you should remember to wear a mask, do a good job of protection, and pay attention to personal safety. Secondly, the Buddhist gate is solemn and solemn, and some of the rituals for entering the temple must be known. Today, the Enlightenment number will briefly describe one or two for you, hoping to help you.
What you need to know when entering the temple
● Bathing and purifying, body and mind are purified
When entering the temple to worship the Buddha, you should enter the temple with a clean body and mind. Meat, garlic, onions, cigarettes, alcohol, etc. are best avoided before worshipping the Buddha.
● Dress neatly and behave politely
When entering the temple, clothing, shoes and hats should be neat and tidy, and it is not advisable to dress untidy. Smoking, chewing gum, playing and so on are not allowed in the Buddhist hall.
When entering the Buddhist temple, it is best not to enter through the middle door, and when entering through the side door, do not step on the threshold, and it is advisable to enter with your feet up.
After entering the temple gate, it is not advisable to walk straight in the center, and you should walk along the direction of your left arm when you enter the temple door, and your hat and cane should not be placed on the Buddha case and the Buddha seat.
● Do not move anything, do not offside
All things in the temple should not be moved, especially the temple bells, drums, fish chimes and other ritual instruments, which should not be knocked without permission, and tin rods, mantles and bowls and other objects should not be moved. Fruits and plants, such as fruits, should not be picked at will.
The prayer mat in the center of the main hall is used by the temple master, and it is not allowed to worship on the upper hall, and it is advisable to use the cushion benches on both sides. Whoever worships the Buddha should not walk in front of his head.
● Read the scriptures respectfully, and pay attention to the monks
If there are scriptures in the temple that are open to the public, they can be read. However, before reading, you must clean your hands and read them flat on the table, not holding a scroll or placing it on your lap. In particular, do not put clothes and hats on the scriptures.
When you see a monk, you are called a Dharma Master, or a Master, and you should not be called a "monk" or a "monk". The common way to greet monks is to put their hands together, bow their heads slightly, show respect, and avoid improper etiquette such as shaking hands, hugging, and touching the monk's head.
Can I take pictures of the temple
With the increasing power of mobile phone photography and video functions, and the popularity of various videos and social software, most people have become accustomed to shooting and sharing at will. When I came to the temple, I took a few consecutive photos for the first time, and then posted a Weibo and Moments casually...... It's been in vain.
However, religious sites are different from other places after all, and when it comes to photos of Buddha statues or Dharma teachers, there are some aspects that you must pay more attention to, and this is very important, when you hold up your phone, you must think twice before taking pictures!
1. Is photography allowed in the temple?
When you go to a temple to worship the Buddha, you will usually be told that it is forbidden to take pictures in the temple, especially the Buddha statues, and some temples will also have a reminder sign at the entrance of the main hall that says "Do not take pictures". Such a hint is, on the one hand, that it is disrespectful to take pictures of Buddha statues, and on the other hand, from the perspective of protecting cultural relics.
The Buddha statues in the temple are generally enshrined in the main hall of the temple, and the older the temple, the older the Buddha statues and buildings inside may be, and the more precious they are. In order to protect these precious Buddha statues and the color of the surface or murals of the Buddha statues, some monasteries have regulations prohibiting the filming or use of flash to prevent the flash from causing damage to the cultural relics.
2. Shoot with respect
In temples where photography is forbidden without a warning, please be courteous and decent, not funny, and not joking.
When photographing Buddha statues, try to keep them intact. At the same time, it should be noted that when you encounter a monk in the monastery, do not lift your camera or mobile phone, take a slap at the teacher, or hold the teacher and ask for cooperation in taking pictures.
This is not because the mage is not merciful, but when he is "suddenly attacked" or captured at random, the mage's expression and movements may be out of shape. In the eyes of the public, the photos of the monks represent not only their own image, but also the image of the Sangha.
3. Don't be desperate to take pictures
When encountering a Buddha, you should not pass by or stop in front of the Dharma teacher or devotees who are worshipping the Buddha in order to take the desired shot. You can't step on the futon, the threshold, the offering table, etc., or move or move the things in the temple at will for the sake of the camera you want.
When there is a large flow of people in the temple, it is best not to use tripods and other equipment to cause sluggish flow of people, or even affect the normal activities of the temple.
Light and heavy
● Walk lightly
The majesty of the line is the first to enter the eye, and the transcendent demeanor can also guide sentient beings. We must put an end to unevenness, frivolity, and procrastination. Walking slowly is not only self-cultivation, but also solemnity.
● Speak softly
Soft-spoken words are a sign of respect for others, but also of respect for the dojo. It is necessary to put an end to loud noises, gossip, quarrels and insults inside and outside the temple.
● Be light
When entering the temple, you should do things lightly, including carrying firewood and water, sprinkling and sweeping the courtyard, dressing and eating, and you should not be reckless and humble. It should be restrained in body and mind, clean, rigorous, and meticulous.
● Keep your worries light
To study Buddhism is to learn to alleviate troubles, and the best way is to "just look good" and "people are not me". The severity of the troubles is just the measure of progress.
● Focus on respect
Some people enter the monastery and blindly emphasize all kinds of rules, worship incense, worship Buddha, fast, and walk, all of which must be corrected. As everyone knows, etiquette is important, but what is more important is the pious and respectful heart.
● Focus on finding the law
You should not approach the dojo with worldly greed and comparison, and you should not use the monastery as a place for recreation, sightseeing, and play. If your intentions are not pure enough and you don't know how to come for the Fa, you will lose the special significance of entering the monastery.
● Focus on altruism
Shantideva once said in "Entering the Bodhisattva's Behavior": "All worldly happiness is born from altruism, and all worldly suffering is caused by self-benefit." "Altruism is the essence of the Dharma and an important cause for the Dharma to live for a long time.
Every time you enter the monastery, you can respectfully abide by the rules of Buddhism, and I believe that you can also reap the blessings of the Dharma from your solemn deeds.