DiscussWorldIssues - Socio-Economic Religion and Political Uncensored Debate - View Single Post - About Worshiping in Different Buddhist Traditions

**Pwy9egVW** · 04-27-2012, 04:32 PM

Without worship, humility is lacking and the ego is excessive.

Ritualization is our disipline and practice. Hi Bgood,
I disagree with the basic premise behind these two statements. Firstly, worship does not guarantee an ego-free person. One who bows before his superiors may feel inclined to expect similar deference from those he deems his inferiors. He may also become hardened in his opinions towards those who do not share his devotions.

Second point: Ritual alone is meaningless. Even within tantra there is the completion stage, which is beyond the strictures of ritual. A person may be satisfied that they have done their 'duty' or kept their 'vows' by engaging in daily ritual but have they observed body and mind or entered deeper meditative states?

Ritual does not, of itself, facilitate this and may even function as a convenient replacement.

That said, if we can consider 'worship' as a form of self-abandonment / relinquishment, then it may be of some value. Anything which helps us release our self-grasping is helpful; emptiness, relinquishment, or a locus of indivisible bliss and emptiness.

04-27-2012, 04:32 PM	#23
Pwy9egVW Join Date Nov 2005 Posts 470 Senior Member	Without worship, humility is lacking and the ego is excessive. Ritualization is our disipline and practice. Hi Bgood, I disagree with the basic premise behind these two statements. Firstly, worship does not guarantee an ego-free person. One who bows before his superiors may feel inclined to expect similar deference from those he deems his inferiors. He may also become hardened in his opinions towards those who do not share his devotions. Second point: Ritual alone is meaningless. Even within tantra there is the completion stage, which is beyond the strictures of ritual. A person may be satisfied that they have done their 'duty' or kept their 'vows' by engaging in daily ritual but have they observed body and mind or entered deeper meditative states? Ritual does not, of itself, facilitate this and may even function as a convenient replacement. That said, if we can consider 'worship' as a form of self-abandonment / relinquishment, then it may be of some value. Anything which helps us release our self-grasping is helpful; emptiness, relinquishment, or a locus of indivisible bliss and emptiness.
	Quote