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**Bromikka** · 07-23-2011, 04:10 PM

Dear friends,

This thread is a spin-off from the superstition one. Athough my Gombrich reference is a quote from a talk relating to Theravada Buddhism, I think we could widen the issues addressed in this post to not only address different aspects of rituals and ceremonies in Theravada but to discuss it in relation to all Buddhist traditions.

Ok, here's what Ajahn Buddhadasa said in 'Handbook for Mankind':

As we have said, Buddhism is a practical method for liberating oneself from suffering by means of coming to realize as did the Buddha himself, the true nature of things. Now any religious text is bound to contain material which later people have found occasion to add to, and our Tipitaka is no exception.

People in later ages have added sections based on then current ideas, either in order to boost people's confidence or out of excessive religious zeal. Regrettably even the rites and rituals which have developed and become mixed in with the religion are now accepted and recognized as Buddhism proper.

Ceremonies, such as setting up trays of sweets and fruit as offerings to the "soul" of the Buddha in the same way as alms food is offered to a monk just do not fit in with Buddhist principles. Yet some groups consider this to be genuine Buddhist practice, teaching it as such and keeping to it very strictly.

Rites and ceremonies of this kind have become so numerous that they now completely obscure the real Buddhism and its original purpose.

http://www.buddhanet.net/budasa4.htm
Here's an excerpt from Professor Richard Gombrich in page 2 of 'Comfort or Challenge'- an address given at the end of last year for the International Conference on the Dissemination of Theravada Buddhism:

The Buddhism which measures action by ritual and custom can never
spread anywhere: it is just like the brahminism which the Buddha set out to
criticise, which has never been and never will be adopted by any other
society than the one where it started.

My venerable friends, this is the very heart and gist of my message today. I
am begging you to give up obsession with ritual and custom, to follow the
Buddha’s teaching about ethical intention, and thus bring his message to the
world.
http://www.ocbs.org/index.php?option...ive&Itemid=121

07-23-2011, 04:10 PM	#1
Bromikka Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 527 Senior Member	Rites and Rituals Dear friends, This thread is a spin-off from the superstition one. Athough my Gombrich reference is a quote from a talk relating to Theravada Buddhism, I think we could widen the issues addressed in this post to not only address different aspects of rituals and ceremonies in Theravada but to discuss it in relation to all Buddhist traditions. Ok, here's what Ajahn Buddhadasa said in 'Handbook for Mankind': As we have said, Buddhism is a practical method for liberating oneself from suffering by means of coming to realize as did the Buddha himself, the true nature of things. Now any religious text is bound to contain material which later people have found occasion to add to, and our Tipitaka is no exception. People in later ages have added sections based on then current ideas, either in order to boost people's confidence or out of excessive religious zeal. Regrettably even the rites and rituals which have developed and become mixed in with the religion are now accepted and recognized as Buddhism proper. Ceremonies, such as setting up trays of sweets and fruit as offerings to the "soul" of the Buddha in the same way as alms food is offered to a monk just do not fit in with Buddhist principles. Yet some groups consider this to be genuine Buddhist practice, teaching it as such and keeping to it very strictly. Rites and ceremonies of this kind have become so numerous that they now completely obscure the real Buddhism and its original purpose. http://www.buddhanet.net/budasa4.htm Here's an excerpt from Professor Richard Gombrich in page 2 of 'Comfort or Challenge'- an address given at the end of last year for the International Conference on the Dissemination of Theravada Buddhism: The Buddhism which measures action by ritual and custom can never spread anywhere: it is just like the brahminism which the Buddha set out to criticise, which has never been and never will be adopted by any other society than the one where it started. My venerable friends, this is the very heart and gist of my message today. I am begging you to give up obsession with ritual and custom, to follow the Buddha’s teaching about ethical intention, and thus bring his message to the world. http://www.ocbs.org/index.php?option...ive&Itemid=121
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