[Hujkmlopes]

Somehow I think the Buddha of the Pali Canon might have been very surprised if he had seen some of the 'Buddhist' rites and rituals which are performed today. This is how he described those with insight:

I guess he might have ... my response to your idea, Aloka-D, is that I doubt that he would harbour such thoughts though.
Also, the relevant point that has been made already about some of the rites and rituals involved in practice for some of us are that they are not indulged in nor meaningless whilst also not being the practice ( I do understand that this can easily be misunderstood ).

[Acrogeokickic]

I guess he might have ... my response to your idea, Aloka-D, is that I doubt that he would harbour such thoughts though Well...my comment and your comment afterwards are both completely speculative, lol !

Also, the relevant point that has been made already about some of the rites and rituals involved in practice for some of us are that they are not indulged in nor meaningless To be honest, in my own experience, some of the Tibetan rites and rituals I took part in years ago, now seem like something quite strange that I did in another lifetime - but 'each to their own' as the saying goes.

[Pwy9egVW]

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.

[Yb4bulVR]

Well...my comment and your comment afterwards are both completely speculative, lol !

, indeedy.

To be honest, in my own experience, some of the Tibetan rites and rituals I took part in years ago, now seem like something quite strange that I did in another lifetime - but 'each to their own' as the saying goes.

Sometimes when you speak of your past experience it reminds me of when I hear people discussing their experience of Catholicism - mine has been very different.

[RaicickKida]

Sometimes when you speak of your past experience it reminds me of when I hear people discussing their experience of Catholicism - mine has been very different

Water is a nuturing home environment for a fish, something to drink for a large land animal - and can result in drowning for a small creature falling into it.

Different strokes for different folks.

[JohnVK]

To give up all the burden of misconceptions stored in the mind from years of accumulated ignorance necessarily leads to prise deeply the word of Gotama Buddha touching the delicate line of devotional feeling.

Beautiful. Your words are pure poetry.

[Ferkilort]

Returning to the topic of worship again, this is a quote from Ajahn Sumedho in his book "The Sound of Silence"


Don't put Buddha-Dharma on a pillar on a shrine and worship it there.

A shrine, like a Buddha-rupa in a temple, is merely for reminding, for reflection, not for your projections.


.

[SannyGlow]

I like this thought on the expression of spiritual practice, from the book I am reading this weekend - Jack Kornfield ' A Path with Heart: A Guide through the Perils and Promises of Spiritual Life '.

" We must begin with ourselves. The universal truths of spiritual life can come alive only in our personal circumstances. This personal approach to practice honours the timeless and mysterious dance of birth and death, and also our particular body, our particular family and community, the personal history and the joys and sorrows that have been given to us. In this way, our awakening is a very personal matter that also affects all other creatures on earth ".