Rituals and Practices? (Discovering Theravada)

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lkearns
Posts: 12
Joined: Wed Jul 24, 2013 11:57 pm

Rituals and Practices? (Discovering Theravada)

Post by lkearns »

Hello everyone,

For about a year now, I have been making my way following Buddhist teachings and practicing frequent meditation; I have begun to take an interest in formal Buddhist rituals and practices, but I really have no idea where to begin!

I am looking to learn about simple rituals that I can practice daily, alongside meditation, and I would also like to learn about the ethical use and creation of a small home shrine.

Thank you all :)

:namaste:
hermitwin
Posts: 231
Joined: Fri Feb 25, 2011 11:35 pm

Re: Rituals and Practices?

Post by hermitwin »

Buddhist Veneration
In the Theravada tradition, it is customary to pay homage to the Buddha, recite the Three Refuges and undertake to observe the Pancca Sila (Pansil) on visiting a place of worship or at the start of a Buddhist ceremony. One can recite the following stanzas by oneself or invite a Buddhist monk to administer them.
The monk will recite each stanza in the ancient language of Pali and the devotee should repeat it after him


Vandana (Homage)

Namo tassa bhagavato arahato samma sambuddhassa Honour to the Blessed One, the Exalted One, the fully Enlightened One
Namo tassa bhagavato arahato samma sambuddhassa Honour to the Blessed One, the Exalted One, the fully Enlightened One
Namo tassa bhagavato arahato samma sambuddhassa Honour to the Blessed One, the Exalted One, the fully Enlightened One

Tisarana (The Three Refuges)

Buddham saranam gacchami I go to the Buddha as my refuge
Dhammam saranam gacchami I go to the Dhamma as my refuge
Sangham saranam gacchami I go to the Sangha as my refuge
hermitwin
Posts: 231
Joined: Fri Feb 25, 2011 11:35 pm

Re: Rituals and Practices?

Post by hermitwin »

lkearns
Posts: 12
Joined: Wed Jul 24, 2013 11:57 pm

Re: Rituals and Practices?

Post by lkearns »

ah yes I would chant this before meditation in the morning... Is that an appropriate application of the chant?
hermitwin
Posts: 231
Joined: Fri Feb 25, 2011 11:35 pm

Re: Rituals and Practices?

Post by hermitwin »

i think so, I chant it as often as I like.
Coyote
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Location: Wales - UK

Re: Rituals and Practices?

Post by Coyote »

I chant the homage to the triple gem after the homage and the refuges, also bowing before each refuge. It makes a nice daily devotion.

http://www.chantpali.org/homage.html
"If beings knew, as I know, the results of giving & sharing, they would not eat without having given, nor would the stain of miserliness overcome their minds. Even if it were their last bite, their last mouthful, they would not eat without having shared."
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mikenz66
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Joined: Sat Jan 10, 2009 7:37 am
Location: Aotearoa, New Zealand

Re: Rituals and Practices? (Discovering Theravada)

Post by mikenz66 »

Discussion about attachment to rites and rituals split off to here: http://dhammawheel.com/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=18563

:anjali:
Mike
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