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| .: Prostrations and Bowing :. |
| .: Welcome to Metta Sangha -- Online Sangha for Teen Buddhists! :. |
| Bowing A common misconception is that when Buddhists bow to an image or statue of the Buddha (Buddharupa), they are bowing to a god or idol. This is not true: when we bow to a Buddharupa, we are bowing to acknowledge our potential to awaken; we are bowing to acknowledge the value of this potential. You could say we are bowing to our own Buddha Nature. The simple way to bow is this: Put your hands together in the prayer mudra (a symbolic hand gesture), palms together, hands flat, fingertips touching. Your fingertips should be just in front of your chin. Now bend from your waste. This is a simple bow. Even more beautiful is the full bow. One of the many variations is seen here:: When you bow down your head it symbolizes other things being above you, such as your guru, or Buddha. It is a sign of respect. Sometimes you may bow three times to the Three Refuges (Triple Gem or Ti-ratana; the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha). Here is the Zen variation of the full bow: Do the simple bow first discribed on this page, but then bend your knees and gently drop to the floor so that you are kneeling. You should now be sitting your legs. Now lean forward so that your head comes toward the ground. As you do this, seperate your hands and and point them forward, so that they are parallel, and allow them to rest on the ground from your elbows to your hands, with your palms facing toward the sky. Now lower your head all the way so that your forehead touches the ground, while raising your palms an inch or two above the ground. This symbolizes raising the Buddha above yourself. Prostrations Prostrations are an important part of Buddhism. It is a way of accumulating merit, purifying negative karma, and also symbolizes cutting through our false pride. It is common to do 3 or 108 prostrations. 1. Join your hands together, as if you were about to pray, and then place your hands at the top of your head, pointing toward the sky. 2. With your hand still joined and pointing upward, move them to your forehead, then your chin, and then your heart. 3. Drop down to your knees slowly, while seperating your hands, and drop them palms down to the floor. Continue sliding down towards the floor until you are flat on your stomach, stretching your arms out with your palms down. 4. Once again, put your hands together, as if in prayer, and bend your arms so that your hands are pointing upward again. 5. Put your hands down, and slide back up, using your hands to support yourself. Return to your original position. ~Luthien Rogue -Administrator |
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