What are the taboos when burning incense in a temple? Why don't the ashes fall off when burning incense?

There is always a quiet and peaceful atmosphere in the temple, which makes people can't help but feel awe. Therefore, many people now choose to worship Buddha in order to pursue spiritual peace, but you can't worship Buddha casually.

What are the taboos when burning incense in a temple?

1. Before going to the temple to burn incense, you must eat vegetarian food and not eat any meat or oil.

When burning incense and worshiping Buddha, we must understand one thing. We are not burning incense for the Bodhisattva to see, nor are we eating vegetarian food for the Bodhisattva to see. Instead, we are following the Bodhisattva's instructions and committing less killing. Not eating the flesh of sentient beings will increase our compassion, and we will be able to purify defilements. Naturally, we will be blessed with wisdom and have our wishes come true.

2. When entering the temple, walk on the right side, lift your foot (male left, female right)

Generally, temple buildings have several doors. The highest level one is the Taoist door. It is said that only temples that have been consecrated are qualified to have this door. When going to a temple to burn incense, there are also rules on which door to enter through. The three doors in the middle are for people to enter and exit. The middle door is the "empty door" for monks to enter and exit, while ordinary tourists can only use the door on the right. When entering a door, pay attention to the order of your feet. Men should step in with their left foot first, and women should step in with their right foot first. What you should pay special attention to is not to step on the threshold.

3. Burn incense in a temple with your left hand, not with your mouth

When burning incense, never use the hand that kills lives to light the incense. You should hold the incense in your left hand and the candle in your right hand, because ordinary people use their right hand to kill chickens and cut fish. If you are left-handed, you should do the opposite. After lighting the incense, do not blow it out with your mouth. Lift it up with force and it will naturally go out. Of course, you can also fan it out with your hands. When bowing, the left hand is on top and the right hand is on the bottom, holding the incense and raising it high above the head.

4. After burning incense, kowtow, look at the Buddha, and touch the ground with your palms over your forehead.

According to folk customs, after bowing, you put the incense in the incense burner and then you can enter the temple and kowtow. However, when kowtowing, you need to identify the Buddha, Bodhisattva or Arhat, instead of kowtowing to Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva. The kneeling posture is also very particular. You should kneel on the cushion with both knees, put your hands together with the palms hollow, raise them above your head, and then slowly lower them to your mouth and pause before making a wish. Then spread your hands down to your heart, palms facing up, and knock your head to the ground, with both palms over your forehead to show that your head is touching the Buddha's feet, with utmost respect and sincerity.

5. Believe in cause and effect when you go to a temple to burn incense.

When we go to worship Buddha, we must never worship while having doubts. If you don’t believe in Buddha and Bodhisattva at all, it is best not to pray to Buddha first. There is an old saying: "Don't doubt people when you employ them, and don't employ people if you don't trust them." The same principle applies to worshipping Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. If you trust Bodhisattvas, don't doubt them.

6. Be realistic when you go to the temple to burn incense and make wishes.

When you go to worship Buddha, if you must ask Buddha for something, please remember this sentence: never ask for unrealistic things. Being unrealistic is against cause and effect. If you have not planted good causes, but want to go to Buddha and ask Buddha to bestow blessings on you, having this idea is no different from superstition.

7. Don’t burn strong incense when you go to a temple.

When we worship Buddha and burn incense, we should also pay attention that the taboos here are not formal but inner. When burning incense, we must keep our mind pure and respectful. We can burn three incense sticks or one incense stick, there is no problem, but one thing we must pay special attention to is that it is best not to burn high incense sticks.

8. Don’t make deals with the Buddha when you go to the temple to burn incense.

When you go to the temple to worship Buddha, do not treat the Buddha and Bodhisattva as babysitters, nor treat the Bodhisattva as corrupt officials. Do not ask the Bodhisattva for everything, as this will only increase your greed and laziness. Don't even think about making a deal with the Bodhisattva.

Why does the ash not fall off when burning cigarettes?

In some places, if the ashes do not fall when burning incense, it indicates that the soul of the deceased in the family has come here and is reluctant to leave for a long time. There are folk rumors that if you encounter this situation, you can take some paper money, pray and then burn it, and the soul of the deceased will leave and the ashes will naturally fall. Although this statement is very mysterious and has no scientific basis, there are still people who firmly believe in it. Perhaps regardless of whether it is true or not, for the living, comforting the soul is also a kind of sustenance.