The correct way and taboos of burning incense at home What to say when burning incense at home

Whether we burn incense at home or in various large and small temples, we should use the correct method of burning incense, which shows respect for the gods. So what is the correct way to burn incense at home? What should you say when burning incense at home?

The correct way and taboos of burning incense at home

1. First, light the incense with your own fire. This is the first and most important step in burning incense. Use your forehead and index fingers to pinch the incense stick, with your thumbs staring at the end of the incense, and hold the incense high to your chest, with the incense head facing the Buddha statue. Here, gather the incense between your eyebrows, then put it down. Repeat this three times before inserting the incense into the incense burner. When checking, you also need to pay attention to the first incense stick being inserted in the middle, the second incense stick being inserted on the right, and the third incense stick being inserted on the left.
2. Of course, there are different rules for burning incense. What we just talked about is ordinary thin incense. If you burn small pieces or branch-shaped incense, then the method will be different. First, hold the two ends of the incense with the thumbs and index fingers of both hands, and keep the middle finger, ring finger and little finger open and straight, and then raise them high to the eyebrows. Put it into the incense burner. In fact, to put it bluntly, the rules for burning incense are fixed, but people are flexible. Although rules are important, sincerity is more important. This is what Buddhism often says: sincerity is the key to success.
3. Burning incense is a very solemn and sacred thing so no slanderous actions should be performed. It is best to wash the hands when burning incense. One must be sincere when burning incense, whether it is worshiping Buddha or traditional etiquette. The most exciting part of burning incense is when you kowtow. But it's okay if you are sincere. Generally, sincere people are very particular about etiquette.
4. Do not disturb others and do not be disturbed by others when burning incense. This is very rude. There are also rules for the number of incense sticks to burn. You should know that three sticks are for praying for yourself, six sticks are for praying for two generations, and nine sticks are for praying for three generations. And thirteen is an extreme; thirteen incense sticks are high incense that represents complete merit.

What to say when burning incense at home

1. Make offerings to the Buddha, and be awakened and not confused;
The method of offering is correct and not evil; when burning incense, silently recite the three offerings.
Offerings to monks are pure and untainted.
2. The Offering Verse:
May this cloud of fragrant flowers fill the ten directions.
Make offerings to all Buddhas, respect the Dharma and all sages,
In the boundless Buddha land, enjoy the Buddha's work.
It will benefit all sentient beings so that they can all attain Bodhi together.
3. May this cloud of fragrant flowers fill the ten directions.
Each of the Buddha lands is adorned with infinite fragrance.
Possess the complete Bodhisattva Path and achieve the Fragrance of Tathagata. How to burn incense correctly when offering to Buddha.