Is there anything I should pay attention to the day before I worship Buddha? Do I need to abstain from sex?

Temples are pure and sacred places. For Buddhists, if they want to pray for things big or small in life, they will go to the temple to burn incense and worship Buddha, hoping to get the care of the Bodhisattva. However, there are still many rules we must abide by when worshiping Buddha.

What should you pay attention to the day before worshipping Buddha?

1. Take a bath and purify yourself before worshipping Buddha:
If you are prepared to burn incense and worship Buddha, it is best to bathe in advance and enter the temple with a clean body and mind.

2. Do not eat meat the day before you worship Buddha:
Meat, other fish, garlic, onions, tobacco, alcohol, etc. will pollute the mouth and are disrespectful to Buddha, so it is best to avoid eating them before worshiping Buddha.

Other things to note when worshipping Buddha

1. Dress neatly and behave politely: When entering a temple, it is advisable to dress neatly, wear shoes and hats. Do not dress inappropriately, especially women. Do not wear overly revealing clothes or heavy makeup when entering a Buddhist temple. Do not go to the temple during menstruation. No smoking, chewing gum, fighting or playing are allowed in the Buddhist temple.

2. When entering a Buddhist temple, it is best not to enter through the middle door, but rather through the side door. After entering the temple, you should not walk straight in the center. You should walk in the direction of your left arm when entering the hall. When entering the hall, your hat and cane should not be placed on the Buddhist table or seat.

3. Do not touch things in the temple: Things in the temple should not be touched randomly, especially the ritual instruments such as bells, drums, fish chimes, etc. Things like fruits and plants should not be picked at will.

4. Do not overstep your bounds when worshipping Buddha: The prayer mat in the center of the main hall is for the temple master and should not be used for worship. Instead, use the stools on both sides, with men using the left and women using the right.

5. Read the scriptures with caution: You may only read scriptures that are open to the public in the temple. But before reading, you must wash your hands first, place the book flat on the table and read it. Do not hold the book in your hand or place it on your knees. Clothes, hats and other items should not be added to the scriptures.

6. There are etiquettes for worshipping monks: The common way of greeting when meeting a monk is to put your hands together and bow your head slightly to show respect. Avoid inappropriate etiquette such as shaking hands, hugging, and touching the monk's head. You should not bow to a monk when he is worshiping, meditating, chanting scriptures, eating, sleeping, walking, or going to the toilet.

7. Etiquette for listening to the sutras: Follow the others in bowing and taking a seat. If you arrive later and the master has already taken his seat, you must bow to the Buddha, take a step back, and then bow to the master again. After taking a seat, do not greet acquaintances, sit up or down, or cough.

Do I need to abstain from sex the day before worshiping Buddha?

There is no need to abstain from sex the day before worshipping Buddha. There is no rule that you must abstain from sex before and after worshipping Buddha.

1. As long as you are willing to worship Buddha, you can do so at any time. Regardless of whether one's body is clean or dirty, and regardless of whether one has done good or evil deeds, as long as one wants to worship Buddha, anyone can sincerely and respectfully worship the Buddhas of the ten directions. The rest doesn't matter. To devote oneself to Buddha, even for a moment, is a great virtue. If you are a devout Buddhist, there is no requirement to abstain from sex before and after worshiping Buddha. Whether or not to have a house is your own decision. Only those who have taken the vow of celibacy are not allowed to do so. Do not be lascivious.

2. If you have deep faith in Buddha and want to obtain perfect merit, you should bathe, fast, purify your body, speech, and mind before worshiping Buddha. You should worship Buddha with utmost sincerity and respect. You should not kill, steal, or commit adultery. You should not speak divisively, abusively, lie, or speak falsely. You should not be greedy, angry, or ignorant. This is a voluntary choice to not commit adultery. There are no fixed requirements. There will be no one supervising, and people will practice the Dharma voluntarily and happily.