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Buddhism has a huge influence in China, so people are accustomed to going to temples to burn incense and worship Buddha no matter big or small. What are the etiquette and taboos of burning incense and worshiping Buddha? What is the significance of burning incense? What are the rules and taboos of burning incense and worshipping Buddha? 1. Wear clean clothes:
When going to a temple to burn incense and worship Buddha, you need to purify yourself the night before and wash away the dust on your body. Also, don't wear anything too flashy or revealing, and make yourself look a little neater.
2. Number of incense sticks to burn:
When burning incense to worship Buddha, the number of incense sticks is also important. 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. Generally speaking, it is best to burn three incense sticks when worshiping Buddha.
3. Notice for entering the temple:
Generally speaking, temples have three doors, a big door in the middle and two small doors on both sides. The door in the middle is called the Empty Gate, and only monks can enter and exit it. The doors on both sides are for pilgrims to enter and exit. Please be careful when entering, and women should step with the right foot. Man steps with left foot. You must not step on the threshold, as this is disrespectful to Buddha. Just step over it when you get in.
4. Holding incense gesture:
When burning incense, you should hold the incense in your left hand. When burning incense, the incense should be lit all at once. The brighter the better. After lighting the incense, if the fire is still not out, do not blow it with your mouth. Just hold it horizontally and shake it up and down. The wind will blow the incense out. When burning incense, hold the incense at the bottom with your right hand and raise it above your head to bow. After bowing, you can place the incense in your hand into the incense burner.
5. Buddha worship etiquette:
When burning incense and worshiping Buddha, your heart must be pious and your hands must be clean, because your hands will be used for bowing and holding incense so they must be clean. When you come to worship Buddha, please be careful when speaking in the temple, do not talk or make noise. Don't point fingers at any Buddha statue. When burning incense and worshiping Buddha, do not step over the cushion when passing by, otherwise it will be regarded as disrespectful.
6. Tips for kowtow:
Burning incense and worshiping Buddha does not mean kowtowing violently. The posture must be correct. First, you need to kneel on the cushion with both knees and put your hands together. Note that the palms should be hollow when putting them together. Raise them above your head, lower them to the mouth and pause. You can make a wish, then lower them to your heart, recite silently, then spread your palms with your palms facing up, and bow down. Bow your head down. Just go back and forth three times.
7. Steps for burning incense:
When burning incense and worshiping Buddha, believers take three incense sticks, light them in the lamp, hold them in their hands, walk in front of the Buddha, and be respectful and sincere in their hearts. Facing the Buddha statue, stand respectfully, hold incense in both hands, and pray to the Buddha with a pure heart. You can silently recite your wishes in your mind, hoping that the Buddha can hear you. When holding up incense, your hands should be in a questioning position. Hold the incense stick with the index and middle fingers of both hands, and press the two thumbs against the tail end of the incense stick. The incense needs to be dragged steadily. Hold the incense sticks horizontally to the level of your eyebrows, and look at the majestic Buddha statue with clear eyes. Look at your nose with your eyes, and look at your heart with your nose. Honesty is what you want in your heart. Put the incense down, hold the incense base with your right hand, and insert the incense with your left hand, with a distance of five centimeters between the two incense sticks. Be careful not to step over the cushion in front of you when burning incense, otherwise it will be considered disrespectful.
The meaning of burning incense 1. Offer sacrifices to the gods. Fragrant clouds linger in the air, offerings rising into the sky to the high immortals in the Cloud Palace in the upper realm, the mighty spirits of the mountains and rivers in the middle realm, the immortal officials in the Water Palace in the lower realm, and all the gods in the three realms.
2. Be sincere and trustworthy . It is said that "Incense arises from sincerity, and smoke comes from faith. Sincerity reaches the heavens, and all the immortals descend to the jade steps." The most representative "Incense Mantra" fully illustrates this point: Tao is learned from the heart, and the mind is expressed through incense smoke. When incense burns in the jade furnace, our hearts are blown into the golden palace with the smoke and float to the white jade steps. All the immortals and saints drove up their chariots, and descended to the temple surrounded by flags and processions. Then the wishes in our hearts can be expressed as far as the nine heavens.
3. Summon the souls of the dead. When we perform funeral ceremonies, we can also call back the souls of the deceased by burning incense. It is said: "With this true incense, we can call back the souls of the deceased, and hope that they can all hear it from afar." It is also said: "A stick of bright incense sends the message, and five boys from the five directions lead the soul back." Among the Quanzhen rituals, there is a "stick of soul-returning incense".
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