![An offering at Chaitya Bhoomi](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fd/An_offering_at_Chaitya_Bhoomi.png)
In
Buddhism
Buddhism ( , ), also known as Buddha Dharma and Dharmavinaya (), is an Indian religion or philosophical tradition based on teachings attributed to the Buddha. It originated in northern India as a -movement in the 5th century BCE, and gra ...
, symbolic offerings are made to the
Triple Gem
In Buddhism, refuge or taking refuge refers to a religious practice, which often includes a prayer or recitation performed at the beginning of the day or of a practice session. Since the period of Early Buddhism until present time, all Theravada ...
, giving rise to contemplative gratitude and inspiration. Typical material offerings involve simple objects such as a lit candle or oil lamp, burning incense, flowers, food, fruit, water or drinks.
Within the traditional Buddhist framework of
karma
Karma (; sa, कर्म}, ; pi, kamma, italic=yes) in Sanskrit means an action, work, or deed, and its effect or consequences. In Indian religions, the term more specifically refers to a principle of cause and effect, often descriptivel ...
and
rebirth
Rebirth may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media
Film
* ''Rebirth'' (2011 film), a 2011 Japanese drama film
* ''Rebirth'' (2016 film), a 2016 American thriller film
* ''Rebirth'', a documentary film produced by Project Rebirth
* ''The Re ...
, offerings lead to the accumulation of merit, which leads to:
:* a better
rebirth
Rebirth may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media
Film
* ''Rebirth'' (2011 film), a 2011 Japanese drama film
* ''Rebirth'' (2016 film), a 2016 American thriller film
* ''Rebirth'', a documentary film produced by Project Rebirth
* ''The Re ...
in the
cycle of birth and death (Pali: ''vattagamini-kusala'')
:* progress towards
release from suffering (Pali: ''vivattagamini-kusala'').
These offerings often act as preparation for
meditation
Meditation is a practice in which an individual uses a technique – such as mindfulness, or focusing the mind on a particular object, thought, or activity – to train attention and awareness, and achieve a mentally clear and emotionally cal ...
.
In some traditions, two different types of offerings are identified:
*material or hospitality offerings (Pali: ''amisa-puja''
[Lee & Thanissaro (1998).] or ''sakkara-puja'')
*practice offerings (Pali: ''patipatti-puja'')
Material offering
Material offerings are considered ''external'' offerings of "words and deeds."
Material offerings nurture generosity (Pali:''
dāna
Dāna (Devanagari: दान, International Alphabet of Sanskrit Transliteration, IAST: Dānam) is a Sanskrit and Pali word that connotes the virtue of generosity, charity (practice), charity or giving of alms in Indian philosophies.
In Hindui ...
'') and virtue (Pali: ''
sīla
Buddhist ethics are traditionally based on what Buddhists view as the enlightened perspective of the Buddha. The term for ethics or morality used in Buddhism is ''Śīla'' or ''sīla'' (Pāli). ''Śīla'' in Buddhism is one of three sections of ...
''). The act further honors the Triple Gem (the
Buddha
Siddhartha Gautama, most commonly referred to as the Buddha, was a śramaṇa, wandering ascetic and religious teacher who lived in South Asia during the 6th or 5th century BCE and founded Buddhism.
According to Buddhist tradition, he was ...
,
Dhamma
Dharma (; sa, धर्म, dharma, ; pi, dhamma, italic=yes) is a key concept with multiple meanings in Indian religions, such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism and others. Although there is no direct single-word translation for ''d ...
and
Sangha
Sangha is a Sanskrit word used in many Indian languages, including Pali meaning "association", "assembly", "company" or "community"; Sangha is often used as a surname across these languages. It was historically used in a political context t ...
), deepening one's commitment to the
Buddha's path.
Material offerings might be imbued with the following symbology:
*the lighting of a candle or an oil lamp represents the light of wisdom illuminating the darkness of ignorance.
*the burning of incense represents the fragrant scent of morality.
*flowers represents the aspiration to achieve the body of the Buddha with the
thirty-two marks of the Buddha as well as the teaching of
impermanence
Impermanence, also known as the philosophical problem of change, is a philosophical concept addressed in a variety of religions and philosophies. In Eastern philosophy it is notable for its role in the Buddhist three marks of existence. It is ...
. Alternately, a Zen verse expresses the desire for the mind's "flowers" to "bloom in the springtime of enlightenment."
*food, fruit, water, drinks represents the nectar of Dharma and the wish to achieve it.
Traditional chants in Pali, when offering lit candles (''padīpa pūjā'') and incense (''sugandha pūjā'') to an image of the Buddha are:
Similarly, a traditional Pali incense-lighting verse speaks of the Buddha's "fragrant body and fragrant face, fragrant with infinite virtues."
[Harvey (1990), p. 175.]
By contemplating on an offering, one tangibly sees life's impermanence (Pali: ''
anicca
Impermanence, also known as the philosophical problem of change, is a philosophical concept addressed in a variety of religions and philosophies. In Eastern philosophy it is notable for its role in the Buddhist three marks of existence. It is ...
''), one of the
three characteristics
In Buddhism, the three marks of existence are three characteristics (Pali: tilakkhaṇa; Sanskrit: त्रिलक्षण trilakṣaṇa) of all existence and beings, namely '' aniccā'' (impermanence), '' dukkha'' (commonly translated as "su ...
of all things upon which the Buddha encouraged his disciplines to
recollect
The Recollects (french: Récollets) were a French reform branch of the Friars Minor, a Franciscan order. Denoted by their gray habits and pointed hoods, the Recollects took vows of poverty and devoted their lives to prayer, penance, and spirit ...
. For instance, the end of a traditional chant in Pali, when offering flowers (''puppha pūjā'') to an image of the Buddha is:
In
Northern Buddhism, sacred images have set before them:
* water (representing hospitality, to wash the face and feet)
* scarves (Tib. ''kha-btags'', offering friendship)
* flowers, incense, lamps, perfume and food (representing one's devoting all their senses to their spiritual practice).
Non-material offerings
Practice offerings may be manifested by practicing:
* giving (Pali: ''
dāna
Dāna (Devanagari: दान, International Alphabet of Sanskrit Transliteration, IAST: Dānam) is a Sanskrit and Pali word that connotes the virtue of generosity, charity (practice), charity or giving of alms in Indian philosophies.
In Hindui ...
'')
* moral conduct (''
sīla
Buddhist ethics are traditionally based on what Buddhists view as the enlightened perspective of the Buddha. The term for ethics or morality used in Buddhism is ''Śīla'' or ''sīla'' (Pāli). ''Śīla'' in Buddhism is one of three sections of ...
'')
* meditation (''
samādhi
''Samadhi'' (Pali and sa, समाधि), in Buddhism, Hinduism, Jainism, Sikhism and yogic schools, is a state of meditation, meditative consciousness. In Buddhism, it is the last of the eight elements of the Noble Eightfold Path. In the Ash ...
'')
* wisdom (''
pañña'')
In the
Pali Canon
The Pāli Canon is the standard collection of scriptures in the Theravada Buddhist tradition, as preserved in the Pāli language. It is the most complete extant early Buddhist canon. It derives mainly from the Tamrashatiya school.
During th ...
, the Buddha declared practice offerings (Patipatti) as "the best way of honoring the Buddha" and as the "supreme" offering.
This is primarily an ''internal'' offering for mental development (Pali: ''
citta
''Citta'' (Pali and Sanskrit: चित्त; pronounced ''chitta''; IAST: ''citta)'' is one of three overlapping terms used in the '' nikaya'' to refer to the mind, the others being '' manas'' and '' viññāṇa''. Each is sometimes used in ...
'', ''
bhāvanā
''Bhāvanā'' (Pali;Rhys Davids & Stede (1921-25), p. 503, entry for "Bhāvanā," retrieved 9 December 2008 from "U. Chicago" a Sanskrit: भावना, also ''bhāvanā''Monier-Williams (1899), p. 755, see "Bhāvana" and "Bhāvanā", retriev ...
'' and ''
samādhi
''Samadhi'' (Pali and sa, समाधि), in Buddhism, Hinduism, Jainism, Sikhism and yogic schools, is a state of meditation, meditative consciousness. In Buddhism, it is the last of the eight elements of the Noble Eightfold Path. In the Ash ...
'').
''"But Ananda, whatever bhikkhu or bhikkhuni, layman or laywoman, abides by the Dhamma, lives uprightly in the Dhamma, walks in the way of the Dhamma, it is by such a one that the Tathagata is respected, venerated, esteemed, worshipped, and honored in the highest degree." (Taken from
Mahāparinibbāṇa Sutta
The ''Mahāparinibbāṇa Sutta'' is Sutta 16 in the ''Digha Nikaya'', a scripture belonging to the Sutta Pitaka of Theravada Buddhism. It concerns the end of Gautama Buddha's life - his parinibbana - and is the longest sutta of the Pāli Ca ...
,
Dīgha Nikāya
The Digha Nikaya (dīghanikāya; "Collection of Long Discourses") is a Buddhist scriptures collection, the first of the five Nikāyas, or collections, in the Sutta Pitaka, which is one of the "three baskets" that compose the Pali Tipitaka of ...
)''
See also
*
Buddhānussati
*
Sacca-kiriya
Sacca-kiriyā (Pāli; sa, satya-kriya, italic=yes, but more often: ''satyādhiṣṭhāna'')'' or '' sa, satyavādya''; '' pi, saccavacana'' or '' sa, satyavacana''; ''satyopavācana'', ''satyarākya'', ''satyavākya'', ''satyavacas'' or ''saty ...
*
Learning the Buddha Dhamma
*
Dana (Buddhism)
Dana may refer to:
People Given name
* Dana (given name)
Surname
* Dana (surname)
* Dana family of Cambridge, Massachusetts
** James Dwight Dana (1813–1895), scientist, zoological author abbreviation Dana
Nickname or stage name
* Dan ...
*
Ethical Conduct (Buddhism)
*
Spiritual Cultivation (Buddhism)
*
Contemplation (Buddhism)
*
Meditation (Buddhism)
*
Chanting (Buddhism)
*
Devotion (Buddhism)
Devotion, a central practice in Buddhism, refers to commitment to religious observances or to an object or person, and may be translated with Sanskrit or Pāli terms like ''saddhā'', ''gārava'' or ''pūjā''. Central to Buddhist devotion is th ...
*
Householder (Buddhism)
In English translations of Buddhist texts, householder denotes a variety of terms. Most broadly, it refers to any layperson, and most narrowly, to a wealthy and prestigious familial patriarch. In contemporary Buddhist communities, householder is ...
Notes
Bibliography
*Harvey, Peter (1990). ''An introduction to Buddhism: Teachings, history and practices''. Cambridge: Cambridge University. .
*Indaratana Maha Thera, Elgiriye (2002). ''Vandana: The Album of Pali Devotional Chanting and Hymns''. Penang, Malaysia:Mahindarama Dhamma Publication. Retrieved 2007-10-22 from "BuddhaNet" a
*Kariyawasam, A.G.S. (1995). ''Buddhist Ceremonies and Rituals of Sri Lanka'' (The Wheel Publication No. 402/404). Kandy, Sri Lanka: Buddhist Publication Society. Retrieved 2007-10-23 from "Access to Insight" (1996 transcription) at http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/kariyawasam/wheel402.html#ch3.
*
Phillip Kapleau, Kapleau, Philip (1989b). ''Zen: Merging of East and West''. NY:Anchor Book. .
*Khantipalo, Bhikkhu (1982). ''Lay Buddhist Practice: The Shrine Room, Uposatha Day, Rains Residence'' (The Wheel No. 206/207). Kandy, Sri Lanka:Buddhist Publication Society. Retrieved 2007-10-22 from "Access to Insight" (transcribed 1995) at http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/khantipalo/wheel206.html.
*Lee Dhammadharo, Ajaan & Thanissaro Bhikkhu (trans.) (1998). ''Visakha Puja''. Retrieved 2007-10-22 from "Access to Insight" at http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/thai/lee/visakha.html.
*
Nyanaponika Thera
Nyanaponika Thera or Nyanaponika Mahathera (July 21, 1901 – 19 October 1994) was a German-born Theravada Buddhist monk and scholar who, after ordaining in Sri Lanka, later became the co-founder of the Buddhist Publication Society and autho ...
(2000). ''The Vision of Dhamma: Buddhist Writings of Nyanaponika Thera''. Seattle: BPS Pariyatti Editions. .
*Soni, R.L. & Bhikkhu Khantipalo (2006). ''Life's Highest Blessings: The Maha Mangala Sutta''. Retrieved 2007-10-22 from "Access to Insight" at http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/soni/wheel254.htm.
External links
About the Buddha-altarSoto Zen home altar with offerings.
{{Buddhism topics
Buddhist devotion
Religious food and drink