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 ...

, 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 descriptively ...

and rebirth, offerings lead to the accumulation of merit, which leads to: :* a better rebirth 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 calm ...

. 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, IAST: Dānam) is a Sanskrit and Pali word that connotes the virtue of generosity, charity or giving of alms in Indian philosophies. In Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism, dāna is the practice of cultiva ...

'') and virtue (Pali: '' sīla''). The act further honors the Triple Gem (the

Buddha Siddhartha Gautama, most commonly referred to as the Buddha, was a 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 born in ...

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 ' ...

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 There are no extant representations of the Buddha represented in artistic form until roughly the 2nd century CE, probably due to the prominence of aniconism in Buddhism in the earliest extant period of Buddhist devotional statuary and bas relief ...

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 ...

. 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 i ...

''), 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 Southern Buddhism, Eastern Buddhism, and Northern Buddhism are geographical terms sometimes used to describe the styles of Buddhism practised in East Asia and Mainland Southeast Asia. Southern Buddhism "Southern Buddhism" represents Buddhis ...

, 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: ''

'') * moral conduct ('' sīla'') * meditation (''

samādhi ''Samadhi'' (Pali and sa, समाधि), in Buddhism, Hinduism, Jainism, Sikhism and yogic schools, is a state of meditative consciousness. In Buddhism, it is the last of the eight elements of the Noble Eightfold Path. In the Ashtanga Yoga ...

'') * 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 ...

, 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 i ...

'', ''

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", retri ...

'' and ''

''). ''"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 C ...

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 ...

)''

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-altar
Soto Zen home altar with offerings.

{{Buddhism topics Buddhist devotion Religious food and drink

Material offering

Non-material offerings

See also

Notes

Bibliography

External links