Many people unfamiliar with Buddhism who visit temples may observe buddhist rituals such as bowing to the Buddha, chanting sutras, repentance ceremonies, and daily practices, and, not understanding their true meaning, may dismiss them as mere superstition. There are many aspects to these practices, and we will briefly discuss a few below:
(1) Bowing to the Buddha of Buddhist Rituals: Showing Respect, Not Idol Worship
When entering a temple, people may bow to the Buddha and offer incense, flowers, and candles. Some Western religious followers may view this as idol worship and superstition. However, the Buddha is our teacher and an enlightened being who has reached perfect enlightenment. Great Bodhisattvas are also on the path to becoming Buddhas. These beings are our refuge and our guides. Showing respect to the Buddha and Bodhisattvas is important, similar to how we show respect to our parents through proper manners. When the Buddha was alive, there was no problem in showing respect to him directly. However, now that Shakyamuni Buddha has entered Nirvana, and other Buddhas and Bodhisattvas are not in our world, we use images made of paper, clay, wood, or stone to represent them. These images are objects of respect, and we bow to them not because of the materials they are made of, but because they represent the Buddha and Bodhisattvas.
For instance, if we love our country, how do we show our respect? We use colored cloth to make a national flag. When the flag is raised, we respectfully salute it. Can we say that this is a superstitious act? Catholicism also uses images, and while Christianity does not have images of God, they use the cross as an object of reverence, and some even kneel in prayer. What is the difference between this and bowing to the Buddha? Saying that bowing to the Buddha is idol worship shows a misunderstanding of the meaning of our practice from Western religious followers.
As for incense, flowers, and candles, these were used in India to make offerings to the Buddha during his time. Candles represent light, while incense and flowers represent fragrance and purity. When we offer these items to the Buddha, it is a sign of our reverence and also a reminder that we receive light and purity from the Buddha. The offerings are not so that the Buddha can smell or see better. Many Western religions, especially Catholicism, also use these offerings. This practice is common in many religions. Bowing to the Buddha should be done with respect and sincerity, and during the act, one should contemplate the true essence of the Buddha. If you are bowing while thinking about other things, or speaking, it is disrespectful and loses the meaning of the practice.
(2) Repentance of Buddhist Rituals: Acknowledging Wrongdoings and Seeking Purification
Buddhist followers engaging in repentance practices and chanting sutras are often misunderstood by other religions and non-religious individuals as superstitious. The term “repentance” or “Chan” in Sanskrit means acknowledging one’s mistakes. Everyone has made mistakes in past lives and in this present life, creating negative karma that leads to suffering and obstacles to spiritual practice. To lessen and eliminate these obstacles, we confess our wrongdoings before the Buddha, Bodhisattvas, and the Sangha, aiming to purify our karmic hindrances. This is similar to repentance in Christianity, which is essential for spiritual progress. True repentance comes from within and must be genuine.
However, if people do not know how to repent on their own, ancient masters compiled rituals to teach us. We recite the words and contemplate the meaning, acknowledging our wrongdoings. The repentance rituals guide us on how to bow to the Buddha, seek the compassionate protection of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, acknowledge our mistakes such as killing, stealing, and sexual misconduct, and make vows to correct our ways. These rituals were developed by past masters (similar to the Lord’s Prayer in Christianity). But it is important that true repentance comes from the heart.
Some people cannot even recite the existing rituals and ask monks or nuns to lead the recitation. Eventually, they may not even understand the meaning of repentance and only rely on others to do it for them. Some even request these rituals for their deceased family members, hoping to rely on the blessings of the Triple Gem to eliminate their sins and elevate them to a better rebirth. However, if they do not understand the true meaning of the Dharma, doing this only for show or following customs, spending money to ask monks to perform repentance rituals, without true faith or sincere remorse, the practice loses its meaning.
Over time, the true meaning of repentance in Buddhism became diluted. Practitioners themselves do not repent but ask monks and nuns to do it for them. This makes monks and nuns busy with rituals, performing them daily for different families. Some temples focus solely on rituals, neglecting their primary duties. This is why Buddhism has declined. Repentance must come from oneself. Genuine repentance for even an hour has more merit than asking many people to perform rituals for several days. If you understand this, such as how we owe filial piety to our parents, performing repentance for them has great merit due to the close blood ties. Do not turn repentance and making merit into a job for monks and nuns. This will only create slander and misunderstandings.
(3) Daily Chanting of Buddhist Rituals: Integrating Practice into Daily Life
In Buddhism, the practice of reciting sutras and chanting the Buddha’s name in the morning and evening is called daily chanting, or kewsong. Christians also pray in the morning and evening and before meals, while Catholics also recite scripture daily. These religious practices are not inherently problematic. However, some people have told me that they find that since becoming Buddhist, their problems have increased, particularly when their family members dedicate one or two hours to daily practice. This can lead to the misconception that Buddhism is only suitable for the elderly, as it may disrupt family life. Indeed, this is a situation for some lay practitioners.
However, morning and evening practice does not have to include specific scriptures, or Buddha names, nor does it need to take a long time. Practitioners can adjust the time according to their situation. It is important to recite the Three Refuges, and the Ten Vows, are also important. Japanese Buddhism, such as Pure Land, Tendai, and Esoteric Buddhism, have their own concise daily practices that do not take too long. This was also the state of Buddhism during the Tang and Song Dynasties. Modern Chinese daily chanting practices are based on those used in monasteries, which house hundreds of monks and nuns and require more time for group practice. Additionally, the merging of different Buddhist schools since the Yuan and Ming Dynasties has led to the development of more inclusive rituals. However, lay practitioners do not necessarily need to follow these routines. In ancient India, Mahayana practitioners practiced repentance six times a day for short periods of time. The frequency of practice is more important than the length of time. The most important aspect of Buddhist practice is not just rituals. Lay practitioners must not let practice interfere with their daily responsibilities.
(4) Burning Paper of Buddhist Rituals: A Cultural Custom, Not a Buddhist Practice
In ancient China, there was a custom of burning silk when offering sacrifices to ancestors. This was later simplified by using paper. Over time, paper was made into the shape of money, gold ingots, and even houses and cars. These are cultural customs and not part of Buddhist practices.
These customs may have some value in that they allow children to show respect to their parents. When we eat, we remember our parents and ancestors. When we have a house to live in and clothes to wear, we think of our ancestors, which is a way of remembering their kindness. When Buddhism was introduced to China, it adapted to the local culture, blending in with Buddhist practices of chanting and bowing. However, Confucian values of “making funerals a priority” and “lavish burials” led to extravagant and wasteful practices, such as burning more paper as a sign of filial piety. This is what modern critics find problematic.
Buddhists should understand the true meaning of these practices and should ideally avoid burning paper. It is not a Buddhist practice. If you want to memorialize your ancestors, a small symbolic offering is enough. You should not burn paper in temples as it will give Buddhism a bad name.
(5) Fortune Telling and Spirit Mediums: Not Part of Authentic Buddhism
Some temples may have activities like drawing lots, fortune-telling, or spirit mediumship, which are often criticized as superstitious. However, authentic Buddhism does not allow such practices (whether they are effective or not is a separate issue). True Buddhists believe in karma. If one has committed negative actions in the past or present, they cannot avoid the consequences through these practices. Good actions lead to good outcomes, and bad actions lead to bad outcomes. To receive good results, one must do good deeds. Buddhist disciples should focus on doing good deeds and acting appropriately and ethically. We should not rely on opportunistic methods. These practices have nothing to do with Buddhism, and true Buddhists should absolutely avoid these kinds of lower religious practices.
This content provides valuable insight into Buddhist practices and how they can be misunderstood, offering a deeper understanding for those unfamiliar with Buddhism. Internal links could be added to link to other articles about specific Buddhist topics, such as the concept of Karma, the three refuges, and the ten vows, etc.
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