| Early in the Buddhist tradition, we don't find statues or | | | | appropriate it in their own experience. |
| images of the Buddha, but Shrines. Holy places that | | | | What is the meaning of these images? In what sense |
| are connected with the presence of the Buddha. | | | | do these images represent the Buddha? In Hindu |
| These Shrines were associated with events or | | | | worship, the deity is called to become present in the |
| objects that were connected with the Buddha's life. | | | | image. In the Buddhist case, the Buddha has achieved |
| These Shrines made possible the early Buddhist | | | | Nirvana and is no longer available. How is the Buddha |
| tradition of pilgrimage. | | | | related to the image? |
| How are you going to worship at a Buddhist Shrine? | | | | It is believed that when the Buddha died, he left behind, |
| Buddhist worship is very similar to the worship you | | | | in his relics and in the objects that he used, a certain |
| would find in the Hindu tradition. You make offerings to | | | | power, a sustaining power. So, to pay homage to |
| the image: fruit, flowers, incense, sometimes a candle. | | | | something like the Buddha's begging ball allows you to |
| Another important thing to do is simply to see the | | | | plug into the lingering power of the Buddha's presence. |
| image. In classical Indian worship, one of the things that | | | | The Buddha himself may be gone, but there is a |
| you do is to go to the image, look at it, and get the | | | | power that he has left behind which you can access |
| sensation that it is looking at you. | | | | by engaging in an act of worship. |
| When lay people go to an image and worship it, the | | | | What kind of power these images give you? On one |
| principal goal would be to make merit. That is to | | | | level, it is physical power that changes reality. On |
| perform good karma so it would be possible for them | | | | another important level, for Buddhists specially, it is a |
| to have a better rebirth in a future life. Worship is | | | | power that grows out of your own response to that |
| associated with prosperity and good luck, not just with | | | | object. You make a meditative connection, that |
| the pursuit of Nirvana. | | | | reminds you of the Buddha's presence. |
| A monk or a nun would not use the Shrines in this | | | | You don't just worship the Buddha in a particular |
| way. They would use the Shrines as a focus of | | | | Shrine, you get access to his power in a way that |
| meditation, to be reminded of the Buddha's teaching. | | | | reminds you of the Dharma and helps you to embody |
| The monk or nun meditates on the image or on the | | | | it in your own experience. |
| Shrine in order to understand the Buddhist Dharma and | | | | |