Buddhist devotion

Buddhist devotion is an important part of the practice of most Buddhists. [Harvey, page 170] According to a spokesman of the Sasana Council of Burma, devotion to Buddhist spiritual practices inspires devotion to the Triple Gem. [Morgan, pages v, 73] Most Buddhists use ritual in pursuit of their spiritual aspirations. [Macmillan (Volume One), page 139]

Examples of devotional practices:

*bowing:
**to images of the Buddha, and in Mahayana also of other Buddhas and bodhisattvas; such images originated some centuries after the Buddha's time
**to religious superiors:
***a monk to a monk ordained earlier
***a nun to a nun ordained earlier
***a nun to a monk, regardless of date of ordination
***a lay person to a monk or nun
*offering flowers, incense etc. to images
*chanting:
**the Three Refuges
**protective chanting: in texts recognized by most scholars as early, the Buddha is portrayed recommending certain texts for protection from snakebite [Anguttara Nikaya, volume II, page 72 (Pali Text Society edition pagination)] and evil spirits [The Atanatiya Sutta in the Digha Nikaya, number 32, in volume III]
**mantras and dharanis in Mahayana: includes the Heart Sutra and om mani padme hum
**homage to Amitabha in Pure Land Buddhism
**homage to the Lotus Sutra in Nichiren Buddhism
*pilgr

**according to sources [Digha Nikaya, volume II, pages 140f (PTS pagination)] recognized by most scholars as early, the Buddha, shortly before his death, recommended pilgrimage to four places:
***his birthplace (Lumbini, now Rummindei in Nepal)
***the site of his enlightenment (Bodh Gaya)
***the site of the preaching of his first sermon (near Benares)
***the place of his death (Kusinara)Other places were later added, particularly in other countries, where pilgrimage to the original sites would be daunting.

A very important form of Buddhist devotion is Pure Land Buddhism, which is practised by most Chinese monks, some combining it with Chan (Zen). [Welch, page 396] It exists as a group of independent denominations in Japan, the most radical, and largest, of which, Jodo Shinshu, holds to a subtle idea of effortless salvation (cf Lutheranism).

ee also

* Puja (Buddhism)

Notes

References

*Harvey, Peter, "An Introduction to Buddhism: Teachings, History and Practices", Cambridge University Press, 1990
*Macmillan "Encyclopedia of Buddhism", 2004
*Morgan, Kenneth W., ed, "The Path of the Buddha: Buddhism Interpreted by Buddhists", Ronald Press, New York, 1956
*Welch, Holmes, "The Practice of Chinese Buddhism, 1900-1950", Harvard University Press, 1967