Dharma Realm Buddhist Young Adults

Ceremonies: The Heartbeat of the Monastery

The ceremonies can be considered as the heartbeat of the monastery because they provide a structure and rhythm for daily life.  They are also times when the community gathers together to practice, thus bringing a sense of cooperation and harmony to the monastery.  Numerous visitors are often surprised to find that their most meaningful memories of their visits are of participating in ceremonies.  One college student, after attending a bowing ceremony, commented that she felt like she was connecting to an ancient practice that her own background never gave her.  A few more benefits are described in an article “Introduction to Buddhist Ceremonies.”

1. Ceremonies satisfy the human spirit’s need to find an anchor, a refuge with a higher and purer vision beyond human imperfection.

2. Ceremonies put us in touch with our roots, as we take part in a ritual observance that has been handed down for generations, spanning many successive cultures, languages, and musical patterns.  They put us where we belong between heaven and earth.  Bowing, in particular, sets the mind in balance and subdues the body.

3. Ceremonies can open one’s inherent wisdom, and can lead to an elevated state of clear seeing and keen insight.

Ceremonies are a way to transform our body, mind, and spirit, and the best way to find out how this transformation occurs is to participate in one and experience it for yourself.  Here are some basic tips on how to participate in the ceremony.  (Another way is just to observe or follow people who look like they know what they are doing.)

First, the ceremony begins with three and a half bows.  Bowing is a practice in humility, as well as a gesture of respect.  Bowing in Buddhism is often misunderstood in the West as bowing to idols, but it really is a method for overcoming one’s egoism and finding one’s true nature.  The Buddhas are not thought of as beings separate from oneself, but are symbolic of one’s potential for awakening.  When you are mindful as you bow, the seeds of humility and respect in your heart are nurtured and watered.

You begin with your palms together, and as you bend down, put your right hand in the center of the cushion (or directly in front of you on the ground), and then as your body rocks forward, your left hand goes to the upper left corner of the cushion along with your knees at the bottom of the cushion.  With your weight now primarily on your knees, you move your right hand to the upper-right corner of the cushion and place your head in between your two hands.  As your head touches the cushion, you turn your hands palm up.  Coming up from the bow is the same process in reverse.  You turn your hands palm down, while lifting your head from the cushion, then place your right hand in the center of the cushion.  Push firmly to bring yourself back into a standing position with your palms together again.  You have completed a full bow.

We hope you will find that bowing is something easy to learn and meaningful to practice.  Since this is probably your first time in the monastery, you should refer to a Daily Recitation Handbook to follow along through the ceremony.  Try not to put the book on the ground between bows, which makes the bowing awkward and is considered disrespectful.