Entering the Meditation Room & Prostrating
A small group of Buddhists - ordained and lay - enter the Meditation Room and prepare for puja. They have removed their shoes and show respect by standing with their hands together, as their teacher enters.
As the first of the prayers is chanted the Buddhists prostrate in front of the shrine, to Buddha.
Background Information
The Meditation Room
The Meditation Room is kept clean and before entering it everyone removes their shoes. By doing this, Buddhists believe that they are leaving the everyday world behind and entering somewhere very special where there are no worldly attachments – like a pure land. Visitors also remove their shoes out of respect.
Prostrating
Buddhists place their hands together as a gesture of love and respect towards the Buddhas.
The hands are placed together on the crown of the head as a request to bless the bodies of the Buddhists.
The hands are then placed at the throat as a request to bless speech.
The hands are placed at the level of the heart, where Buddhists believe the mind is located – requesting the blessing of the mind.
Buddhists then place their palms, knees and the crown of their head to the floor – in an act of submission and humility as they attempt to rid themselves of pride – a major obstruction in relying on the Three Jewels – the Buddha, the Dharma (Buddha’s teachings) and the Sangha (the community of Buddhists).
Questions to Discuss from the Film:
- How do Buddhists show respect?
- Who do you show respect to and how?
- What questions do you have?
Classroom Activities
How Do You Show Respect
Who and what do you show respect to, how do you do this and why? Download and compete the chart below.
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Download the chart for this activity |