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Prayer, Meditation and Symbols

The teacher sits and uncovers some ritual objects on the table which she will offer – a bell, vajra, drum (damaru).

Prayers are chanted and we see how these objects are offered. A monk offers a special mudra (symbolic hand gesture) with prayer beads (mala).

There then follows a short meditation, when the monk uses mala beads to help him recite a prayer.

The section concludes with other examples of how the different objects are used as offerings to Buddha. For example, the bell is offered in a number of different ways.

Background Information

The Objects and Making Offerings

Just as the offerings on the shrine represent the act of giving and help Buddhists to develop greater wisdom and compassion, so the offering of ritual objects help to develop a mind of giving. Buddhists must not only perform the act of giving in a physical sense, they must also develop the intention to give – or the mind of giving.

Offerings can be of many kinds:

  • We have watched the Buddhists as they prostrate
  • Offerings of food are placed on the shrine
  • 7 offering bowls are placed on the shrine – representing water for drinking, water for bathing, flowers, incense, lights, perfume and food
  • We see offerings of the bell and drum (damaru) – music
  • We watch the monk as he places his hands in a mudra. This particular mudra symbolises the Buddhist universe – a vast pure land with a mountain in the middle. He places beads around this, like a fence protecting that land. In making this offering to the Buddhas, he imagines that he is offering the whole universe.

Making offerings helps Buddhists develop greater wisdom and compassion and so progress on the path to enlightenment. Buddhists believe that they protect their minds from self grasping as they making offerings of food and practice giving. Giving is one of the Six Perfections.

The Six Perfections

The Six Perfections include the actions of the Noble Eightfold Path of other Buddhist traditions. They are:

  • The perfection of giving – both material things and Dharma
  • The perfection of moral discipline – abstaining from that which is not virtuous and from committing negative actions
  • The perfection of patience – in order to accept troubles and indispositions
  • The perfection of effort – in order to overcome distractions and maintain enthusiasm of virtuous practices
  • The perfection of mental stabilization or concentration – in order to improve focus
  • The perfection of wisdom – in order to distinguish between what is virtuous and what is not

Questions to Discuss from the Film:

  • What symbols did the Buddhists use?
  • What do you think they meant?
  • What symbols are important in your life?

Classroom Activities

Meditation

Simple Relaxation & Breathing Meditation

PDF Document Download Simple Relaxation & Breathing Meditation
PDF Document Download Preparatory Breathing Meditation

 

Symbolism

Think about important symbols in your life – eg: a football scarf; something you picked up from the beach on a memorable holiday. Download and complete this chart:

PDF Document Download the chart for this activity

 

Compare and Contrast - The Buddhas Tara and Dorje Shugdan

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PDF Document Download worksheet 2