By Essence of Buddhism | September 28, 2013

Here, we are offering the best of ourselves to something higher than us – so that we can one day, aspire to become like that too!

The act of offering is an act of dana – an act of generosity.  So it’s an emotional and physical expression of our reverence:

• To the Buddha himself – the Perfectly Enlightened One
• To the Dharma – the Truth – sometimes we place holy Sutras and Mantras on altars to pay our respects to the wisdom elucidated within those sacred teachings.
• [To the Buddhist monks], To the Noble Enlightened Ones like the Bodhisattvas – like Gwan Yin Bodhisattva who is a symbol of Great Compassion

What sorts of things do we usually offer?

Flowers

Flowers are the most beautiful things in the world, so here, we are offering the most beautiful things in the world to the Buddha.  And when they fade, it is also a reminder that things of the world also fade – so it’s reminds us of the teaching that “Whatever is of the nature to arise is also of the nature to cease”.  But in general, we want to offer the most beautiful things in the world to the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas anyway! Continue reading →

Happy indeed we live without hate among the hateful.
We live free from hatred amidst hateful men.

SAYINGS OF THE BUDDHA
Ven. Dr. K. Sri Dhammananda

Let us live happily then, free from ailments among the ailing! among men who are ailing let us dwell free from ailments! —The Dhammapada

Photo credit: Randy Neufeldt

If a man find no prudent companion who walks with him, is wise, and lives soberly, let him walk alone, like a king who has left his conquered country behind,–like an elephant in the forest. —The Dhammapada

Photo credit: Randy Neufeldt

Hatred and fear blind us. We no longer see each other. We only see the faces of monsters, and that gives us the courage to destroy each other. ~Thich Nhat Hanh