A statue of a Buddha or Bodhisattva
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which one r you guys placing at home ?
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Buddha Amitabha with "Guan Yin" and "Da Shi Zhi".
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I urge you to seek enlightenment and not be attached to statues.
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come on leh...nobody is attached to the statues leh don be so sensitiveOriginally posted by casino_king:I urge you to seek enlightenment and not be attached to statues.
A statue of a Buddha or Bodhisattva represents That which we seek reunion with, our True Self. -
It may be good to place the statue on a plinth or box to raise it above the altar surface. The meaning here is that one must be willing to elevate oneself to the level of the Teaching and not attempt to bring It down to one's own level of understanding. The Cosmic Buddha meets us half-way, but we are the ones who must make the effort to change.Originally posted by concerned_man:Buddha Amitabha with "Guan Yin" and "Da Shi Zhi". -
But in reality? There is something I am most curious about and that is the need for rituals and physical objects in all religions.Originally posted by neutral_onliner:come on leh...nobody is attached to the statues leh don be so sensitive
A statue of a Buddha or Bodhisattva represents That which we seek reunion with, our True Self.
Even Buddhism, one that claims not to be a religion. Why do you think it is? -
What's wrong? I believe we have many pictures of our president throughout Singapore.Originally posted by casino_king:But in reality? There is something I am most curious about and that is the need for rituals and physical objects in all religions.
Even Buddhism, one that claims not to be a religion. Why do you think it is? -
http://www.jenchen.org.sg/vol7no4c.htm
All forms are illusions
Buddhism is truly detached from idols
People who think that Buddhism is the worshipping of an image of the Buddha, or that the Buddha is somebody whom we can appeal to for favours, should know of two very profound verses from the Diamond Sutra that contradict these popular beliefs. To the intellectual, they can lay to rest the suspicion that Buddhism is superstition. To those who are used to praying for divine intervention, they can become self reliant through their own virtuous karma.
It is stated in the Diamond Sutra, “He who sees me (Buddha) in forms or seeks me in sounds is on a heterodox path and cannot see the Tathagata (Buddha).” It further states that, “All forms are but illusions, in seeing that all forms are illusory, one sees the Tathagata”. It is only when we have attained a certain advanced level in the learning and practising of Buddhism that we will be able to understand the profound meaning of these verses. If you were to tell a person who has just started to learn Buddhism that learning Buddhism is like these verses, then he would find them too profound. He would not be able to make out what Buddha is like. Of course, he knows what human beings are like and quite naturally he will assume that only those who are similar in form to human beings are Buddhas. We can say that this is correct, but we can also say that this is wrong. For example, kindergarten teachers may use drawings of an old man and old woman when teaching the young children about grandfathers and grandmothers. Thereafter, when the children see other old folks in such resemblance they know that they are someone else’s grandparents. But, to university students it would be inappropriate for professors to use the same approach when talking about such blood relationships.
It is the same in learning Buddhism. When we encourage a new student of Buddhism to pay respect to the Buddha in the temple or monastery, he will not be frightened when he sees that the Buddha is the same as a human being. At the same time, when he sees that the Buddha and Bodhisattva images are so dignified and compassionate, it will give rise to a feeling of joy and reverence and lead him to learn Buddhism.
Often we come across people who have been learning Buddhism for a long time saying that they saw this Buddha or that Bodhisattva in their dreams. Initially, when we do not know about their level of understanding of Buddhism, we may praise them by saying, “Oh! You have such good affinity with Buddha and Bodhisattva that you can even see their images!” But it is wrong if we always praise them like this. If they report dreams like this for more then 3 times, you have to tell them, “The Mara is here, you have seen the Mara! All the Zen masters advise to obliterate the Buddha when the Buddha appears, and obliterate the Mara when the Mara appears [1].” We cannot praise them any more because they have already developed an attachment to forms.
In the same way, when we are dealing with people who are already advanced in Buddhism, we should use the method of the Diamond Sutra rather than the kindergarten method:
“He who sees me (Buddha) in forms or seeks me in sounds is on a heterodox path and cannot see the Tathagata (Buddha).”
“All forms are but illusions, in seeing that all forms are illusory, one sees the Tathagata.”
At this level, people will realize that Buddhism is the only religion that eradicates superstition and attachment to all forms.
Critics often say that the Buddha image is an idol. They criticize that Buddhism worships idols. In reality, the cross, the Jesus Christ image and Mother Mary, they are also idols. In this sense, is there a religion that does not worship idols? Therefore, we cannot say that Buddhism is the only religion that worships idols. The fact is that only Buddhism does not worship idols. The Diamond Sutra states, “All forms are but illusions, in seeing that all forms are illusory, one sees the Tathagata.”!
The essence of the Buddha, the Buddha Nature is omnipresent in the space of the Dharma realm, and the Dharma Nature is omnipresent in the space.
Notes:
1. To ignore and not to be attached to such forms;. Mara is the Evil One, described as a murderer, hinderer, disturber, destroyer, etc. -
Shakyamuni Buddha in the middle, with a picture of Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva and a picture of my Shi Fu at the altar too.Originally posted by neutral_onliner:which one r you guys placing at home ? -
a Buddha statue which blend well wf my environmentOriginally posted by An Eternal Now:Shakyamuni Buddha in the middle, with a picture of Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva and a picture of my Shi Fu at the altar too. -
shakyamuni buddha, bodhisattva ksitigarbha & bodhisattva avalokiteshvara.
though the emptiness is the statues, but they are my teachers i look up to for guiding me on the practice and learning the teachings. there are no rituals or imaginations involved or any superstition practiced, just have respect and refuge i take in them. -
'Moreover, Subhuti, if a bodhisattva practises generosity, she does not rely on any object, that is to say does not rely on form, sound, smell, taste, touch or objects of mind to practise generosity. That, Subhuti, is the spirit in which a bodhisattva should practise generosity, not relying on signs. Why? If a bodhisattva practises generosity and does not rely on signs then the happiness that results from this virtue cannot be conceived of or measured.'
- The Diamond Sutra -
Nobody makes him an altar and burn incense to him everyday.Originally posted by An Eternal Now:What's wrong? I believe we have many pictures of our president throughout Singapore. -
Respecting NOT WorshippingOriginally posted by casino_king:Nobody makes him an altar and burn incense to him everyday.
http://www.sgforums.com/?action=thread_display&thread_id=188976 -
As for me, the statue of Buddhas serve as an instant reminder about Enlightenment. They are symbolic.
In fact, all Buddhas have no physical form.
AMiTuoFo. -
anyone practices offering joss stick ?
As 4 mi no i don't -
lots of pple do...Originally posted by neutral_onliner:anyone practices offering joss stick ?
As 4 mi no i don't
like my mum..... -
yes.. and alot don'tOriginally posted by laoda99:lots of pple do...
like my mum..... -
At the end of the day, I think buddhists need to educate "buddhists" what and what not to do......Originally posted by neutral_onliner:yes.. and alot don't
regardless of what u say, pple are still offering incense and prayng to buddha and guan yin statues....
respecting...venerating...worshipping....it is just choice of words.....it looks the same to me..... -
yes 'education' is needed.Originally posted by laoda99:At the end of the day, I think buddhists need to educate "buddhists" what and what not to do......
regardless of what u say, pple are still offering incense and prayng to buddha and guan yin statues....
respecting...venerating...worshipping....it is just choice of words.....it looks the same to me..... -
"I see nothing more grand in this world than the image of the Buddha. It is an absolutely perfect embodiment of spirituality in the visible domain."
--Count Kevserling remarks -
This one looks very hamonious and and very peaceful. -
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wat fruits and decor u like to put?
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decor??Originally posted by NT2:wat fruits and decor u like to put?