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General Buddhism => General Buddhism => Topic started by: Big Uncle on July 26, 2011, 03:53:53 AM
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I was told that as lay Buddhists, we should have an altar with representations of the Body, Speech and Mind of the Buddha. The representations and offerings should be the best quality that we can afford and making offerings is to collect lots of merits so it will fuel our spiritual transformation and eventually attainments. Why do we even need to do that? I was told never to bargain for Dharma items or offerings as it will demean our practice.
Also, isn't investing in expensive silver offerings bowls, butter lamps and gold Nepalese statues increasing materialism and desire, which is contrary to teachings on renunciation? Why do you guys think?
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Supposed what you would normally do with your money is to spend on things like designer clothes, going for a holiday or pursuing some expensive samsaric hobby.
Now after listening to the Dharma and understanding the importance of making offerings to generate merits for your spiritual practice, you give up your attachment to those things that you like and use that money to buy the best quality offering items to offer to the Buddha and buy the best quality Buddha statue that you can afford.
In this instance, you are in fact developing some sort of renunciation. Why is that? It is because you have begun to understand the senselessness of mundane samsaric attachment and pleasure that you able to give them up and instead use it to generate merits so that you can be eventually be free from the sufferings of samsara.
Offering expensive items to the Buddha is not materialism if done with the motivation of making merit to achieve spiritual results.
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An altar can have different meanings according to what the practitioner needs, and the level of his understanding and practice.
Offerings help the mind to focus on the proper attitude, or to be used as an inferential reminder for extensive inner offerings. They help us to open our mind to beneficial thoughts, cut trough the Self-cherishing thoughts, remembering the qualities of the Buddhas etc
Making offerings on the altar is a great source of accumulation, depending on the method used , motivation and the attention given to it.
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We don't have the merits to meet a Buddha.
Some of us may have met an enlightened being but due to our obscurations , we would not recognize buddha even if we come face to face with him/her.
Our mind is so distracted and unstable. Having an altar with representation of the three jewels help focusing our mind and stablize our practice .
When we purchase Dharma items, we are advised not to bargain because we we need to undo or slowly free ourselves from the deep rooted habit equating everything (including enlightenment) to money.
If we have no hesitation to give our life's savings to cure our body from diseases and aging, why do we want to stinge and negotiate endlessly for altar set ups and offerings that are means to save us from countless lives' sufferings ?
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Supposed what you would normally do with your money is to spend on things like designer clothes, going for a holiday or pursuing some expensive samsaric hobby.
Now after listening to the Dharma and understanding the importance of making offerings to generate merits for your spiritual practice, you give up your attachment to those things that you like and use that money to buy the best quality offering items to offer to the Buddha and buy the best quality Buddha statue that you can afford.
In this instance, you are in fact developing some sort of renunciation. Why is that? It is because you have begun to understand the senselessness of mundane samsaric attachment and pleasure that you able to give them up and instead use it to generate merits so that you can be eventually be free from the sufferings of samsara.
Offering expensive items to the Buddha is not materialism if done with the motivation of making merit to achieve spiritual results.
I agree with you Wozel Tenzin. Offering expensive items to the Buddha is not materialism if done with the motivation of making merit to achieve spiritual results. Buddha doesnt need our expensive offerings. It is for us to practice cutting away our attachments and miserliness. It is a practice of generosity and for us to collect merits for our spiritual practice.
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Look at it this way... if you love to shop, then instead of shopping and offering yourself which we do every day just by having our breakfast, lunch and dinner... so why not change it to offering to the Enlightened Buddhas? For a start you will be training your self to think of another apart from you. Then next step others, these are steps to cutting down the self-cherishing mind. Offerings are the causes for cutting away miserliness and self-cherishing. Hence it is not materialism.
This is why you see monasteries, centres and temples are always made beautifully with the best possible materials offered up to the Buddhas. Everything is an offering not just the altar...the whole place/building.
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Supposed what you would normally do with your money is to spend on things like designer clothes, going for a holiday or pursuing some expensive samsaric hobby.
Now after listening to the Dharma and understanding the importance of making offerings to generate merits for your spiritual practice, you give up your attachment to those things that you like and use that money to buy the best quality offering items to offer to the Buddha and buy the best quality Buddha statue that you can afford.
In this instance, you are in fact developing some sort of renunciation. Why is that? It is because you have begun to understand the senselessness of mundane samsaric attachment and pleasure that you able to give them up and instead use it to generate merits so that you can be eventually be free from the sufferings of samsara.
Offering expensive items to the Buddha is not materialism if done with the motivation of making merit to achieve spiritual results.
Thank you, that's nicely put. But I think the spiritual results do not arise solely from our motivation alone but from the object of these statues and offering items. They are all made in honor of enlightened Beings, whose body reveals the marks and signs of enlightenment itself. Hence, even with our superficial motivation, we can gain tremendous spiritual benefits. In fact, the more material resources we use to acquire it, the more merits acquired. The bigger the statue, the more causes for us to gain a Buddha body. The grander our offerings, the more resources we will have in the future to practice the Dharma. However, all is done according to our means of course.
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I was told that as lay Buddhists, we should have an altar with representations of the Body, Speech and Mind of the Buddha. The representations and offerings should be the best quality that we can afford and making offerings is to collect lots of merits so it will fuel our spiritual transformation and eventually attainments. Why do we even need to do that? I was told never to bargain for Dharma items or offerings as it will demean our practice.
Also, isn't investing in expensive silver offerings bowls, butter lamps and gold Nepalese statues increasing materialism and desire, which is contrary to teachings on renunciation? Why do you guys think?
Every Buddhists setup their altars very differently. We should strive to acquire the largest and the best representation of the Body, Speech and MInd of the Buddha. We should strive to make the best quality offerings. All these help us to eradicate miserliness, cultivate generosity and accumulate vast amount of merits.
The three representations of Buddha are perfect and their values are immeasurable. Bargaining for discounts shows the level of our mind. When we bargain, we are degrading the value of these representations!
With the correct motivation of wanting to offer the best to the Buddha, Investing in expensive silver offering bowls etc does not make us more materialistic or increase our desires.
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At this day and age, with all the crazy distractions around us and let us not even mention the attachments we hold onto - we need altars to help us stay on the path, to remind us, to collect merits and to have something to look at - to keep us focussed on what it is that we must do for ourselves.
I find altars are very personal. As much as it reflects our personal status of our spiritual practice, it also reflects how we perceive our spiritual practice to be.
Over the years, our altars may change. Because our spiritual growth and practice have changed too.
Some altars are huge and impressive, because the individuals can afford them and they like to 'show off' in that sense.
Some altars are small and modest, because that's the best the individuals can afford.
Whatever and however our altars may look like, the most important thing is that we have done our very best for it because we have made it into our shrine of worship, aspirations and commitment of the highest degree.
It is not like some worldly goal, or lofty dream.
It is towards our highest dream, highest goal - Enlightenment.
I always find it a delight to see the various altars people have in their homes. It says so much about them, creatively and personally. The same applies to me.
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We as Buddhist or any other religion that practices the set up of altars, is done in my understanding, as a representation of the "divine" of which we would like to achieve. In Buddhism it is as Big Uncle has pointed out, the representation of Body, Speech and Mind of the Buddha and as such it should be given the due respect and reverence.
If we truly believe the altar represents the 3 jewels above, then any offerings, within our means is a wonderful opportunity to create merits for ourselves and our loved ones. Not to mention the wonderful seeds that will be planted on visitors to our homes!
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On my altar, I have the best representations of the Body, Speech and Mind, and other offering items within my financial capability. It is a great practice for me to combat miserliness. I learned not to bargain for discounts for such items because I use them for purification practices and for generating merits. So, if I want to have some spiritual attainment, why should I ask for discounts when buying those items? I want full merits, not discounted merits.
I also learned not to criticize the quality of these items because they are made by people with different skills. If I go looking for such items and if I have to make a comparison, I would say, "this workman who crafted this piece is different from the other piece. I would like to have that piece."
Having an altar with such representations and offering items gives me the chance to do my spiritual practices at home because I cannot be at a dharma center daily. Having an image of a particular Buddha on my altar after I had attended a talk, puja, retreat etc helps me not to disconnect from the practice I learned.
Such items are representations and symbolism of the Great Beings who had gained realizations and achieved enlightenment and are objects worthy of refuge. They are not objects to 'pray' to.
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Also, isn't investing in expensive silver offerings bowls, butter lamps and gold Nepalese statues increasing materialism and desire, which is contrary to teachings on renunciation? Why do you guys think?
Actually, I have seen some people who turned their altar into a materialistic pursuit of the best/most expensive statue and bowls ornate with gold and gems and displayed with pride and attachment to the objects more than to what they represent.
Some people also do it with the motivation of getting good fortune in return.
So is it wrong then?
Should those people stop adding more showy things to their altar?
What kind of karma are they collecting this way?
Essentially:
Should one rather not set up altars than set them up with tainted motivations and polluted thoughts?
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Also, isn't investing in expensive silver offerings bowls, butter lamps and gold Nepalese statues increasing materialism and desire, which is contrary to teachings on renunciation? Why do you guys think?
Actually, I have seen some people who turned their altar into a materialistic pursuit of the best/most expensive statue and bowls ornate with gold and gems and displayed with pride and attachment to the objects more than to what they represent.
Some people also do it with the motivation of getting good fortune in return.
So is it wrong then?
Should those people stop adding more showy things to their altar?
What kind of karma are they collecting this way?
Essentially:
Should one rather not set up altars than set them up with tainted motivations and polluted thoughts?
That's precisely what I meant. However, it was mentioned earlier in the thread that it is still very beneficial that people with tainted motivation make these offerings to the 3 Jewels. Otherwise, the money would have been spent on further meaningless items and self-indulgence. I am sure there is merits or good karma when it is done in relations to the 3 Jewels. The offering alone would not transform their minds but it would plant certain seeds of enlightenment within their mind stream. Better that then nothing at all. However, when it is done with pure motivation, the merits would be tremendous.
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this is another skilful mean for us to collect merit and train our mind. As buddha does'nt want any offering and altar to be stayed.
when one have altar at home, is create good energy and enviroment. it the best fung shui to have in house.
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As a Buddhist, having altar is actually to pay respect to someone higher, in this case of course the Buddha, dharma and the Sangha. Their images are also reminder for us to be motivated to achieve the qualities of the enlightenment being that we actually can achieve enlightenment.
It also work as a place for us to do our prayers/practice by focusing the images, our mind are not swaying and distracted knowing that our mind can be quite distracted. Of course, the Buddhas and protectors do not need our offerings, expensive gold plated offering bowls, diamonds and silver. It is actually a practice itself of our generosity. We would offer up what we are attached to, by doing that we slowly letting go of things. Simply because we want to offer the best to the Buddhas.
Also by having an altar, not only it blessed the environment, it'll bring peace and harmony and plant seeds into people's mind stream. I always remember the story of the boy who offered sands to the Buddha and it is the most precious of all is our motivation and not the items that we are offering.
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I was told that as lay Buddhists, we should have an altar with representations of the Body, Speech and Mind of the Buddha. The representations and offerings should be the best quality that we can afford and making offerings is to collect lots of merits so it will fuel our spiritual transformation and eventually attainments. Why do we even need to do that? I was told never to bargain for Dharma items or offerings as it will demean our practice.
Also, isn't investing in expensive silver offerings bowls, butter lamps and gold Nepalese statues increasing materialism and desire, which is contrary to teachings on renunciation? Why do you guys think?
From my understanding to have an altar with the representations of the "Body (Statue), Speech (Dharma text) and Mind (Stupa/pagoda) of the Buddha it's kind of an reminder to keep reminding us we should focus to achieve the Buddha state of Body, speech and mind, which is totally free from suffering and always thinking of benefiting others. Like what Barzin mentioned earlier most of the people nowadays can't really focus on the spiritual practice, our mind is extremely unstable to and very easy to distracted from the samsara world. To owned any images of the enlighten being, remind us not to just focus from the outside materialistic world but also inner peace, and remind us to always help others in anyway.
The offering that we offered to any images of Buddha or enlighten beings need to be "Pure". Pure in a sense of when we offer anything, we shouldn't use the value of the items to offer but sincerity. Most of the time when we buying something for ourselves, we're so used to cut down on the price, but at the same time we forgot the offering that we are getting is to offer to enlighten beings, we're actually generate merit for us to clear our obstacle on the spiritual path and this are priceless, hence we shouldn't ask for any discount on the offering items. It will not demean our practice but it will be good if we offer anything based on sincerity.
The reason why in most of the different religions people used to the most precious items to decorated the shrine, churches, offering item or even priest's robe. This is because when we offered up the the most precious material which we always think is the most important in our life for the enlighten being, but the value of the teaching that we can receive is much much more that what we offered. Another reason is we are cutting down on our attachment to worldly material. Offer up gold or silver is NOT a must, but if we can, why not ? Buddha will never want anything from us but we need the teaching to transform our mind. Ex: If someone is meeting a King, he will prepare the best to offer to the King, and Buddha will be the King in this case.
I hope i answer your question, this forum is really good, we can just share what we have learn from different master.
Thanks
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Altars is a representation of our spiritual path. Why we have altars is because we need to collect merits! The Buddha images on the altar is a reminder of the qualities we want to achieve. The qualities of a Buddha which is perfect and flawless.
Altar is also where we make offerings. Buddhas do not need our offerings or whatsoever. We need the merits. Hence, having an altar gives us the opportunity to make offerings and collect merits by practicing generosity. We also create a connection with the enlightened ones daily.
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I feel that people have altars for different reasons.
1. to create a field of merit, so that they are able to generate the merits by making offerings in this field of merit on a daily basis. very powerful and strong, when people clean their altars and do prayers within this field of merit
2. for them to stay connected with the supreme beings
3. for them to bless and plant seeds into the mindstream of others, their family members who are not pracitsing, as well as the animals that have the fortune to lay eyes on the altar.
4 For them to do their prayers to, so visualisation can be done through the help of the statues/thangkas/pictures on the altar. At least it helps one to focus, and people have a point of association with.
5. For people to create the aspiration to achieve the Buddha's body, speech and mind
6. It is said that when you are angry, one look at the Buddha's holy image can pacify your mind down. Since this is the case, the powerful ability for us to calm, pacify and plant seeds in our mindstreams, by having an altar close to us is extremely beneficial. Making an altar look beautiful cuts away our attachment to our senses.
7. But when people have altars, respect has to be shown irregardless of conditions and situations as this is your guide to liberation. The price to pay in you having an opportunity to get out of samsara is priceless.
I believe that having an altar does aid in one spiritual growth especially when prayers are being done as there is an object to make a connection and association with. Since I've had an altar, I have been much more motivated to be mindful of my surroundings as I have now created a field of merit, I am more motivated to do my prayers, and I now have a chance to gain merit by doing offerings. Of course, the motivation to your actions has to be pure in order for you that gain the merit.
Just a quick question though...is it necessary to have an altar? What is the consequences one faces if they do not have an altar?
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I feel that people have altars for different reasons.
1. to create a field of merit, so that they are able to generate the merits by making offerings in this field of merit on a daily basis. very powerful and strong, when people clean their altars and do prayers within this field of merit
2. for them to stay connected with the supreme beings
3. for them to bless and plant seeds into the mindstream of others, their family members who are not pracitsing, as well as the animals that have the fortune to lay eyes on the altar.
4 For them to do their prayers to, so visualisation can be done through the help of the statues/thangkas/pictures on the altar. At least it helps one to focus, and people have a point of association with.
5. For people to create the aspiration to achieve the Buddha's body, speech and mind
6. It is said that when you are angry, one look at the Buddha's holy image can pacify your mind down. Since this is the case, the powerful ability for us to calm, pacify and plant seeds in our mindstreams, by having an altar close to us is extremely beneficial. Making an altar look beautiful cuts away our attachment to our senses.
7. But when people have altars, respect has to be shown irregardless of conditions and situations as this is your guide to liberation. The price to pay in you having an opportunity to get out of samsara is priceless.
I believe that having an altar does aid in one spiritual growth especially when prayers are being done as there is an object to make a connection and association with. Since I've had an altar, I have been much more motivated to be mindful of my surroundings as I have now created a field of merit, I am more motivated to do my prayers, and I now have a chance to gain merit by doing offerings. Of course, the motivation to your actions has to be pure in order for you that gain the merit.
Just a quick question though...is it necessary to have an altar? What is the consequences one faces if they do not have an altar?
Dear Manjushri,
Having an altar is an avenue for creating merits along with all the benefits that you stated. Merits are important for gaining attainments. So if we're serious about practising Buddhism, then we should definitely have an altar.
So the consequences for not having an altar is one less avenue to collect merits.
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Like most of the comments stated, having an altar is a platform for us to collect merits. As due to this degenerate time and we believe that we have accumulated so much of negative karma, we need to do a lot of purification practice in order for us to be able to be in a conducive condition to learn and practice dharma.
Offering the best quality to the buddha is for us to practice gratitude, generosity and at the same time to cut off our stinginess.
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Having a Buddha statue on the altar remind us of the qualities that He have, the sacrifices He made in attaining Enlightenment so that we can have the chance to learn what He realized and also because we dont have the merits to meet Buddha in person. As Buddha said, when He is not around anymore, making offerings to a statue of His image is the same as making offerings to Him in person. We also collect merits by making offerings with the best quality we can AFFORD. One of the reasons I understand, is to remind us of impermanence and detachment when we make these offerings.
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What is a basic altars item for Dorje Shugden? can i just do the mantra ?
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What is a basic altars item for Dorje Shugden? can i just do the mantra ?
Dear puccachip,
you should hv
1)image of your lama
2)image of lama tsongkhapa
3)image of dorje shugden ( the best is to hv a statue )
4)dharma text on the left (can be any dharma books like Lamrim)
5) a stupa on the right
if your altar is big enough , try to offer as many sets of water offering as you can and also if you afford to offer eight auspicious signs.
it is actually depends on you,it is not the wealth of the objects that is being offered but our surrendering of our attachment to that wealth. you can just do the mantra of Dorje Shugden , but i guess it will be better if you hv an altar and make offering to protector everyday ~
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One of the most important reasons to have an altar is, in my humble opinion, for us to focus on the image of our guru and yidam while doing daily sdhana. This will help our mind to focus and be very familiar with the image of our yidam and protector. This will be very very helpful during bardo.
By recognizing our guru, yidam and protector during bardo, we stand a good chance to get a good rebirth. Of course this is an extremely shallow explanation to the process of dying, one should medicate of this topic.
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For most lay people, it is sometime difficult to visualize when praying. Altars therefore provide a strong focus for our practice and meditation. It is also a place for us to make offerings to the representation of the enlightened beings. Making beautiful offerings on the altar creates a deep and profound connection to the enlightened beings and collection of merits. Besides that having an altar in our home brings many blessings for our self and our family. It also acts as a daily reminder of the enlightened qualities we wish to attain. An altar can be set up to what we find most beautiful, pleasing and conducive to our practice.
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I think altar is the first step to train us to be more discipline and aware.
When we started an altar at home, we need to think about how to set it up, what to offer, anything need to handle with care; it also remind us to do our daily prayers.
As for the ritual items like offering bowls and incense casing etc, it's exactly mean to destroy our attachment to material thing, as we are not buying this for our own personal use, but to offer up to Buddha. Buddha does not require us to buy the best for him, or buy anything he likes for him, but it's our sincerity to invite Buddha to us. This also a practice of generosity, how much we would spend for enlightenment instead of our own pleasure.
So I think having altar is a best start to practice more, and of course like mentioned in most of the posted comments, it allows us to gain more merits to learn more. Merit is our spiritual dollars which can give us more spiritual grow when we gain more.
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Altars create a sacred place for spiritual practice.The intention or purpose we place our altars and what it represents is more important than what you actually place on your altar.
Altars are set up as a reminder of our practice.By gazing at Buddhas,lighting lamps or candles,burning incense,offering flowers,prostrations etc,the function of the five sense organs are completely absorbed in the Buddhist practice and hence the purification of the practitioner's mind is enhanced and accelerated.
We can go to a temple on a regular basis and worship,but it is more easily conducted at an altar at home.
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iThe best offering and buddha statue that you have for your altar should help you to cut out the attachment instead of make you have more attach. Why? because in order for you to get the silver offering items and gold finishing statue it mean you must spend lot of money on it, and if you still attach to your money so definitely you could not get it..
When we want anything for ourself ie house, car, watch, handphone etc we always choose the best for ourself because people can see it and it make us look good therefore we attached with it.. but when come to offering items most of people will choose to buy the cheapest one as nobody will see and talk about how nice of our altar therefore we keep money to buy other things.. and that how it show our attachment.
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An altar is a physical location where we put our statue, dharma texts, stupa and other offerings to the Buddhas. It should be kept clean and does not need to be lavish. Whatever offerings we have to the Buddhas is just a method of cutting our attachment - this then becomes a practice, it does not represent an attachment to "collecting" expensive items. The quality of offerings is the best that we can afford for now. Since we do not have the merits to see Buddha, making offerings to an image of Him is equivalent to making offerings directly to Him.
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Of course we can go pray to public altars, or we can pray with no altar at all. But the purpose of an altar, is an offering in itself. If we have the nicest altar we can have, within our means, it acts as an offering in itself. In addition having an altar is the simplest way to receive blessings. Even if we cannot do dharma work, or pray, we will still get blessed by having an altar which we can access, or on our room is even better. Finally I find that an altar helps me visualize and give me something to pray to, which helps my weak mind focus better.
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I was told that as lay Buddhists, we should have an altar with representations of the Body, Speech and Mind of the Buddha. The representations and offerings should be the best quality that we can afford and making offerings is to collect lots of merits so it will fuel our spiritual transformation and eventually attainments. Why do we even need to do that? I was told never to bargain for Dharma items or offerings as it will demean our practice.
Also, isn't investing in expensive silver offerings bowls, butter lamps and gold Nepalese statues increasing materialism and desire, which is contrary to teachings on renunciation? Why do you guys think?
Well, I believe having a personal altar is very important. What you said is very true, an altar can bring many benefits to a person. Having an altar really is a personal space for us to retreat into to do our daily sadhanas. It can also serve as a reminder for us to carry out virtuous deeds and even as inspiration to achieve the qualities of the Buddha (just like aspiring baseball players hanging posters of their favourite professional baseball players... hoping to be like their idol). Also, having an altar gives us the opportunity to collect merits through making extensive offerings to our personal altar.
The offerings that we make on the altar, we should use the ones that are the best of quality, according to our affordability. I do not think that investing in expensive offering bowls or ritual items is considered materialism as we could have used the money spent on something else (ie samsaric enjoyment etc) but instead we use the money to spend on aquiring items to improve or furthur our spiritual growth. Serious practitioners will continuously think on how they can further beautify their altar as they understand that when they make their altar beautiful, it is also a form of offering to the Buddhas. The extent of how much attention a person places on their altars shows us how serious a practitioner is. Therefore I believe making extensive offerings, using great quality offering bowls infact is a practice of renunciation (rather than the other way round) and generosity.
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I wouldn't say that this would be known as materialism as it has a meaning for what's worth of it. Materialism is a tendency to consider material possessions and physical comfort as more important than spiritual values, but in this case, the fact is that buying these materials are a part of the process of spirituality, I would not consider buying things such as butter lamps or silver offering bowls...materialistic.
Some would say, one's alter can tell quite a lot about that particular person/group; the way it's positioned, his/her/their sense of style etc. Ones alter represents to his/her/their personality. Expensive offering items and statues are brought not because we want to show off but it's because it represents a release of attachment of money by offering the best and most affordable quality to buddha. When you bargain it shows how much attachment you still have and that your not even willing to sacrifice your money for your spiritualism.
When your having an alter, there are some important steps you may need to follow. Which includes:
1)image of your lama
2)image of lama tsongkhapa
3)image of dorje shugden ( the best is to hv a statue )
4)dharma text on the left (can be any dharma books like Lamrim)
5) a stupa on the right
if your altar is big enough , try to offer as many sets of water offering as you can and also if you afford to offer eight auspicious signs.
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Items on the altar usually are:
1) Buddha statue or Buddha Image (represents action)
2) Dharma text (represents speech)
3) Stupa (represents mind)
A Buddha statue will bless our living environment, because of the positive energy it brings. Combined with Dharma text and Stupa, they remind us our purpose of doing the practice. Ie to act and to speak in accordance to what we think.
Where we place the altar becomes our corner of peace. This is where we contemplate and do our daily prayer. Whenever we feel down, this is where we find our spirit back.
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An altar is essential for us to generate merits. When we make offerings onto the altar, we are collecting merits. It is also a platform for us to do our practices (sadhannas) and have our own Buddha statues invited onto it.
I mean I do not know much in Buddhism but by having an altar is as simple as I see it as making offerings to the Buddha staties that we have invited onto it. The altar can be of simple arrangements or made of extravangant set ups and it is also a channel for us to offer your attachments and miserliness to the Lord Buddhas.
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There are many benefits from having an altar. Normally we will have Buddha statues, Dharma text, stupa which reperesent Body, speech and mind of buddha along with other offering on the altar.
1) The Buddha statue represent Buddha body which help to remind us of the quality of buddha and what we want to achieve each time we see him.
2) The Dharma text is represent buddha teaching, it remind us to study and follow the teaching of buddha as we want our mind to be liberate.
3) The stupa is represent buddha mind so it also remind us what buddha have learnt and gain enlightenment and what direction we need to train our mind.
Apart from that the altar also the object for us to collect merit by making offering, doing prayer to buddha. its also help us to cut out our attachment and gain more generosity by having the best quality of object including the offering, instead of only invest in thing that can give us direct benefit.
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How nice it is when we can afford nice silver offerings, beautiful statues plus hand crafted altar and offer to the Buddhas.
Instead of splashing all the cash on to designer pieces on ourselves which will only leads us to dwell into the world of impermanence further. Although the mentioned above in regards to buying but it has a different meaning all together.
Setting up an altar will help us to gain merits by making offerings and prayers daily, by making expensive offerings also help us to cut down our attachments and practice altruism. It will also act as an reminder for us about the quality of the Buddha, Dharma and the Sangha since we can't talk to Him directly just yet.
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Making offerings to the Buddhas is one method of attaining merits.
Instead of spending money on oneself, use the same amount to be spend in making our altars beautiful. The advantage of having a beautiful altar is to be happy when we are saying our prayers. In this aspect whatever we offer the Buddhas eventually benefit us. The Buddhas need nothing and want nothing.
In making offerings to the Buddhas and installing a beautiful altar is for us to always have our eyes on the Body, Speech and Mind of the Buddhas in our view and to remind us of their virtuous nature.
It is also a way of letting go of selfishness because whatever is offered may be from time spent to obtain them and also a sacrifice of not getting something for oneself but getting for the Buddhas. A form of virtuous ''sacrifice''.
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Creating a personal altar and worshipping at this altar provides us with a simple act which we can perform on a regular basis, to fit in with any schedule, and which can form a major cornerstone of an individual's spiritual health. Altars are part of ancient traditions and have been used as places of worship for thousands of years. A home altar is a more personal place of worship including those elements that represent the sacred to each one of us. A deeper connection is possible when we worship alone in the quiet space of our home. It reinforces spirituality into our everyday lives.
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Thank you for sharing your thoughts and understanding as sometimes I do wonder why we should have an altar at home and same time why is all altar differs from each individual..
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A Buddhist altar can bring positive energy to the environment. The Buddha statue on the altar can bless seen and unseen beings. We can also make offerings to the Buddha every day to collect merits.
In some places where there are natural disasters or accidents, people will install a Buddha statue or small shrine to pacify the place. This proves to be very effective. For example, the Lantau Island Big Buddha in Hong Kong is installed to pacify the environment so there is less natural disaster.
To set up an altar is very simple, we don't need a statue, it can be a picture of a Buddha. Offerings can be as simple as a cup of water.