Vesak Day is coming, some monastery offering a baby bathing during the event. What is the story behind about this? Is it appropriate?

Normally Chinese funeral ritual combined with Taoism and Buddhism and there is something call break the hell ritual. Break the Hell Ritual I had noticed the ritual Sifu before recited the Original Vows of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva Sutra so i did ask him some of the basic like first statement below and he is unable to answer means likely the ritual being non effective so i dont plan to hire any of them and it's very expensive too. 無 上 甚 深 微 妙 法 - The unexcelled, most profound, and exquisitely wondrous Dharma Q) If a proper ritual being done as per link here , then Dharma is being shared to 10 highly influential people then it multiples to 10k people in a few years time then a hell is possibly being broke theoretically ? I plan to request a monk to have some basic Buddhism sharing as many free thinkers and wrong livelihood/confuse of Buddhists here. But one suffering still applicable afterlife until enough merits accumulated from the funeral itself? Well, heavy crime punishment cant be avoided I believe. Guess, this would something like a appeal and reduce no of years like in the prisons. Iti 100-112 > "There are these two kinds of gifts: a gift of material things & a > gift of the Dhamma. Of the two, this is supreme: a gift of the Dhamma. > > "There are these two kinds of sharing: sharing of material things & > sharing of the Dhamma. Of the two, this is supreme: sharing of the > Dhamma.

This post is relevant to Buddhist Funeral Process Can i do it online like playing the recorded video as below with nice TV and nice sound system ? Funeral Chanting - Theravada Buddhism - Pali - Abhayagiri Monastics (+ chanting text) Q) Effect would be same? Guess it's much better and safe especially in this Pandemic to avoid crowd and putting the monks into risk?

I once attended a puja at a Sri Lankan temple where a string was passed around during chanting. Afterwards the monks tied string around our wrists and poured water over our heads. What is the string called? Any explanation on the significance. I notice some people kept the string on for months, others said to cut it off at the end of the day.

I just came across a Reddit comment referencing the Human Planet documentary about sky burials, in which there was an implication by the narrator that the rogyapa (body-breaker) performing the ritual must be a non-Buddhist (around 2:40). The Reddit comment states that breaking the body apart is a form of defilement, thus not appropriate for monks. Is this true, and is there any basis in Buddhist literature supporting such view?

An omen is viewed as a sign from the natural world that delivers a message of some sort. Typically this message is seen as an indicator of coming good or evil events. I know this has nothing to do with the Noble path and Buddhist practice in general, but I know that some lamas or highly attained monks from other traditions demonstrate psychic powers. Also, there are various rituals in Vajrayana which are performed to attain certain spiritual and mystical energies states. So can we train our minds to read omens? Also, can we make use of omens to grow spiritually? Like for e.g. in India. if a black cat crosses our path we consider it as a bad omen and usually abort what we were set to do or become more cautious doing it.

This is an altar maintenance question. What are the sort of typical things done with the food, water, flowers and so on that gets put on the altar for altar maintenance?

The second fetter to break when one becomes a stream entrant is given as 'Clinging to rites and rituals'. I've always found that one a little puzzling. How do you know if you are clinging to a ritual? What would be the signs of it? Does the fetter apply exclusively to Buddhist rituals or does it apply to the little rituals we all indulge in as we navigate our way through daily life? I think I'm after someone to help unpack this one a little bit.

Is there, aside from Secular Buddhism, a sect or tradition of Buddhism that does not include rituals and chanting as a part of it's liturgy?

Not "clinging to rites and rituals" is one of the three requirements to become a Sotapanna. But in creating a Sangha with strict rules (especially given the extensive permutations within the Tripitaka), the recitation of the Patimokkha etc, do followers of the Dhamma and Vinaya inadvertently accept the usefulness of ritual? Was the Buddha's warning more specifically against any practice that is not grounded in empirical experience? And given that the Noble Eightfold Path establishes a concrete method and practice for the attainment of the goal, did the Buddha embrace [Ṛta](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E1%B9%9Ata) - the natural order of the Universe or Truth - if only in its most stripped down, empirical form?

If ritual is repetition outside of what can be justified through direct experience, can ideas and opinions, as well as words and actions, be ritualistic? Would a belief in God - given the axiomatic impossibility to verify the entity directly - classify as ritual?

My loving grandma passed away on 1st April 18 so we want to have death anniversary. So I want to ask when should we arrange ceremony, on first April or first March? We tribute a person with chanting **Refuge** and **Panchashila**. So is something missing?

I was raised in a Catholic environment, however I'm adding more and more Dhamma in my life, currently I spend much more time with Buddhists practices than Catholics. the point is that I still keep the habit of praying to God before going to sleep (and before flying too), but if I'm not mistaken this is seen as something bad in Buddhism (wrong view/attachment to rituals) Can someone explain what are the bad consequences, from a Buddhist's perspective of praying to God? If any.

The Aggikasutta (SN 7.8) below states that the Buddhas do not eat food enchanted by spells i.e. food that was chanted over for the Vedic fire sacrifice. **Does the Buddha reject ritually chanted over food? Why is this the case? Does this apply to Buddhists as well?** What is the meaning of "The Buddhas reject things enchanted with spells. Since nature is real, brahmin, that’s how they live"? I asked another similar question before here . That sutta seems to be about offering food after receiving a teaching as not being allowed, because that's remuneration. However, this question is different because the Buddha did not give any teaching before being offered the milk rice. Instead, the milk rice seems to have been chanted over, in the fire sacrifice ritual. Furthermore, the Buddha asks the brahmin to serve some other food, not the one chanted over with verses. > At one time the Buddha was staying near Rājagaha, in the Bamboo Grove, > the squirrels’ feeding ground. Now at that time ghee and milk-rice had > been set out for the brahmin Bhāradvāja the Fire-Worshipper, who > thought: “I will serve the sacred flame! I will perform the fire > sacrifice!” > > Then the Buddha robed up in the morning and, taking his bowl and robe, > entered Rājagaha for alms. Wandering for alms to be consumed on site > in Rājagaha, he approached Bhāradvāja the Fire-Worshiper’s house and > stood to one side. Bhāradvāja the Fire-Worshipper saw him standing for > alms and addressed him in verse: > > > “One who’s accomplished in the three knowledges, of good lineage and > > ample learning, accomplished in knowledge and conduct may enjoy this > > milk-rice.” > > > “Even one who mutters many invocations is no brahmin by birth if > > they’re filthy and corrupt within, with a following gained by fraud. > > > But one who knows their past lives, and sees heaven and places of > > loss, and has attained the ending of rebirth, that sage has perfect > > insight. > > > Because of these three knowledges a brahmin is a master of the three > > knowledges. Accomplished in knowledge and conduct, they may enjoy this > > milk-rice.” > > “Eat, Master Gotama! you are truly a brahmin.” > > > **“Food enchanted by a spell isn’t fit for me to eat. That’s not the way > > of those who see, brahmin. The Buddhas reject things enchanted with > > spells. Since nature is real, brahmin, that’s how they live.** > > > Serve with other food and drink the consummate one, the great seer, > > with defilements ended and remorse stilled. For he is the field for > > the seeker of merit.” > > When he had spoken, the brahmin Bhāradvāja the Fire-Worshipper said to > the Buddha: “Excellent, Master Gotama! …” … And Venerable Bhāradvāja > the Fire-Worshipper became one of the perfected. With the Pali version: > “Food enchanted by a spell isn’t fit for me to eat. > *“Gāthābhigītaṃ me abhojaneyyaṃ* > > That’s not the way of those who see, brahmin. > *Sampassataṃ brāhmaṇa nesa dhammo* > > The Buddhas reject things enchanted with spells. > *Gāthābhigītaṃ panudanti buddhā* > > Since nature is real, brahmin, that’s how they live. > *Dhamme sati brāhmaṇa vuttiresā* > > Serve with other food and drink > *Aññena ca kevalinaṃ mahesiṃ*

In some other religions like Hinduism and Catholicism, the role of monks and the role of priests are clearly separated. However, in Buddhism, this is not clearly separated. It is clear what the monks should not practise. DN2 clearly lists a lot of "animal" arts that monks should not practice e.g. prediction, forecasting, dream interpretation, palmistry, geomancy, selecting auspicious dates, horoscopes etc. It is also clear that monks can ordain other monks, nuns, novice monks, novice nuns. Does the Vinaya allow or mandate monks to perform rituals and ceremonies like the following? If it does not, then why do they do it? - Refuge in Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha ceremony - Five precepts initiation - Worship of the Buddha image and stupa - Veneration of the Bodhi tree - Blessing by chanting - Weddings - Funerals - Blessing of newborns - Blessing of the sick (heard this from a Ajahn Brahm talk) - Blessing using holy water (a Thai tradition) - Protection by tying blessed strings on hand (a Thai tradition) - Blessing of objects like car keys (a Thai tradition) - Protection blessing (Pirit in Sri Lanka) - Housewarming (heard this from a Ajahn Brahm talk) - Offerings to the deceased and blessing the deceased - Worship of the Devas or Brahmas - Worship of Bodhisattvas - Worship of the planets (Bali in Sri Lanka) - Exorcism (Tovil and Atanatiya in Sri Lanka)

Growing up in the Roman Catholic tradition, we were encouraged to go to confession (penance) on a regular basis for reconciliation and to be absolved of sins. In Buddhism, the only mention of confession I've seen is in regard to a practice for monks prior to the reciting of the patimokkha. I understand there is no idea of absolving sins in Buddhism, but why is it considered benefical or useful for monks to confess but not for lay people to do the same? I'm assuming there is some sense of unburdening in the confession process and wondering what serves that function for lay people? Thank you.

I attended a meditation event that included morning and evening chanting at a Theravada monastery/temple. It was a wonderful event but I couldn't follow the chanting book as it was written in Lao characters. I recognized some basics like taking refuge and eight precepts, but other than that I was lost. Does morning and evening chanting follow a set pattern or does each monastery just pick out what they like? If it is a set pattern, what might it include? I'd like to print out some in Pali/English if possible. Thanks for any help.

I am not sure if I should ask this on this site and I apologise if I shouldn't. Just let me know and will be out of your hear. :D I am going to go to South East Asia at the end of December and will stay there for about 5 months. I am really interested to see buddist ceremonies/festivals. I am from Romania (not a buddhist country) and there, in each region, monasteries have certain rituals which apply only for their region. I was wondering if there is anything like this in SEA as well? Or which are the rituals you would definitely want to go to? I would also like to go to monasteries where maybe you can join the muns for meditation for a day before moving on. I know you are supposed to do at least 7 days, but my partner is not really that into this type of things although he would have the patience of trying it for a day here and there. I am trying to ease him into it. :D Please let me know what you think and again, if it was inaproprite for me to ask this here, I apologise.

Here in India we bath after funeral, But my prior question was "What is funeral law of Buddhism?" and answerer said that when he lived in a forest monastery in Thailand, dead monks & residents were cremated on a pile of wood in the forest & they would practice meditation on the burning corpse. Therefor I think no need to bath but let me know should we bath after funeral?

I believe in all the religions holding stake in the world but I am more attuned with Japanese Buddhism and Shintoism. I've read through a lot of info on the two and love the harmony between them. I also enjoy the Shinto legends and in a way believe in the life force or kami of the world around me. I understand that a majority of these religions are trying to find the happiness and the peace within yourself and in your life. Respecting nature too. My question comes from wanting to know if there is anything that I could insert into my daily life that would help me... feel more at peace I guess. I watch and read a lot about Japanese culture, but I can't really seem to find any info for little routines or actions that I've seen portrayed in media. For instance, Charms hanging from the windows/doorways. Little shrines to meditate in front of in the house. Are there more of these that aren't explained due to them being so minor? Are there special statues or paintings that hold any meanings? Maybe sayings? Plants? Smells? Recently, I've started caring for plants more...in-particular, a bonsai that I am hoping will be beautiful and something I can pass on to my children. I use incense which helps me think about my life and introspect.