Desert Snake
Veteran Member
Hey
What is the general feeling in Buddhist circles concerning strictness of ceremony etc.
What is the general feeling in Buddhist circles concerning strictness of ceremony etc.
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Hey
What is the general feeling in Buddhist circles concerning strictness of ceremony etc.
Please be a little more specific. What do you have in mind by the word "ceremony"? And for that matter, how do you define strict?
Also, please remember that Buddhism encompasses a number of traditions which may or may not have different understandings of any particular ceremony you have in mind.
Buddhism doesn't really divide in liberal and strict varieties quite as Christianity or perhaps Judaism do.
Perhaps you could give us some more specific questions?
Is the example of "temporary" ordination I cited above along the lines you are thinking of? Or, are your questions more related to belief than practice? (Or both equally?)
One of the basic practices in at least three different schools (or even vehicles) is named Vipassana, Zazen or Shamata (there are some differences, but they are IMO minor and the purpose is much the same far as I can tell).
There is no particular taboo I am aware of against switching among the three if one has the opportunity - although, to be fair, most temples and practice groups will simply adopt the one that is traditional to them (Vipassana for Theravada, Zazen for Soto Zen, Shamata for Tibetan Vajrayana).
Here is a "ceremony" that can promote the heart opening to compassion
Generating the Mind for Enlightenment | The Office of His Holiness The Dalai Lama
Ceremonies are symbols of inner transformation. If they free you, they are liberators, if they enslave you they are a tyrant to you.
Personal inclination may be a greater determinant of how much one can benefit from ceremonies.
Here is a practice of Zen with few ceremonies, just sitting.
http://www.arvindguptatoys.com/arvindgupta/zenmind.pdf
It can be exceedingly difficult to generalize about Buddhists when it comes to something as diverse as ceremonial practices. However, if it must be done, it would be fair to say that traditional Buddhism is quite serious about its rituals. The exact nature of the ceremony (complexity, procedural details, duration) and its perceived significance depend largely on the particular Buddhist school in question.
Although the details vary by tradition, all forms of Buddhism as it has been practiced historically (prior to its introduction to the West where it has been, in some cases, considerably secularized) have incorporated ceremonies and (in more cases than not) tend to practice them quite strictly as a means of demonstrating devotion and respect to the lineage. Not only that, but the strictness of ceremonial practice also tends to correlate positively with the degree of concentration and mindfulness promoted by those practicing, since memorizing and executing proper form during ceremonies typically demands a considerable investment of cognitive resources and, if practiced wholeheartedly, overrides the tendency to unconsciously assimilate information and operate on auto-pilot.
A brief example derived from first-hand experience: Contrary to popular belief, the traditions in which my practice is rooted (Zen/Chan/Seon - the East Asian meditation schools) place an enormous amount of emphasis upon ceremony. For instance, proper bowing etiquette and strict ritual practice is an absolute must. While it may sound on the verge of obsessive-compulsive, during ceremonies, the officiant bows once at the left of the altar, sidesteps to the right, makes an incense offering by running one's fingers over a lit stick of incense, touches the incense to the forehead with the right hand while keeping the left in gassho/prayer, sidesteps to the right, makes a 180 degree turn to the left to avoid turning one's back directly to the Buddha, and completes three full prostrations about a meter back from the front of the altar. Not outrageously elaborate, but quite specific and arguably strict nonetheless.
This degree of specificity and strictness requires practitioners to exercise a great deal of attention to detail, thus concentration and mindfulness, so as to avoid falling back into the default mode of automaticity, indulging unknowingly in unconscious habits, or practicing mindless activity. More experienced practitioners will not shy away from correcting improper or sloppy form.
With that said, it is critical not to conflate strictness with ruthlessness. Simply because a ceremony is practice strictly does not mean the practitioners involved ruthlessly evaluate those who may not adhere perfectly to every subtle and nuanced maneuver. The purpose of the strictness of ceremony is not to take pride in doing it the right way, or put others down for doing it the wrong way, but to cultivate one's mind by means of the body - mental cultivation through physical action.
Thanks, that was the sort of thing I was referring to..