Well, I will answer to your question comparing with myself when I was young. Of course, we pay homage, I do not want to say the word, ‘Worship’, to the Buddha by bowing down with the palms putting on each other in the middle of forehead when we are right before the Buddha’s image. We also say some dhamma words as instructed by our elders, parents and grandparents at home.
It is not asking from the Buddha but it is saying some dhamma words concerning special qualities of the Buddha, such as ‘The Buddha is accomplished, fully enlightened by himelf, perfect in knowledge and conduct, and so on’. We were actually traditionally well-taught on ‘Nine Special Qualities of the Buddha’ to recite all of them when we are before the Buddha by paying homage to Him.
It is also a sort of concentration meditation by reciting these qualities of the Buddha closing the eyes softly. At the moment, while paying homage to the Buddha by reciting ‘Nine Special Qualities of the Buddha’, we feel peaceful and serene. This is what I have done since I was young whenever I pay homage to the Buddha.
Of course, now, I’m a forest dwelling monk who loves Mindfulness-Based Vipassana meditation and has practiced it quite seriously. Therefore, I do more than that now.
In my experience, I find there are two types of Buddhism in the traditional Buddhist countries: Burma, Thailand, Shari Lanker, Laos and Cambodia that follow “Theravada Buddhism” and Japan, south Korea, Hongkong, Taiwan, China, Tibet, Bhutan and so on that follow ‘Mahayana school of Buddhism’.
The two types are: (1). Religious type of Buddhism and (2). Philosophy type of Buddhism. In the religious type of Buddhism, there are those who are not spiritually grown up yet. They can believe in Buddhism as their religion; they can do even a certain kind of prayer to the Buddha and they may also be so much attached to Buddhism nicely not violently like religious extremists or fanatics in other religions.
They are attached to Buddhism because they know very well that the Buddhism will guide them to achieve ultimate peace and happiness when they are spiritually well-developed. They also believe that the Buddha, the Dhamma and the Ariya Sangha, traditionally believed as “Triple Gems” that will take care of them until they have achieved the final ultimate peace.
For me, it is O.K to see them doing this; there is nothing seriously wrong. Of course, if they can do like me to practice Mindfulness-Based Vipassana meditation even in everyday’s life, I would be happy.
Therefore, I have founded Vipassana meditation center in the forest. I have tried to do a kind of Mindfulness-Based Vipassana meditation movement since 15 years ago. I open the 7 days’ retreat to the people twice a year: one in October and another in April in Shan State, Burma. Now, there are more people to come to the forest 7 days’ retreat.
I try to guide them how to do it at home. I bring them to walk on the path of practical approach to the truth of life according to philosophy type of Buddhism. I travel now to teach this meditation even to Europe and in March, this year I was in China to teach them the same technique . I got feedback from them. It helps them a lot.
Q; It is well-said and perfect. We hope you achieve the success sooner. Thank you so much for such a very nice lesson.
