Download Buddhism – Temple Puja 20 marker

TEMPLE PUJA 20 MARKER (structure that can be adapted to an essay question)
Puja is the multisensory set of words and actions that describe the worship and devotion to the Buddha in all
variants of Buddhism. This may involve devotion to a Bodhisattva, like Quan Yin, for Mahayana and Vajrayana
variants. It is an individual based set of actions that involves offerings, bowing, prostrations, chanting, lighting
candles and incense and meditation. The belief in the Three Jewels, the Four Nobel Truths, the Three Marks of
Existence, and Karma, Samsara and Nirvana are clearly expressed throughout this practice, and through the
continual practice of the beliefs, Temple Puja is contributing to the understanding of Buddhism as a living
religious tradition.
Temple Puja moves an adherent from the mundane to the spiritual world and enables the Buddhist community to
take refuge in the Three Jewels, the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha. Adherents who perform Temple Puja primarily
acknowledge the Three Jewels, through bowing three times in reverence and in recognition that these Refuges
may assist in gaining enlightenment. Adherents may also circle three times and hold their hands together and
touch their head, hands, and chest, symbolising the importance of mind, speech and body in living out the
Buddhist religion. Through Temple Puja, a Buddhist adherent has the opportunity to worship amongst members
of the Sangha, through chanting or ritual, including a Full Moon ritual or as part of Wesak, and by doing this, one
becomes more ‘Buddha like’ in nature, one of the main focuses of the practice. The Dharma of the Buddha is also
evident in many aspects of Temple Puja as chanting may be subscript from Buddhist sacred texts including the
Tripitaka for Theravada Buddhism or Lotus of the Good Law for Mahayana Buddhism. Many adherents chant “I
take refuge in the Buddha, Dharma and the Sangha”, highlighting the prominent nature of the beliefs in the
practice. Mahayana and Vajrayana Buddhists chant “Om moni padme hum”. Through the interaction between
the characteristics; beliefs and believers, ritual, scripture and practice, Buddhism can be seen as a dynamic
religious tradition, that impacts the lives of adherents on a daily basis.
The belief in the Four Noble Truths is also thoroughly expressed in the practice of Temple Puja. The belief that life
is Dukkha that can be extinguished by overcoming Tanha and following the Eightfold Path, is expressed through
actions in Puja worship including meditation and the lighting of candles and incense and symbols including the
Lotus flower and the Buddhist Flag. The lighting of incense resembles the overcoming of Dukkha, unsatisfactory
smells, and the Buddhist flag includes a symbol of the middle way, the way that the Buddha advised to overcome
Tanha. Furthermore, the Lotus flower reflects that from Dukkha, murky water, enlightenment can be achieved,
the beautiful Lotus flower. The belief in the Eightfold Path to Perfection is extremely prominent in the practice of
Temple Puja. By practicing Temple Puja in the presence of the Sangha, adherents can achieve several elements of
the Eightfold Path including Right Effort, through putting time aside to practice Temple Puja, Right Speech,
through chanting with the Sangha, Right Understanding, by coming to understanding of the nature of the Buddha
and the Dharma, Right Concentration and Mindfulness, through meditation and Right Action, through bowing and
paying homage to one or more Bodhisattva, including Quan Yin at Nan Tien Temple, at Wollongong. By achieving
these elements of the Eightfold path, adherents are practicing positive Karma, another Buddhist belief, which is
based on the intentions of an action. Through positive Karma one can achieve a positive Samsara or reach
Nirvana.
The belief in the Marks of Existence, Anicca, Anatma, and Dukkha are also prominent in the practice of Temple
Puja. The belief of Anicca, impermanence, is expressed through offerings of fruit and flowers, which, through their
decay, reflects the knowledge that there is nothing that does not undergo change. Anatma, the non-self, is shown
through the presence of the Sangha, reminding adherents that reaching Nirvana is possible, and through the
presence of the Buddha and Mahayana and Vajrayana Bodhisattvas reminds adherents that enlightenment can be
achieved. It can be seen that the beliefs of Buddhism are thoroughly expressed through numerous aspects of
Temple Puja, ultimately contributing to the understanding of Buddhism as a living religious tradition.