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Download Buddhism – Temple Puja 20 marker
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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.