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| − | [[File:Pilgrims_prostrating_at_Jokhang.JPG|thumb|250px|]] | + | [[File:Pilgklating.jpg|thumb|250px|]] |
| − | <poem>
| + | [[File:Pro onk1.jpg|thumb|250px|]] |
| − | A [[prostration]] ([[Pali]]: [[panipāta]], Skt.: [[namas-kara]], Ch.: [[li-pai]], Jp.: [[raihai]]) is a gesture used in [[Buddhist practice]] to show reverence to the [[Triple Gem]] (comprising The [[Buddha]], his teachings, and the [[spiritual]] {{Wiki|community}}) and other [[objects]] of veneration.
| + | [[File:4llldb2 z.jpg|thumb|250px|]] |
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| − | Among [[Buddhists]] [[prostration]] is believed to be beneficial for practitioners for several [[reasons]], including:
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| − | an [[experience]] of giving or veneration
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| − | an act to {{Wiki|purify}} [[defilements]], especially [[conceit]]
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| − | a preparatory act for [[Meditation]]
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| − | an act that accumulates [[merit]] (see [[Karma]])
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| − | In contemporary {{Wiki|Western}} [[Buddhism]], some [[teachers]] use [[prostrations]] as a practice unto itself, while other [[teachers]] relegate [[prostrations]] to customary liturgical [[ritual]], ancillary to [[Meditation]].
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| − | [[Prostrations]] may also be subsumed within [[sadhana]] repetitions of various vinyasa [[forms]] of [[yogic]] [[discipline]], such as [[Trul Khor]], e.g. Importantly, vinyasa [[forms]] were directly influenced from [[Buddhist]] '[[Impermanence]]' ([[anitya]]) as was the [[Language]] of Patanjali's [[Yoga Sutras]] informed by [[Buddhist]] {{Wiki|discourse}}.
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| − | [[Theravada]] [[Buddhism]]
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| − | In the [[Pali]] [[canon]], laypersons prostrating before the then-living [[Buddha]] is mentioned in several [[suttas]]. In [[Theravada]] [[Buddhism]], as part of daily practice, one typically prostrates before and after [[Chanting]] and [[Meditation]]. On these occasions, one does typically prostrates three times: once to The [[Buddha]], once to the [[Dhamma]], and once to [[The Sangha]]. More generally, one can also prostrate before "any [[sacred]] [[object]] of veneration."
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| − | [[Theravada]] [[Buddhists]] execute a type of [[prostration]] that is known as "five-point veneration" ([[Pali]]: patitthitapanca) or the "five-limbed [[prostration]]" ([[Pali]]: pañc'anga-vandana) where the two palms and elbows, two sets of toes and knees, and the forehead are placed on the floor. More specifically:
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| − | ... In the kneeling position, one's hand in [[añjali]] [palms together, fingers flat out and pointed upward] are raised to the forehead and then lowered to the floor so that the whole forearm to the elbow is on the ground, the elbow {{Wiki|touching}} the knee. The hands, palm down, are four to six inches apart with just enough room for the forehead to be brought to the ground between them. Feet are still as for the kneeling position and the knees are about a foot apart....
| + | '''[[Prostration]]''' ([[Wyl.]] ''[[phyag 'tshal]]'') is the first of the [[seven branches]], and is described as the antidote to [[pride]]. |
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| − | In [[Thailand]], [[traditionally]], each of the three aforementioned [[prostrations]] are accompanied by the following [[Pali]] verses:
| + | =={{Wiki|Etymology}}== |
| − | First [[Prostration]]
| + | [[Prostration]] (or homage) in [[Tibetan]] is ''[[chak tsal]]'' ([[Wyl.]] ''[[phyag 'tshal]]''). According to the [[oral lineage]], the first part, ''[[chak]]'' ([[Wyl.]] ''[[phyag]]''), means something like ‘sweeping away’ any harmful [[actions]] and [[obscurations]], just as we sweep away dirt and dust using a broom. Then, ''[[tsal]]'' ('' [['tshal]]''), means that we receive the [[blessings]] of [[enlightened body]], [[speech]] and [[mind]], and gain all the [[siddhi]]s. |
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| − | Araham [[samma-sambuddho]] [[bhagava]]
| + | So what do we sweep away and receive? |
| − | Buddham bhagavantam abhivademi.
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| − | The [[Noble]] One, the fully [[Enlightened One]], the [[Exalted One]],
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| − | I [[bow]] low before the [[Exalted]] [[Buddha]].
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| − | Second [[Prostration]]
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| − | Svakkhato [[bhagavata]] dhammo
| + | *When we put our hands to our head, we sweep away all the [[negative actions]] and [[obscurations]] associated with the [[body]], and we receive the [[blessings]] of the [[enlightened body]]. |
| − | Dhammam namassami.
| + | *When we put our hands to our {{Wiki|throat}}, we sweep away all the [[negative actions]] and [[obscurations]] associated with the [[speech]], and we receive the [[blessings]] of [[enlightened speech]]. |
| − | The [[Exalted]] One's well-expounded [[Dhamma]]
| + | *When we put our hands to our [[heart]], we sweep away [[negative actions]] and [[obscurations]] of the [[mind]], and we receive the [[blessings]] of [[enlightened mind]]. |
| − | I [[bow]] low before the [[Dhamma]].
| + | *When we {{Wiki|touch}} the ground with the five points of our [[body]] we {{Wiki|purify}} the [[five poisons]], and we receive the [[blessings]] of the [[five kayas]] and the [[five wisdoms]]. |
| − | Third [[Prostration]]
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| − | Supatipanno bhagavato savakasangho
| + | ==In [[Ngöndro]] Practice== |
| − | sangham namami.
| + | In most [[ngöndro]] practices, [[prostrations]] are combined with the practice of [[taking refuge]], but in the [[Longchen Nyingtik Ngöndro]] they are combined with the [[Guru Yoga]]. |
| − | The [[Exalted]] One's [[Sangha]] of well-practiced [[disciples]]
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| − | I [[bow]] low before [[The Sangha]].
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| − | In [[Theravadin]] countries such as [[Sri Lanka]], when one goes before one's [[teacher]], in order to "open one's [[mind]] up to receive instructions," one bows and recites the phrase, "Okāsa ahaṃ [[Bhante]] vandāmi" ("I pay homage to you [[Venerable]] sir").
| + | ==Further Reading== |
| − | [[Mahayana Buddhism]]
| + | {{Nolinking|*[[Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche]], ''Guru Yoga'' (Ithaca, New York: Snow Lion Publications, 1999), pages 41-43. |
| | + | *[[Khenpo Ngawang Pelzang]], ''[[A Guide to the Words of My Perfect Teacher]]'', translated by Padmakara Translation Group (Boston & London: Shambhala, 2004), pages 268-270. |
| | + | *[[Patrul Rinpoche]], ''[[The Words of My Perfect Teacher]]'', translated by Padmakara Translation Group (Boston: Shambhala, 1998), pages 317-321.}} |
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| − | In [[Zen]] [[Buddhism]], both half- and full-prostrations are used. [[Zen]] [[master]] Robert Aitken writes:
| + | ==See Also== |
| | + | *[[Three kinds of prostration]] |
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| − | The [[Zen]] student is taught that in raihai [[[prostration]]] one throws everything away. Pivoting the forearms on the elbows and raising the hands [palms up] while prostrated is the act of raising The [[Buddha]]'s feet above one's head.
| + | {{RigpaWiki}} |
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| − | [[Roshi]] Philip Kapleau writes:
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| − | The act of unself-conscious [[prostration]] before a [[Buddha]] is ... possible under the impetus of reverence and [[Gratitude]]. Such "horizontalizings of the mast of [[ego]]" cleanse the [[Heart]]-[[mind]], rendering it flexible and expansive, and open the way to an [[understanding]] and [[Appreciation]] of the [[exalted]] [[mind]] and manifold [[virtues]] of The [[Buddha]] and [[patriarchs]]. So there arises within us a [[desire]] to express our [[Gratitude]] and show our [[respect]] before their personalized [[forms]] through appropriate [[rituals]].
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| − | Ninth-century [[Zen]] [[master]] Huang Po is said to have done [[prostrations]] so intensely that he wore a [[permanent]] red mark on his forehead.
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| − | In [[Vajrayana Buddhism]], [[prostrations]] are often performed before [[Meditation]] or teachings, but can [[Form]] a separate practice by itself. [[Prostrations]] are seen as a means of purifying ones [[Body]], [[speech]] and [[mind]] of [[karmic defilements]], especially [[pride]]. [[Prostrations]] are used in tandem with [[visualization]] and can be used to express reverence to [[Guru Rinpoche]] and others.
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| − | For example, in the context of [[offering]] homage to [[Guru Rinpoche]], [[prostrations]] are to be performed as follows:
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| − | ...Bring your hands together in the '[[Lotus]] bud' [[Mudra]] (the base of the palm and the fingertips together, and thumbs slightly tucked in) and place them on the {{Wiki|crown}} of the head, then to the {{Wiki|throat}} and [[Heart]]. As you place your hands on your {{Wiki|crown}}, you offer homage to [[Guru Rinpoche]]'s [[enlightened]] [[Body]], {{Wiki|purify}} [[defilements]] and [[obscurations]] incurred through the avenue of your [[Body]], and establish the potential to realize [[nirmanakaya]]. At your {{Wiki|throat}}, you offer homage to his [[enlightened]] [[speech]], and establish the potential to [[realized]] [[sambhogakaya]]. Bringing your hands to your [[Heart]], you offer homage to his [[enlightened]] [[mind]], {{Wiki|purify}} your [[mind's]] [[obscurations]], and establish the potential to realize [[Dharmakaya]]. The actual [[prostration]] is performed by dropping the [[Body]] forward and stretching it full length on the floor, the arms outstretched in front.... Again, with hands in the [[Lotus]] bud [[Mudra]], bend your arms back and {{Wiki|touch}} your hands to the top of your head, a gesture that acknowledges the [[Blessing]] flowing from [[Guru Rinpoche]]. Then stretch your arms out once more and push yourself up.... Bring your hands into the [[Lotus]] bud [[Mudra]] for the third [[time]] and {{Wiki|touch}} your [[Heart]] in a [[Gesture of Reverence]]. Then, with a smooth motion, bring your hands to your {{Wiki|crown}} and perform the next [[prostration]]....
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| − | This type of [[prostration]] is often done 3, 7, 21, or [[108]] times. A [[prostration]] [[Mala]] can be used to facilitate counting.
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| − | This [[Form]] of [[prostration]] is used with [[enlightened]] [[beings]] other than [[Guru Rinpoche]] as well.
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| − | [[Prostrations]] done in large numbers (like 100,000) can be part of the [[preliminary practices]] to the practice of [[Tantra]]. Other practices like this can be reciting the [[Refuge]] [[prayer]], [[Mandala]] [[offerings]], [[Vajrasattva]] [[mantras]] and other practices called [[ngöndro]].
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| − | </poem>
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| − | {{W}}
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| | [[Category:Buddhist Terms]] | | [[Category:Buddhist Terms]] |
| − | [[Category:Rituals]] | + | [[Category:Bow]] |
| | + | [[Category:Ngöndro]] |
