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Unlock This CourseWhen people hear the word worship, they often think of praying to a creator God. Buddhism does not teach a creator God, so Buddhist worship is different. It is a way of showing respect and gratitude to the Buddha, the Dhamma (his teaching) and the Sangha (the community of those who follow it). It also helps Buddhists to grow calmer, kinder and wiser.
Key terms:
Buddhists often bow to the buddharupa (a statue or image of the Buddha) with hands together. Bowing is a sign of respect and of humility, which means putting aside pride. They are not bowing to a god. They are honouring the Buddha's qualities.
Flowers, candles and incense are placed before the buddharupa. Each is a way of saying thank you. Offerings also practise generosity, a quality Buddhists want to grow.
Buddhists recite that they take refuge in the Buddha, the Dhamma and the Sangha. You have met these as the Three Jewels. Reciting them reminds Buddhists where their guidance comes from.
Chanting means reciting teachings aloud, often together. It focuses the mind and helps people remember the teachings. Its meaning as a symbol is studied in Buddharupas, Mandalas and Prayer Wheels: Objects of Devotion.
Puja is important because it keeps the Buddha's example at the centre of daily life. It builds gratitude, reduces selfishness and prepares the mind for meditation.
Many Buddhists say meditation is at the heart of their practice. The Buddha became enlightened through meditation, so Buddhists follow his example. Teachings can be understood in the head, but meditation helps people to know them for themselves by training the mind. It supports the path to ending dukkha (suffering). Right mindfulness and right concentration are parts of the Noble Eightfold Path, and meditation is how Buddhists practise them.
The mind is like a jar of muddy water that has been shaken. Samatha lets it settle until it is clear. A common way is to watch the breath going in and out. When the mind wanders, you gently bring it back. The result is calm.
Once the mind is calm, it can look closely at experience. Vipassana is insight into how things really are: everything changes, nothing stays the same, and holding on causes suffering. Insight is a step towards wisdom.
Metta is loving-kindness. In this practice people first wish themselves well, then someone they love, then a neutral person, then someone they find difficult, then all beings. It weakens hatred and ill will.
Both matter. The vihara gives guidance and community. Home practice makes the teachings part of ordinary life.
The methods differ, but all aim to train the mind and follow the Buddha's path.
Paper 2 (a) [AO1] Outline two ways in which Buddhists show puja. [4 marks]
Paper 2 (b) [AO1, AO2] Explain why meditation is important for Buddhists. [6 marks]
Paper 2 (c) [AO1, AO2] "Meditation is more important than worship for a Buddhist."
Discuss this statement, considering the arguments for and against. In your answer you should include reference to teachings, other (divergent) points of view, and your own opinion using reasoned arguments. [10 marks]
(a) One way is making offerings (1), such as flowers and candles before the buddharupa, to show gratitude to the Buddha (1). Another is bowing (1), which shows respect and humility towards the Buddha's qualities (1).
(b) Meditation is important because the Buddha became enlightened through it, so Buddhists follow his example (1). Samatha calms the mind, which helps people to stay focused (1). Vipassana gives insight into impermanence, which helps people to let go of attachment, a cause of dukkha (1). Metta bhavana grows loving-kindness, which weakens hatred and ill will (1). It puts right mindfulness and right concentration of the Noble Eightfold Path into practice (1). Meditating in a group in the vihara gives support, while daily meditation at a home shrine keeps the practice going (1).
(c) Plan. For: the Buddha reached enlightenment through meditation; it trains the mind and gives insight, which Buddhists see as the way to end dukkha; many Buddhists treat it as their main practice. Against: puja shows gratitude, generosity and respect, and these qualities support meditation; chanting and taking refuge keep the Three Jewels at the centre; worship in the vihara builds the community. Divergent view: Zen stresses sitting meditation, while Pure Land Buddhists place great importance on chanting the name of Amida Buddha. Conclusion: the two work together, but meditation can be argued to be the most central because it directly trains the mind, which is what the path is about.
In the 6-mark question, name the type of meditation and say what it does for the person. "Samatha calms the mind, so..." earns more than "it helps".