Questions #6

Some of their Customs are:

Exchange of gifts

1) Honor Buddha by making offerings, relics, or images of the buddah

2) In the Theravada tradition, Buddhist laypersons often give gifts to Buddhist monks but giving is also encouraged more generally, to one another and to good causes.

3) In Theravada Buddhism, monks are considered to embody the fruits of Buddhist practice. Monks' responsibility is to share these with lay Buddhists through their example and teaching

4)  Giving to monks is thought to benefit lay people and to win them merit

Pilgrimage

1) Purpose of pilgrimage is to foster a spiritual discipline, to fulfill a vow or simply to travel.

2) Important in Buddhist practice

3) Pilgrimage to the Mahabodhi Temple       

Ordination

1) Admission to the monastic Sangha involves two rites of passage:

·         Renunciation of the secular life

·         Acceptance of monasticism as a novice 

2) Ordination is an important ceremony in all traditions. In the Theravada, for example, ordination means becoming a monk. To become a Theravadin monk a postulant shaves his head and beard and adopts the yellow robes of the monk

3) Then the postulant is questioned about past behavior and their suitability for the position. If satisfied, the officiating abbot admits the postulant.