Whats The Meaning Behind Some Of These Buddhist Rituals?

[phrakid]

ok sometimes if sit down for chanting from the monk, before he starts, he will hand out a loop of white string from a spool of string, and ask u to hold in ur hand during the chanting.

n i notice its connected to the many buddhas on the altar.

so what exactly does the string do n why do we have to hold it in our hands?

ok, when the monk starts chanting, what do all the chants means?

ok, and there's one ritual, whereby u got a small jar like container of water. then as the monk chants, u have to empty the water into a bowl. then after that u r supposed to throw the water away at a tree.

so what does that ritual means and what is it for??

[leisurely]

Obviously I am not a Buddhism expert, but should you be taking part in things you don't understand? This is not a criticism merely an observation. I would feel most uncomfortable to be involved if I weren't sure of what was happening.

I hope you get some answers though.

[page449]

ok sometimes if sit down for chanting from the monk, before he starts, he will hand out a loop of white string from a spool of string, and ask u to hold in ur hand during the chanting.

n i notice its connected to the many buddhas on the altar.

so what exactly does the string do n why do we have to hold it in our hands?

ok, when the monk starts chanting, what do all the chants means?

ok, and there's one ritual, whereby u got a small jar like container of water. then as the monk chants, u have to empty the water into a bowl. then after that u r supposed to throw the water away at a tree.

so what does that ritual means and what is it for??

[page449]

From my knowledge the only thing that Buddha decreed was that Buddhism was to be noniconic. As soon as you add the statues of the curly-haired Greek boy you leave Buddhism behind.

[chutai]

Superstitions. Nothing more, nothing less.

I'm reminded of something Ajahn Brahm said when giving a talk on superstitions (how I'd like to give the link, but it's on youTube I'm afraid). You know these folk who wear amulets for good luck. And some who wear half a dozen or so? Well they believe that it will increase their good fortune. Ajahn Brahm said nonsense, wearing them will just give them neck ache that's all.

The chanting just makes you feel good. The Buddha when asked whether chanting for the dead would help improve the deceased persons karma, he answered that if we broke a stone vase and threw it in the lake, would chanting lift the pieces to the surface again? Of course not, they would remain undisturbed at the bottom of the lake.

So it is with karma. We sometimes can move and disturb the pieces a little through out own effort, generosity and in showing kindness to others. But no amount of hocus-pocus and ritual can do that for anybody else.

[bander]

ok sometimes if sit down for chanting from the monk, before he starts, he will hand out a loop of white string from a spool of string, and ask u to hold in ur hand during the chanting.

n i notice its connected to the many buddhas on the altar.

so what exactly does the string do n why do we have to hold it in our hands?

ok, when the monk starts chanting, what do all the chants means?

ok, and there's one ritual, whereby u got a small jar like container of water. then as the monk chants, u have to empty the water into a bowl. then after that u r supposed to throw the water away at a tree.

so what does that ritual means and what is it for??

Have no clue why they do all this stuff with the string, but they love to bring falangs to these rituals and then start complaining that you don't sit right with your legs and forget to bow to the buddas and so on.

I have a nice chair outside the temple in my wifes village who is perfect to spend the time waiting for the ritual to end.

[sabaijai]

From my knowledge the only thing that Buddha decreed was that Buddhism was to be noniconic.

Citation?

[raindrops]

ok sometimes if sit down for chanting from the monk, before he starts, he will hand out a loop of white string from a spool of string, and ask u to hold in ur hand during the chanting.

n i notice its connected to the many buddhas on the altar.

so what exactly does the string do n why do we have to hold it in our hands?

ok, when the monk starts chanting, what do all the chants means?

ok, and there's one ritual, whereby u got a small jar like container of water. then as the monk chants, u have to empty the water into a bowl. then after that u r supposed to throw the water away at a tree.

so what does that ritual means and what is it for??

The white string is called สายสิญจน์ (sai sinn) which derived from the Pali word สิณจ (sinn) meaning act that has something to do with water. The long string represent continuous flow of water and is used in blessing, wishing the person who hold the string with continuous flow of calm, prosperity and good luck.

All the chants do have different meaning. Most of them are there to remind us about the teaching of Buddha...ie...to look within yourself and understand that nothing is certain..etc. There are translated book of prayers available if you are interested.

The act of pouring water through your fingers กรวดน้ำ (kruad nahm) is a ritual of sharing บุญกุศล (boon kusol - or the act of good deeds or good merit) with the deceased...whether the deceased were the people you loved or someone you have done wrong to.

Many of these rituals have nothing to do with true Buddhism (many rituals actually came from Bhramin and Hinduism). But since these rituals contains mostly well wishes...and put people in a good state of mind...so why not. True Buddhism however (as Chutai has pointed out) is within yourself.

[fabianfred]

as has been mentioned... the white string is used in some ceremonies, such as house warming/blessing, to link everyone to the chanting monks/buddha statue etc. to help evryone involved share in the merits... this actual linking is of course just hogwash.... the merit you get will depend on your state of mind and how much you actually take part, rather than just being physically bound...

the water pouring is called 'kruat nam' and is a way of sharing the merits you have just accrued from your chanting/meditation/giving etc..... sharing with those past on....

this doesn't mean that by sharing your merits that you are using up some of them, or giving them all away... by sharing them you actually increase them

dedicating merits from chanting/giving food to the monks or robes etc. will only reach those who are born in the hungry ghost realm... not hel_l

if born as human/animal/deva then the merits will not reach them... merits from vipassana meditation are the strongest and are able to help those in hel_l...

there are ten different ways of making merit...(but most Thais only know of the first one which involved spending money)...

1. donating... giving food/requisites to monks, building temples etc.

2. chanting/meditating

3. listening to dhamma

4. teaching dhamma

5. paying respect to those worthy of respect...teachers/parents/monks etc.

6. sharing/dedicating merits

7. anumodana... rejoicing/praising others when you see them making merit

8. keeping the precepts

9. physical help... such as cleaning/cooking/washing up at a funeral/other peoples merit making cermonies/at temples etc.

10. Having correct view.... the most important... faith in Buddha/dhamma/sangha... faith that karma is real (good results in good/bad results in bad)

[sainarm]

as has been mentioned... the white string is used in some ceremonies, such as house warming/blessing, to link everyone to the chanting monks/buddha statue etc. to help evryone involved share in the merits... this actual linking is of course just hogwash.... the merit you get will depend on your state of mind and how much you actually take part, rather than just being physically bound...

the water pouring is called 'kruat nam' and is a way of sharing the merits you have just accrued from your chanting/meditation/giving etc..... sharing with those past on....

this doesn't mean that by sharing your merits that you are using up some of them, or giving them all away... by sharing them you actually increase them

dedicating merits from chanting/giving food to the monks or robes etc. will only reach those who are born in the hungry ghost realm... not hel_l

if born as human/animal/deva then the merits will not reach them... merits from vipassana meditation are the strongest and are able to help those in hel_l...

there are ten different ways of making merit...(but most Thais only know of the first one which involved spending money)...

1. donating... giving food/requisites to monks, building temples etc.

2. chanting/meditating

3. listening to dhamma

4. teaching dhamma

5. paying respect to those worthy of respect...teachers/parents/monks etc.

6. sharing/dedicating merits

7. anumodana... rejoicing/praising others when you see them making merit

8. keeping the precepts

9. physical help... such as cleaning/cooking/washing up at a funeral/other peoples merit making cermonies/at temples etc.

10. Having correct view.... the most important... faith in Buddha/dhamma/sangha... faith that karma is real (good results in good/bad results in bad)

donating is not bad, at least those money can help some people to do something. Vipassana meditation depend on who have good karma and try to reach the basic of buddha teaching.

[sutnyod]

Have no clue why they do all this stuff with the string, but they love to bring falangs to these rituals and then start complaining that you don't sit right with your legs and forget to bow to the buddas and so on.

I have a nice chair outside the temple in my wifes village who is perfect to spend the time waiting for the ritual to end.

There is another superstition involved in this: it is said that people who perform a Baci together (the string-tying) will be connected in a later life as well. You may think of moving your chair - either towards or away, depends

[page449]

as has been mentioned... the white string is used in some ceremonies, such as house warming/blessing, to link everyone to the chanting monks/buddha statue etc. to help evryone involved share in the merits... this actual linking is of course just hogwash.... the merit you get will depend on your state of mind and how much you actually take part, rather than just being physically bound...

the water pouring is called 'kruat nam' and is a way of sharing the merits you have just accrued from your chanting/meditation/giving etc..... sharing with those past on....

this doesn't mean that by sharing your merits that you are using up some of them, or giving them all away... by sharing them you actually increase them

dedicating merits from chanting/giving food to the monks or robes etc. will only reach those who are born in the hungry ghost realm... not hel_l

if born as human/animal/deva then the merits will not reach them... merits from vipassana meditation are the strongest and are able to help those in hel_l...

there are ten different ways of making merit...(but most Thais only know of the first one which involved spending money)...

1. donating... giving food/requisites to monks, building temples etc.

2. chanting/meditating

3. listening to dhamma

4. teaching dhamma

5. paying respect to those worthy of respect...teachers/parents/monks etc.

6. sharing/dedicating merits

7. anumodana... rejoicing/praising others when you see them making merit

8. keeping the precepts

9. physical help... such as cleaning/cooking/washing up at a funeral/other peoples merit making cermonies/at temples etc.

10. Having correct view.... the most important... faith in Buddha/dhamma/sangha... faith that karma is real (good results in good/bad results in bad)

[page449]

Is 'living a meritous life',as the teachings suggest we do, and 'making merit' the same thing? The latter seems to imply that we earn something or we will be paid back by someone.