Photo Inventory (Vietnamese Buddhist Temple)

16
Vietnamese Buddhist Temple McKaycee Abrenica Rominna De Torres Anthropology 121 November 8, 2014

Transcript of Photo Inventory (Vietnamese Buddhist Temple)

Page 1: Photo Inventory (Vietnamese Buddhist Temple)

Vietnamese Buddhist Temple

McKaycee Abrenica

Rominna De Torres

Anthropology 121

November 8, 2014

Page 2: Photo Inventory (Vietnamese Buddhist Temple)

This is one of the altars in the temple. Each altar has its own Buddha. A Buddha is simply one who has reached enlightenment. Meaning, anyone can be a Buddha. The fat jolly guy of which we usually see is actually the Chinese

god of luck and fortune -- who was once a man but reached enlightenment through the folly of his luck and fortune. Thus, he was a Buddha, and

enlightened. The skinny guy is Gautama Siddhartha, who reached enlightenment meditating under the Bodhi tree, after a life of wealth and then severe self-discipline and avoidance of all forms of indulgence, then

realizing the truth of the middle path. Thus, he was a Buddha, and enlightened. Buddha statues meditating can be visual symbols and

reminders of inner peace, good fortune, healing, calm and can be a powerful motivational reminder that each and every one of us has Buddha nature

within us.

Page 3: Photo Inventory (Vietnamese Buddhist Temple)

In Buddhism, a bodhisattva is an

enlightenment being. Traditionally, a

bodhisattva is anyone who, motivated by great

compassion, has generated bodhicitta,

which is a spontaneous wish to attain

Buddhahood for the benefit of all sentient

beings. A bodhisattva is one who has a

determination to free sentient beings from

samsara and its cycle of death, rebirth and

suffering. This type of mind is known as the

mind of awakening (bodhicitta).

Bodhisattvas take bodhisattva vows in

order to progress on the spiritual path towards

Buddhahood.

Page 4: Photo Inventory (Vietnamese Buddhist Temple)

They had a sound system that plays Buddhist Music continuously. The reason for it is to help purify the hearts of listeners nonstop while in the temple after the ceremony is over. The lifestyle common to most people today is busy and quite stressful. With many people seeming to have no place to take any kind of spiritual refuge it can often become quite easy for them to become lost in themselves. The pure and clear sounding melodies of Buddhist Music aim to provide a way to communicate the higher spiritual states of mind that are advocated by the Dharma, and can serve to enrich and re-energize the hearts of people.

Page 5: Photo Inventory (Vietnamese Buddhist Temple)

The Buddhist monastic order is divided into two assemblies, the male bhikkhu, and the female bhikkhuni assembly. Monks and nuns are considered to be responsible for the preservation and dissemination of the Buddha's teaching and the guidance of Buddhist lay people. An abbess or abbot, typically a senior monastic still young enough to be active, is usually responsible for the day-to-day administration of the monastery, and may appoint others to assist with the work. In some traditions, the abbess/abbot is chosen by a vote of the monastics in a monastery. Monks and nuns are expected to fulfill a variety of roles in the Buddhist community. First and foremost, they are expected to preserve the doctrine and discipline now known as Buddhism.

Page 6: Photo Inventory (Vietnamese Buddhist Temple)

This woman made origami of a lotus flower. The most often flower in Buddhist shrines, or

on the base of statues, are lotuses, as they represent the

potential or actuality of Enlightenment. The Buddha is

likened to the lotus. Like a lotus that rises out of a

muddy pond, the Buddha rose above the defilements

and sufferings of life. We are right now surrounded by

defilements and sufferings, just as the lotus seed is

surrounded by dirt, mud and filth. We should rise above

our defilements and sufferings, just like the lotus

flower arising above the muddy water. This serves to

remind us of our own potential Buddhahood. We

may have defilements today, but we all have the potential

of growing out of defilements and achieving wisdom like

the Buddha.

Page 7: Photo Inventory (Vietnamese Buddhist Temple)

This is called morning gong. In the morning, the gong is set to create a

stream of intense sounds followed by a slow pace. This is to remind the mass that they are have come to the

end of a long night and do not indulge oneself in deep

unconsciousness; in the evening, the gong is sounded in the reverse

order, that is, slow then a faster pace, this is to remind everyone that they should be aware of illusions and

unconsciousness; also that they must help relieve all beings in the

nether world from suffering. According to one of the monks, n today's society, many suffer from

stress that occur within our lives and spiritual lives that are drying up.

When they hear sounds of the gong from temples occasionally, they will be able to get away from all worries

and bathe in the environment of tranquility and peace away from this

mundane world.

Page 8: Photo Inventory (Vietnamese Buddhist Temple)

This is called an evening drum. It is also a drum used for ceremonies.

According to a woman in the temple, the sound of

this drum helps them focus on the ceremony. The drum can awaken

those who have lost themselves in the chase

of fame and fortune. The drum is hit steadily in a combination of fast and

slow paces creating a roaring sound of thunder. If you listen very carefully

you will be able to recognize sounds of the wind, rain, and thunder;

these sounds signify timely wind and rain (good weather) and national prosperity.

Page 9: Photo Inventory (Vietnamese Buddhist Temple)

A wooden fish, also known as a Chinese temple block, is a

wooden percussion instrument. It is often used

during rituals usually involving the recitation of sutras,

mantras, or other Buddhist texts. The wooden fish is often

used for rites of death and resurrection. During funerals,

people may walk in processions while sounding

wooden fishes in a slow and unison rhythm. Other

purposes may include prayers for rain. In Confucianism, the

wooden fish is struck at specific intervals to signify

certain stages of ceremonies at temple. In Buddhism, it is

struck during chants of Buddha's name. The wooden

fish symbolizes wakeful attention. It can also

symbolize wealth and abundance.

Page 10: Photo Inventory (Vietnamese Buddhist Temple)

This is a bell bowl (Da Quing), and it has different functions. chanting sessions or Dharma

functions in a temple, it will enable all participants to

regulate their thoughts and calm their minds. By doing this, people will be able to

achieve better interactions with Buddha and Bodhisattvas through deeper sincerity. They

may be made from stone or jade, but the majority are

made from metals such as bronze or steel. Other than

chanting sessions and Dharma functions, whenever the

Abbott of a temple is visiting another temple, as they enter

the shrine to pay respect to the Buddha, the Da-Qing must

be sounded three times as they make prostrations,

following that, the Abbott of that temple will come to greet

the guests.

Page 11: Photo Inventory (Vietnamese Buddhist Temple)

The bell symbolizes Buddha's voice. It calls for the protection of heavenly

deities. The sound of the bell equals the sound of the

Dharma, or the entity or law, which sustains the order of

things in the universe. These protective deities are more

like minor gods, or those represent a function of the

higher self, called Buddhahood (Bodhisattvas). Buddhism calls for people to

pay attention to the now. This focus is also called

mindfulness. The gentle ring of the bell serves to focus a

follower's attention, bringing it out of future worries or pulling it away from past

concerns.

Page 12: Photo Inventory (Vietnamese Buddhist Temple)

These are real fruits offered to the Buddha for prosperity. Buddhists don't pray to god, so one way of cultivating and practicing positive thoughts is to place the fruit there as a symbolic act and reminder of giving. The fruit isn't sacred but shows the person has loving and positive thoughts. The fruit is later eaten: in temples, it's given free to whoever's hungry. If you were invited to have a meal with them, you'd be the first one offered the fruit as it again becomes part of the act of giving and generosity. It represents the nourishment in spiritual cultivation and helps us be mindful of the law of cause and effect (KARMA)

Page 13: Photo Inventory (Vietnamese Buddhist Temple)

Incense stands for ethics and morality. It represents a person. Imagine that you are a stick of

incense. Someone comes along and lights up a matchstick. The

person then uses the lighted matchstick and lit you up.

Immediately, you are burning away. As you are burning, your body gives off a lovely fragrant

smell. This fragrance spreads through the air and brings joy

and happiness to people's heart. The person then offers you to

the Buddha. You are being put into an incense pot. You stand

happily in the incense pot because you know that you have

an important role to play. Your fragrance symbolizes the

fragrance of pure moral conduct. And this reminds people to

cultivate good conduct. Also, It creates a feeling of serenity.

Page 14: Photo Inventory (Vietnamese Buddhist Temple)

Buddhists believe that the flame on the candles represents the light of Buddha’s teachings. Candles are placed in front of shrines as a mark of respect. Buddha and Bodhisattvas are the Light that guides all sentient beings in darkness. When a candle is lit up, it can light up other candles. That means when we put others first, then other people probably will follow our examples, thus creating a bright wonderful world. Buddhists also use candles to further their faith. They isolate themselves in a quiet room and stare into the flame of the candle, focusing all of their attention on it. They believe that as they stare at the flame their minds will become enlightened as the worries of everyday begin to drift away. They hope to receive visions, images, and thoughts to guide them.

Page 15: Photo Inventory (Vietnamese Buddhist Temple)

This is a Vietnamese Buddhist ancestor altar. There are pictures of the members who died a long time ago, and recently. Flowers are dedicated which symbolize

the shortness of life and the constant change fundamental in existence. Vietnamese believes

in the life after death. They believe the deceased has a power that can bring good

fortune to the living people. Living members in family can be

protected from accident by the ancestors. In return, ancestors

will be commemorated and worshiped by their present

generations. For the Vietnamese, each person has two parts: one

for body – tangible part and one for soul – intangible part. After

the death, the spirits exist in another realm for further three

or four generations.

Page 16: Photo Inventory (Vietnamese Buddhist Temple)

After interviewing them, we were asked to have lunch in the temple. They don’t eat any kinds of meat for they believe that

every creature that breathes needs to be respected. Also, if one pursues the path of the Bodhisattva for enlightenment, one should avoid meat eating to cultivate compassion for all living beings. The act of eating meat is not always prohibited. One if the ladies there said that they can eat meat outside of the temple grounds. They

recommend a vegetarian diet, for Buddha insisted that his followers should not eat the flesh of any sentient being. The monks, most

especially, should abstain from any meat.