How to prepare a Buddhist altar
How to prepare a Buddhist altar
Where to place a Buddhist altar
1) It is better to place the Buddhist altar in a bright, clean, and holy place, but it cannot be closed with a glass window.
2) The best direction for a Buddhist altar is south facing north (southern hemisphere) or north facing south (northern hemisphere). If conditions do not allow for other directions, there are also options.
3) Do not approach or face the toilet. The toilet door at home must be closed at all times.
4) It cannot be installed on a balcony that is exposed and not attached to the foundation. It is acceptable if it is a balcony in a house.
5) It cannot be placed in the bedroom of the couple, except for the room of the older couple.
6) Can’t face the kitchen.
7) It cannot be placed above a TV, refrigerator, etc., or directly below an air conditioner.
8) The end of the bed cannot face the Buddha’s seat. The head of the bed cannot lean back behind the Buddha’s seat. Even if it’s a little too far, there’s no problem.
9) If conditions are limited and can only be installed in the couple’s room or near the TV, the environment is messy, the home situation is complicated, etc., you can ask for a Buddha altar cabinet with a door or curtain (red) on top, and open the cabinet door when you are not burning incense, close it or draw a curtain, but do not cover the Bodhisattva statue with a glass cover.
10) Bodhisattvas on the altar should be placed on the same level. For example, Bodhisattvas should not be placed on different levels of a bookcase or stand.
11) You can ask for a yellow landscape painting of Oriental Terrace to be pasted on the wall behind the Buddhist altar to ward off evil.
12) The Buddha’s seat should not be too low or too high. Buddhas and Bodhisattvas should be placed in a position where people stand and look up slightly. At least the eyes of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas should be higher than people’s eyes. Too low. You can use a luxurious and solemn box to cover the Buddha statue high. The box cannot contain anything that is meaty or unclean, and shoe boxes cannot be used.
13) The Buddha’s seat can be covered with yellow cloth.
What Buddhist attire is needed to worship at the altar?
Spices (required)
The Buddha’s altar must have incense. If there is no incense and no incense is burned, the Bodhisattva will not come and it cannot be called the Buddha’s altar.
1) Porcelain incense is better. It is best to avoid incense that has no character. There should be no words like “Buddha” or beasts, dragons, phoenixes and other animals on the incense burner, and no scriptures. It is okay if there is the word “福” or “longevity”, but it is best if there is no word for it.
2) Only under certain conditions and only one incense stick can be placed, as offerings to Buddhas and Bodhisattvas should be made as a sign of respect.
3) When there is no incense ash in the new incense burner, you can add rice and noodles first, and then use a sieve to remove the rice when there is more incense ash. You can also burn incense for other practitioners.
Fragrance (must have)
Incense should be placed on the Buddha’s altar.
2) When offering incense, you can use one or three incense sticks.
3) Do not use damaged incense.
1) For incense, scentless incense and rosewood are offerings to Bodhisattva Koyanagi. Unless the incense has been burned before, you should try to use the same scent every time.
Glass of water (required)
The provision of water has eight meanings and is very auspicious, so water should be offered to the Bodhisattva.
If the water is cold, it means that you are very disciplined, moral, and pure.
The water tastes sweet. After you offer a bowl of water to the Bodhisattva, you can enjoy many types of food.
Having light in the water means good physical and mental health.
Soft water means soft thoughts.
If the water is clear, it means your thoughts are very clear and pure.
The water is odorless, which means there are no obstacles in your mind and the obstacles have been removed.
Water benefits the throat, the magic word that makes you happy.
Water nourishes the stomach. People with a weak stomach cannot drink anything, but they can drink water.
1) The Buddha altar must have a water cup for the Bodhisattva, and each Bodhisattva must have a water cup.
2) Porcelain water cups without words and lids are best. Avoid clear water cups. Do not have sutras, words, or patterns of Buddha and Bodhisattvas on the water cup.
3) The water offered to the Bodhisattva must be drinking water, whether hot or cold.
4) The water must be changed every day, and each Bodhisattva’s water cup must be answered one by one, so don’t make the wrong change.
5) You cannot drink the water of the Great Mercy directly with your mouth, you can drink it by pouring it into a cup.
Oil lamp (required)
Lighting an oil lamp is to invoke the Buddha. There must be an oil lamp on the altar for offering offerings to the Bodhisattva, otherwise the Bodhisattva will not come.
Regular addition of the oil will improve your eyesight, increase your wisdom, and make your mind and eyes brighter.
The oil lamp is divided into two parts, and the lamp is like Mount Meru. Why does the oil lamp produce lotus flowers? Because on Mount Meru, there are many Bodhisattvas and Buddhas! The second part of the oil lamp is the water that goes into the sea. The oil is the patience of your mind like the sea. Therefore, only by using your generosity to own Mount Meru in your mind can you create Buddhas and Bodhisattvas in your mind.
1) Glass and porcelain oil lamps can be used, but black oil lamps must be avoided;
2) A pair of kerosene lamps can be used, or one for each Bodhisattva.
3) The oil lamp is usually placed on your right hand, which is the left side of the Bodhisattva statue.
4) Lamp oil should be made from ordinary oils such as olive oil, corn oil, and sunflower oil. Animal oils cannot be used. Sesame oil and peanut oil are too fragrant and will cover the sandalwood. Soybean oil is too strong, difficult to burn, and cannot be used.
5) An oil lamp cannot last. When there is no incense, the oil lamp must also be extinguished. This is because lighting an oil lamp is to invite the Bodhisattva to come. Without incense, it is not respectful. Extinguish it after the incense is finished.
Offer fruit (optional)
1) Fruit may be given if conditions permit, but is not required.
2) Provide fresh fruits: such as apples, oranges, mangoes, pineapples, watermelons, etc.
3) Peaches and bananas are not available.
4) Fruit offerings must be placed on a plate, and no empty fruit offering plate may be placed on the Buddha’s altar.
5) Fruit bowls should be new and special for holding fruit. They should not have sutras, words, or images of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas.
Flowers (optional)
1) Fresh flowers can be provided if conditions permit, such as: lucky bamboo, lilies, orchids, daffodils, etc.
2) It is best to use porcelain bowls without words. Avoid transparent or hollow ones. There should be no sutras, words, or images of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas on the bowl.
3) Roses with thorns should not be placed on Buddhist altars. Flowers dedicated to Buddha and Bodhisattvas can be identified by name. Pesach, morning glory, gippilla, etc. Furthermore, potted plants with soil should not be placed on Buddhist altars.
Please click to download the steps for setting up a Buddhist altar.
1. Place the prepared offering on the altar and bow with both hands.
1. Bodhisattva statues (arranged in front of the Buddha altar, numbers in order to bow in front of the Buddha altar)
④Taisui Bodhisattva ③Nanjing Bodhisattva ②Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva ①Sakyamuni Buddha ⑤Guandi Bodhisattva (Guanping Bodhisattva, Guandi Bodhisattva, Zhoucang Bodhisattva)
2. Incense
3. Oil lamp
4. Glass of water.
5. Fruit
6. Flowers
2. Respectfully
1. Light the oil lamp. If there is an electric shower lamp, turn on the shower lamp first, then light the oil lamp.
2. Incense burner (use a kerosene lamp, incense burner, you can use 3 incense sticks per incense stick. The incense stick should be placed upright and slightly raised above the eyebrows, and bowed three times. Multiple incense sticks can be placed in the incense container at the same time without breaking the incense stick head, so as not to face the Bodhisattva).
3. Burn incense (hardwood) 3 times
[The big incense burning is to light a Buddha lamp in front of the Buddha altar. Light the incense and take the light from the Buddha lamp and burn the sedge tree trunk, then extinguish the fire (do not blow with your mouth). The smoke that comes out is the big incense that belongs to the Bodhisattva. It can be done three times.
◇ If the large incense stick is sandalwood, light a large incense stick in front of the Buddha’s incense burner, smoke three times in the Buddha’s incense, then smoke three times in the Avalokitesvara’s incense burner, and finally insert the extinguished sandalwood stick directly into the Buddha’s incense burner (you can continue to use it later).
◇ If the large incense stick is made of rosewood (made of hardwood powder, which is naturally flammable), you can burn the large incense stick in the Buddha incense stick, add it to the Buddha incense stick, and then light it in the Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva. Place the large incense stick in the Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva incense stick (no need to smoke, it will burn automatically).
4. Kneel down facing the Bodhisattva.
5. Respectfully invited (three names for each Bodhisattva):
Namo Sakyamuni Buddha, Namo the Great Merciful and Compassionate Rescuer of Suffering, Guanyin Bodhisattva Mahasattva of Great Inspiration, Namo Nanjing Bodhisattva, Namo Taisui Bodhisattva, Namo Emperor Bodhisattva, Namo Zhoucang Bodhisathoutvaang, … (Each Bodhisattva worshipped has three names)
6. May the Great Sakyamuni Buddha, the Supreme Jewel Pot, invoke the name of Sakyamuni, enter the Supreme Jewel Pot placed by me XXX, then recite the name “Sakyamuni” 108 times. “May the Bodhisattva Guanyin, the All-Merciful, invite the Bodhisattva Nanjing to enter the Bodhisattva image placed by me XXX,” and recite the name of “Nanjing Bodhisattva Nanjing” 108 times. “May the Bodhisattva Guanyin, the Most Compassionate, invite Bodhisattva Taishui to enter the Bodhisattva statue erected by me XXX” chant the name of Bodhisattva Taishui 108 times and recite the mantra 21 times to dispel disasters. “May the Bodhisattva Guanshiyin, the Most Compassionate, invite Bodhisattva Guandi, Bodhisattva Zhoucang, and Bodhisattva Guanbing to enter the Bodhisattva statue erected by me XXX” repeat the holy name of the Bodhisattva 108 times. [Note: If it is a Bodhisattva statue erected by the director, it can be erected directly, without the need for such a chant. You can ask each Bodhisattva to enter the Bodhisattva statue and recite the Great Compassion 7 times and the Mind. Sutra 7 times. 】
7. Kneel down and bow to the Bodhisattva three times.
3. You can make wishes and prayers according to your circumstances:
1. Make a wish: not to kill, eat, and be a vegetarian, save people, print books, and burn CDs (make a wish according to your strength and conditions). [Everyone’s realm is different, and they should do it according to their own abilities. It is not appropriate to require everyone to make a vow according to their desires. 】
2. Pray: Say reasonable prayers based on your own situation, such as good health, smooth work, family harmony, etc.
4. Kowtow in Thanksgiving
Finally, I would like to thank all the Bodhisattvas once again and bow to each Bodhisattva three times:
1. Grateful for Namo Shakti Muni, the Buddha, grateful for Namo, the great compassion and supreme mercy, for the liberation of suffering and the great inspiration of Avalokiteshvara, the Bodhisattva Mahasattva.
2. Be grateful to Bodhisattva Namo Nanjing, be grateful to Bodhisattva Namo Ta Sui, be grateful to Bodhisattva Namo Nankuan, Bodhisattva Zhoucang, Bodhisattva Guanping… (each Bodhisattva you worship)
3. Give thanks to the Buddha, Bodhisattva, and the heavenly guardian dragons.