The correct posture for worshiping Buddha

Whenever one arrives at a temple, one feels a transcendent purity and tranquility, and a solemn and serene heart is born, which makes one naturally want to enter the main hall and salute the Buddha to express one’s respect and gratitude to the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, and one feels the stability and humility of the person who salutes the Buddha in the soft, slow, and serene bending over to salute the Buddha.

Some people think that worshipping the Buddha means “kowtowing”, but in fact there is a big difference between worshipping the Buddha and ordinary “kowtowing”.
We all worship Buddha to express our respect and gratitude to the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas.
Seeing a statue of Buddha is like seeing the Buddha himself. We remind ourselves to follow the Buddha to learn wisdom, love, compassion, tolerance and other beautiful virtues.
From the soft and gentle bending of the waist to bow to the Buddha, we let go of our arrogance, worries, attachments, and bad habits, and at the same time, we repent of the karma caused by ignorance.

There are rules and regulations for true worship of the Buddha. When a Buddhist child salutes the Buddha, he or she should first collect his or her body and mind, be calm in heart and mind, dress properly, take off his or her hat, and stand in front of the Buddha in a dignified manner. Generally speaking, no matter whether one is paying homage to the Buddha by offering incense in a temple or attending a puja, or paying homage to the Buddha at home, one should pay homage to the Buddha for three times.

Steps for worshipping Buddha

Put your hands together in front of your chest.
Slowly bend down close to the mat and place your right palm in the center of the mat.
Place your left palm on the left front of the mat.
Move the right hand to the right front, so that the two palms are aligned.
When the head is pressed against the mat, turn both palms up with the palms facing upwards.
When you stand up, turn both palms back down.
Return the right hand to the center of the mat, raise the left hand back to the chest, and use the right palm to support your body.
Bow down with both hands together to complete the worship

Meaning of the Three Kneeling Rites of the Buddha

First prostration: When you kneel down, put your hands on your backs and silently recite in your heart: Self-reliance on the Buddha, when wishing for all living beings, realization of the Great Way, and development of the Supreme Mind.
Second prostration: kneeling down, with hands on palms, silently reciting in one’s heart: I will return to the Dharma, and wish all beings to penetrate deep into the Sutras and become as wise as the sea. Stand up by yourself.
The third prostration: kneel down, put your hands on your palms, and meditate in your heart, “I am a monk, and I wish for all beings to be in harmony with the masses, and to be free of all hindrances.

Worshipping Buddha’s Hands Poses and Meanings

Turning over the palms: When we put our heads on the ground and turn over our palms, we turn them over in the hope that the Buddha’s feet will stand on the palms of my hands, which is called receiving the feet, and we receive the Buddha’s palms, which is the highest form of salutation.
Half clenched fist: After receiving the Buddha, we should gently “half clench our fists” to receive the Buddha’s light and accept it with joy. As Master Yi said, “When a person holds the name with faith and aspiration, all of the Buddha’s merits become his own merits.”
The clenching of the fist means “to take in all”, meaning to accept all into the mind. The clenching of the fist and pressing it flat against the ground means that after receiving the Buddha’s light, one gives to the world with an “equal heart”. At the same time, turning over the palm also means that I have decided to transform my mortal state of mind into a Buddha’s state of mind, to welcome the Buddha’s light and to receive the Buddha’s teachings. First, I make a fist like a half-clenched fist, and then I turn it over so that the palm of my hand is upward. It also means that I want to make offerings to the Buddha with my whole heart and soul without reservation. Turning the palm upward as much as possible, without tilting it, indicates peace of mind.

Three Meanings of Worshipping Buddha and Turning Palms

Respecting the Three Jewels: When worshipping the Buddha, turning over the palms is also a manifestation of respecting the Three Jewels. Respecting the Three Jewels, we learn to respect all things as the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas do, and to be kind to the people and things around us.
Receiving the Teaching: Each palm turn is a sign of devotion and thirst for Buddhist wisdom. When we are diligent and diligent, always mindful of our Buddhist practice, it also represents accepting the teachings of the Buddhas and following them.
Treating all beings with an equal heart: The Buddhas regard all beings as equal and one, and we should continue to carry forward this idea of great equality, and use an equal heart to treat all beings around us in our life and work.
Worshiping the Buddha reminds us not to seek anything from outside. We are self-sufficient, but since the beginning of time, greed, anger, dementia, slowness, doubt and other habits wrapped around our nature, learning and worshipping the Buddha is to let go of our own stubbornness, remove the bad karma habits, and return to the state of self-nature bright and complete.

Written by Shaolin Shi Yanhao also came from a strong background in martial arts, By age twelve he was studying full time in the Shaolin temple. 34th Generation Shaolin Warrior Monk， & 6th generation of Yang Style Tai Chi Chuan.National Intangible Cultural Heritage Inheritor. Awarded by the Chinese Martial Arts Federation as the inheritor of Chinese martial arts.

Be healthy. Live better.

Shifu Shi Yanhao