Greeting the Statues (Buddha, Je Tsongkhapa, and Maitreya)
Buddhists in different countries pay homage to the Buddha and other venerated objects in various ways, from a simple bow to a full prostration. For example, bowing to the Buddha’s statue signifies respect for the Buddha and his teachings. Moreover, lowering oneself before enlightened beings is an act of genuine humility and an antidote to pride.
Please remember that the monastery serves as a meeting point where Western visitors encounter an Eastern spiritual tradition woven into Tibetan culture. This environment may be unfamiliar for some, so we genuinely appreciate your respect for our customs and practices. We warmly welcome new visitors and offer this brief guide to help you feel at ease and gain insight into some traditions and practices of Tibetan Buddhism.
When visiting the monastery, please remember that monasteries are places where people engage in spiritual practice and where Buddhist practitioners cultivate more merit. Therefore, we ask that you:
Be respectful of others.
Be aware of problems associated with making stereotypes and judgments.
Reflect on the Buddha’s profound teachings and generate a positive mental state.
Remain as quiet as possible.
Offering Prostrations
Prostrations infer deep respect for the Buddha’s teachings, and by performing three full prostrations, one pays homage to the Three Jewels (i.e., the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha).
A Full-body Prostration involves:
Bring your palms together in the “lotus bud” mudra (the base of the palm and the fingertips together, with the thumbs tucked inside). Your inserted thumbs represent offering a wish-fulfilling jewel to the enlightened beings.
Touch your folded hands to the crown of your head, then to your forehead (optional), throat, and heart. When you place your hands on your crown, you offer homage to Buddha’s enlightened body, purifying defilements and obscurations incurred through your body and establishing the potential to realize the nirmanakaya. At your throat, you offer homage to his enlightened speech and establish the potential to realize the sambhogakaya. Bringing your hands to your heart, you offer homage to his enlightened mind, purifying your mind’s obscurations and establishing the potential to realize the dharmakaya.
Perform the prostration by lowering your body to the floor into a kneeling position. Let go of the mudra to gently land on your hands, with palms open and fingers outspread against the floor. Stretch your body out fully, sliding your open hands forward as you go.
When your body is flat against the floor, bring your palms together into the lotus bud mudra and raise your hands to touch your head; this gesture acknowledges the blessing flowing from the enlightened being.
Reverse the motion so you rise, using your hands to push upward to a standing position. When standing up quickly, first the head leaves the ground, then the knees when pushing up with your hands.
Then, with a smooth motion, bring your hands to your crown and perform two more prostrations.
After completing three prostrations, bring your hands into the lotus bud mudra and touch your heart with reverence.
· A Half-body Prostration
Bring palms together in the “lotus bud” mudra (the base of the palm and the fingertips together, tucking the thumbs inside). Your inserted thumbs represent offering a wish-fulfilling jewel to the enlightened beings.
The prostration is performed by lowering your body to the floor into a kneeling position, letting go of the mudra, and gently landing on your hands, with palms open and fingers outspread against the floor.
Bend forward, placing your hands flat upon the ground, and touch your forehead to the floor.
Reverse the motion so that you rise, using your hands to push upward to a standing position. When standing up quickly, first the head leaves the ground, then the knees when pushing up with your hands.
Then, with a smooth motion, bring your hands to your crown and perform two more prostrations.
After completing three prostrations, bring your hands into the lotus bud mudra and touch your heart in a gesture of reverence.
