Ritual and Devotion

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The quality of faith is fundamental to the Buddhist path, and Buddhist rituals and devotional ceremonies are an important way to develop it. The basic attitude is one of devotion, aspiration and reverence.

As many atoms as there are in the thousand million worlds, so many times I make reverent salutation to all the Buddhas of the three eras.

Verses from The Bodhicaryavatara by Shantideva, used in the Triratna Sevenfold Puja

Ritual can help us foster a connection with the path, the teachings and the Buddhist tradition. The focus of a ritual is usually a shrine featuring an image of the Buddha or another enlightened figure. Other ritual objects can be placed on the shrine along with flowers, offering bowls and images of Buddhist teachers.

The elements of rituals may include chanting together; reciting verses or scriptures; making actions like bowing; or offering a flower, candle or incense. Each of these elements has a symbolic meaning. For example, bowing expresses respect, while a candle represents the light of wisdom.

Puja

‘Puja’ means ‘worship,’ and Buddhist devotional ceremonies are often called pujas.

The Threefold Puja

We reverence the Buddha, the Perfectly Enlightened One, the Shower of the Way. We reverence the Dharma, the Teaching of the Buddha, which leads from darkness to Light. We reverence the Sangha, the fellowship of the Buddha's disciples, that inspires and guides.
We reverence the Buddha, and aspire to follow Him. The Buddha was born, as we are born. What the Buddha overcame, we too can overcome; what the Buddha attained, we too can attain.
We reverence the Dharma, and aspire to follow it, with body, speech and mind, until the end. The Truth in all its aspects, the Path in all its stages, we aspire to study, practise, realise.
We reverence the Sangha, and aspire to follow it: the fellowship of those who tread the Way. As, one by one, we make our own commitment, an ever-widening circle, the Sangha grows.
Reverencing the Buddha, we offer flowers - flowers that today are fresh and sweetly blooming, flowers that tomorrow are faded and fallen. Our bodies too, like flowers, will pass away.
Reverencing the Buddha, we offer candles. To Him, who is the Light, we offer light. From His greater lamp a lesser lamp we light within us: the lamp of Bodhi shining within our hearts.
Reverencing the Buddha, we offer incense, incense whose fragrance pervades the air. The fragrance of the perfect life, sweeter than incense, spreads in all directions throughout the world.
We reverence the Buddha, the Perfectly Enlightened One, the Shower of the Way. We reverence the Dharma, the Teaching of the Buddha, which leads from darkness to Light. We reverence the Sangha, the fellowship of the Buddha's disciples, that inspires and guides.
We reverence the Buddha, and aspire to follow Him. The Buddha was born, as we are born. What the Buddha overcame, we too can overcome; what the Buddha attained, we too can attain.
We reverence the Dharma, and aspire to follow it, with body, speech and mind, until the end. The Truth in all its aspects, the Path in all its stages, we aspire to study, practise, realise.
We reverence the Sangha, and aspire to follow it: the fellowship of those who tread the Way. As, one by one, we make our own commitment, an ever-widening circle, the Sangha grows.
Reverencing the Buddha, we offer flowers - flowers that today are fresh and sweetly blooming, flowers that tomorrow are faded and fallen. Our bodies too, like flowers, will pass away.
Reverencing the Buddha, we offer candles. To Him, who is the Light, we offer light. From His greater lamp a lesser lamp we light within us: the lamp of Bodhi shining within our hearts.
Reverencing the Buddha, we offer incense, incense whose fragrance pervades the air. The fragrance of the perfect life, sweeter than incense, spreads in all directions throughout the world.
We reverence the Buddha, the Perfectly Enlightened One, the Shower of the Way. We reverence the Dharma, the Teaching of the Buddha, which leads from darkness to Light. We reverence the Sangha, the fellowship of the Buddha's disciples, that inspires and guides.
We reverence the Buddha, and aspire to follow Him. The Buddha was born, as we are born. What the Buddha overcame, we too can overcome; what the Buddha attained, we too can attain.
We reverence the Dharma, and aspire to follow it, with body, speech and mind, until the end. The Truth in all its aspects, the Path in all its stages, we aspire to study, practise, realise.
We reverence the Sangha, and aspire to follow it: the fellowship of those who tread the Way. As, one by one, we make our own commitment, an ever-widening circle, the Sangha grows.
Reverencing the Buddha, we offer flowers - flowers that today are fresh and sweetly blooming, flowers that tomorrow are faded and fallen. Our bodies too, like flowers, will pass away.
Reverencing the Buddha, we offer candles. To Him, who is the Light, we offer light. From His greater lamp a lesser lamp we light within us: the lamp of Bodhi shining within our hearts.
Reverencing the Buddha, we offer incense, incense whose fragrance pervades the air. The fragrance of the perfect life, sweeter than incense, spreads in all directions throughout the world.

Here are the verses of the Threefold Puja – a fairly simple ceremony composed by Sangharakshita – as spoken by Vishvapani.

The Sevenfold Puja

The Sevenfold Puja is a core ritual within the Triratna community, using verses from an ancient Buddhist text called The Bodhicaryavatara, which participants recite in call and response. The seven stages, including salutation, going for refuge confession and dedication, reflect the stages of the Buddhist path.

Here are the verses of the Sevenfold Puja spoken by Vishvapani.

Read the full text of the Sevenfold Puja.

Chanting

Communal chanting of verses, is a part of a puja and other Buddhist ceremonies. Verses in the ancient Indian languages of Pali and Sanskrit are common across various traditions, while particular traditions may use verses in the languages of the countries where they developed, such as Chinese or Japanese.

Saluting them with folded hands, I entreat the Buddhas in all the quarters: may they make shine the lamp of the Dharma for those wandering in the suffering of delusion.

Verses from The Bodhicaryavatara by Shantideva, used in the Triratna Sevenfold Puja