Comments on: Making a Buddhist Altar http://japanlifeandreligion.com/2011/06/08/making-a-buddhist-altar/ My life as a father, Buddhist and Japanophile. Fri, 10 Jun 2011 15:44:16 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: Doug 陀愚 http://japanlifeandreligion.com/2011/06/08/making-a-buddhist-altar/#comment-6466 Doug 陀愚 Fri, 10 Jun 2011 15:41:24 +0000 https://nihonshukyo.wordpress.com/?p=11530#comment-6466 Hi Jeff, Thanks for pointing that out. It's a very underrated store. :-) Hi Jeff,

Thanks for pointing that out. It’s a very underrated store. :-)

]]> By: Doug 陀愚 http://japanlifeandreligion.com/2011/06/08/making-a-buddhist-altar/#comment-6465 Doug 陀愚 Fri, 10 Jun 2011 15:40:21 +0000 https://nihonshukyo.wordpress.com/?p=11530#comment-6465 Hi John, I found though that if I make the altar <em>too</em> high it makes my neck hurt. ;-p Hi John,

I found though that if I make the altar too high it makes my neck hurt. ;-p

]]> By: Jeff http://japanlifeandreligion.com/2011/06/08/making-a-buddhist-altar/#comment-6457 Jeff Thu, 09 Jun 2011 23:43:19 +0000 https://nihonshukyo.wordpress.com/?p=11530#comment-6457 Great, helpful post, Doug. Just wanted to also point out that in fact the Buddhist Churches of America bookstore sells not only Jodo Shinshu, but also Nichiren, Tendai, Shingon, and Jodo Shu butsudan images too. Great, helpful post, Doug. Just wanted to also point out that in fact the Buddhist Churches of America bookstore sells not only Jodo Shinshu, but also Nichiren, Tendai, Shingon, and Jodo Shu butsudan images too.

]]> By: johnl http://japanlifeandreligion.com/2011/06/08/making-a-buddhist-altar/#comment-6452 johnl Thu, 09 Jun 2011 02:48:05 +0000 https://nihonshukyo.wordpress.com/?p=11530#comment-6452 I would like to add a +1 to the advice to keep the altar above eye level. I feel like having the eyes directed upward encourages a meditative state. (I wonder if that has anything to do with famous saints (like St. Theresa, for example) often depicted with their eyes looking upward, to heaven!) Also, most altars to have some kind of enclosure, but just as an exception, I went to a Honmon Butsuryu temple. They use a letter mandala, the Gohonzon of Nam Myoho Renge Kyo (familiar, maybe, because of other Nichiren-oriented organization operating internationally), but this temple had the large carved wood (?) panel mounted on the wall with no enclosure. And, I think enclosed altars are less common in North American Zen temples, for example. Maybe it has something to do with the lack of artisans making them. As for devotions, I started off just wanting to meditate. Then, I thought that chanting the Heart Sutra beforehand might provide a fertile mental environment for meditation. This worked so well, I started doing a more complete service with prayers, confession, refuge, the whole bit! So, I agree with Jeannie--start of simple. You can expand later if you like. I would like to add a +1 to the advice to keep the altar above eye level. I feel like having the eyes directed upward encourages a meditative state. (I wonder if that has anything to do with famous saints (like St. Theresa, for example) often depicted with their eyes looking upward, to heaven!)

Also, most altars to have some kind of enclosure, but just as an exception, I went to a Honmon Butsuryu temple. They use a letter mandala, the Gohonzon of Nam Myoho Renge Kyo (familiar, maybe, because of other Nichiren-oriented organization operating internationally), but this temple had the large carved wood (?) panel mounted on the wall with no enclosure. And, I think enclosed altars are less common in North American Zen temples, for example. Maybe it has something to do with the lack of artisans making them.

As for devotions, I started off just wanting to meditate. Then, I thought that chanting the Heart Sutra beforehand might provide a fertile mental environment for meditation. This worked so well, I started doing a more complete service with prayers, confession, refuge, the whole bit! So, I agree with Jeannie–start of simple. You can expand later if you like.

]]> By: Doug 陀愚 http://japanlifeandreligion.com/2011/06/08/making-a-buddhist-altar/#comment-6450 Doug 陀愚 Wed, 08 Jun 2011 19:03:51 +0000 https://nihonshukyo.wordpress.com/?p=11530#comment-6450 Thanks very much, Jeannie. The link is greatly appreciated. Thanks very much, Jeannie. The link is greatly appreciated.

]]> By: Jeannie http://japanlifeandreligion.com/2011/06/08/making-a-buddhist-altar/#comment-6448 Jeannie Wed, 08 Jun 2011 18:02:37 +0000 https://nihonshukyo.wordpress.com/?p=11530#comment-6448 Here's directions to a Soto altar, if anyone is interested: http://global.sotozen-net.or.jp/eng/commemoration/alter.html I agree with your statement, "If you try to overdo it, you’ll get burned out and give up." I feel that having and using an altar fits here as well. It is better to start small and add to the altar when something of meaning comes up in practice. And though using an altar daily is good practice, one should not feel obligated. Practice should come from the heart. Here’s directions to a Soto altar, if anyone is interested:

http://global.sotozen-net.or.jp/eng/commemoration/alter.html

I agree with your statement, “If you try to overdo it, you’ll get burned out and give up.” I feel that having and using an altar fits here as well. It is better to start small and add to the altar when something of meaning comes up in practice. And though using an altar daily is good practice, one should not feel obligated. Practice should come from the heart.

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