P3- Describe the factors that may influence the equality of opportunities for individuals

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WORSHIP

Buddhists pray not to a god but to within themselves. They seek enlightenment.

Places of Worship

Buddhists will often worship daily at home alone or in a group. This will be before a shrine containing an image of Buddha or a bodhisattva, usually with a candle or incense.

Many visit Monasteries or Temples, especially on full moon days and , to chant or make offerings and to listen to talks by monks.

Pilgrimages are popular. There are four main centres:

Pilgrimages are often lively joyful occasions with music and dancing. They remind people that they too can be enlightened and help them think about Buddha's teachings. Bells are rung during ceremonies, they represent wisdom.

Forms of Worship

Whether he is before a shrine, in his home or in the Shrine Room of a Temple a Buddhist will recite the 3 jewels and the 5 precepts to renew his commitment to Buddhism.

People will remove their shoes before entering a Temple. In the Shrine Room in front of an image of Buddha they will usually bow three times with their hands together in greeting. Each bow stands for the three jewels, Buddha, dharma and sangha. They may light a candle or an incense stick, which are symbols of his enlightenment and make offerings of flowers or food, as a sign of thankfulness and respect. In addition to reciting the jewels and the precepts a Buddhist may pray, meditate or chant. Some will circle holy places in a clockwise direction. Again this is symbolic. Buddha's followers circle him in the same way that the planets circle the sun

Tibetan Buddhists pray in a special way. They believe that if some sounds ( Mantras) are repeated they can open up the mind. The words "Om mani padme hum" (meaning the truth at the heart of teaching or praise to the jewel in the lotus.) are repeated by ordinary Buddhists as much in the streets as they go about their daily lives as in Monastries and Temples These words are frequently inscribed on prayer wheels or written on banners. In Japan the word Amida is often repeated in prayer. Amida was also a Buddha.

Prayer flags and wheels are other unusual forms of prayer. A prayer wheel is a cylinder. These range from ones which can be held in the hand to large drums outside holy places. Inside is a paper scroll on which thousands of prayers are written. Prayers will also be written on flags that will be placed out in the breeze. Buddhists believe that each flutter of the flag and turn of the wheel signifies a prayer.

There are many Buddhist festivals Most occur on full moon days and the most important celebrate important moments in Buddha's life. In May/ June Buddhists celebrate Buddha Jayanti, Wesak or Vesak The main festival is the ‘Thrice Blessed Day’ when the Buddha was born, reached enlightenment and died

Festivals

Buddhist New Year
In Theravadin countries, Thailand, Burma, Sri Lanka, Cambodia and Lao, the new year is celebrated for three days from the first full moon day in April. In Mahayana countries the new year starts on the first full moon day in January. However, the Buddhist New Year depends on the country of origin or ethnic background of the people. As for example, Chinese, Koreans and Vietnamese celebrate late January or early February according to the lunar calendar, whilst the Tibetans usually celebrate about one month later.

Vesak or Visakah Puja ("Buddha Day")
Traditionally, Buddha's Birthday is known as
 (Buddha's Birthday Celebrations). Vesak is the major Buddhist festival of the year as it celebrates the birth, enlightenment and death of the Buddha on the one day, the first full moon day in May, except in a leap year when the festival is held in June. This celebration is called Vesak being the name of the month in the Indian calendar.

Magha Puja Day (Fourfold Assembly or "Sangha Day")
Magha Puja Day takes places on the full moon day of the third lunar month (March). This holy day is observed to commemorate an important event in the life of the Buddha. This event occurred early in the Buddha's teaching life.

After the first Rains Retreat (Vassa) at the Deer Park at Sarnath, the Buddha went to Rajagaha city where 1250 Arahats,(Enlightened saints) who were the Buddha's disciples, without prior appointment, returned from their wanderings to pay respect to the Buddha. They assembled in the Veruvana Monastery with the two chief disciples of the Buddha, Ven. Sariputta and Ven. Moggalana.

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The assembly is called the Fourfold Assembly because it consisted of four factors: (1) All 1250 were Arahats; (2) All of them were ordained by the Buddha himself; (3) They assembled by themselves without any prior call; (4) It was the full moon day of Magha month (March).

Asalha Puja Day ("Dhamma Day")
Asalha Puja means to pay homage to the Buddha on the full moon day of the 8th lunar month (approximately July). It commemorates the Buddha's first teaching: the turning of the wheel of the Dhamma (Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta) to the five ascetics at the Deer Park (Sarnath) near ...

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