Meian Elbert, Rev. Master

In all major Buddhist traditions there is a certain amount of ceremonial.In some it is the main focus of daily practice, in others it is minimal, but it is always there in one form or another. Here in the West, many Buddhists don’t see the point of doing ceremonies. For some people it is a strong reminder, whether positive or negative, of their former religion. It may be seen as irrelevant and outdated, as superstition, or as cultural baggage that can be left behind. One may wonder, why waste time with ceremonies when we could be meditating or listening to a Dharma talk? When I looked in some of the popular Western Buddhist magazines for articles on ceremonial, I found none.

Article available as part of Summer 2014 issue only pdf to download

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