Q&A for How to Create a Simple Buddhist Shrine

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How can I practice mindfulness as a Buddhist?

Ira Israel
Licensed Counselor and Psychotherapist
Ira Israel is a Licensed Counselor and Psychotherapist who has been in private practice for over 14 years. He specializes in teaching others about happiness and authenticity. Ira teaches sold-out Happiness and Authenticity workshops at Esalen Institute and Kripalu Center and has written over 400 articles on psychology, philosophy, Buddhism, yoga, film, art, music & literature for The Huffington Post, Good Men Project, Mind Body Green, Thrive Global, and Medium. Ira is also the author of How to Survive Your Childhood Now That You’re an Adult: A Path to Authenticity and Awakening. He attended The University of Pennsylvania and has graduate degrees in Psychology, Philosophy, and Religious Studies.

Ira Israel

Licensed Counselor and Psychotherapist

Expert Answer

Try different forms of meditation throughout the day. You could concentrate on your breath, practice visualization, or sit without distractions for a few minutes a day.

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Question

Which would best time in the Morning Offering water before Sunshine?

Community Answer

The exact time (i.e., 4am or 6:30am) are not what's important. One should wake up early enough to have time to think about the purpose of one's life. When you wake up try to think that I have been in meditation and that your Lama (or the Dalai Lama or Amitabha, Tara or any Bodhidattva) is seated on a lotus on the crown of your head. Think that today I will pray to help all sentient beings even if it is just by being kind, compassionate and generous to those with whom I come in contact. Then rise and go to your shrine. You could light a stick of incense and think; To the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha, I make this offering. Then continue by offering your seven (or 1 or 2 . . .) water bowls, etc

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Question

The statue I got is holding an empty bowl. Is there anything that I am supposed to put in this bowl?

Max Thunderman

Community Answer

It’s your choice whether you want to put anything in there or not, but usually it’s left clean/empty.

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Question

Can I use a picture of Buddha instead of a statue for the top of my shrine?

Community Answer

Yes, that is absolutely fine. If you'd like, you could write "BUDDHA" on a piece of crumpled-up loose leaf paper; you'd still be fine. It really does not matter what the shrine looks like, but rather what it is about for you.

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Question

Is it wrong to have shelves with books and items underneath my shrine?

Community Answer

No, that's not wrong, but it might be a nice idea to try to focus the books and items on your pursuit of Dharma.

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Question

Must I always pray in the morning?

Community Answer

It depends on what kind of Buddhist you are, but a short "om mani padme hum" is traditional.

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Question

For how long should a food offering be left on the shrine at home? How should the food offering be discarded? Can anyone eat a food offering?

Community Answer

Leave it for a few hours. Do not let it go bad! Food can be offered to guests, animals, the hungry or just offered to Buddhahood and eaten. It is sinful to discard food. Anyone can eat the food. Before a meal you offer the food to the Buddha, then you eat it. The principle is the same for altars and everything else.

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Question

Can I use other flowers instead of a lotus?

Community Answer

Yes. Flowers symbolize the causes, while fruits symbolize the effects. They play a part in reminding practitioners of the truth of cause and effect, which most refer to as Karma.

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Question

Can I continue to present my offerings to the shrine and meditate regularly when I am having my menstrual period?

Community Answer

Yes, of course. Buddhism has no restrictions on this.

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Can I use a picture of the buddha instead of a statue?

Community Answer

Yes, you can.

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Question

What do the three statues in front of Buddha represent?

Community Answer

They represent the past Buddha, present Buddha and the next Buddha.

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Question

I'm practicing at a Theravada school; am I allow to put idols of Mahayan boddhisatvas in my shrine and worship them?

Community Answer

Buddhism is usually less standardized when it comes to home shrines, so there is no such rule.

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Question

If I offer fruit, then should I eat the fruit afterwards?

Community Answer

It's up to you. You can eat it if you feel that it would bring you good fortune.

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Question

Could I place my Buddha on a table with an electric lamp on the same table?

Community Answer

Yes. You could do anything, because there is no rule about how to make a shrine.

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Question

If I reside in a cold place, am I allowed to keep warm with an electric heater at my shrine?

Community Answer

Yes, that is fine.

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Question

Do Buddhists worship Buddha?

Wryd333

Community Answer

No, Buddha is a teacher of spiritual enlightenment. He is not a deity and is not worshiped by Buddhists.

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Question

Do you have to have a Buddhist teacher on the second level?

Community Answer

No you could instead have The Laughing Buddha, or you could even have a a string of prayer beads.

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Question

Do I have to have a background when I make a Buddhist shrine?

Community Answer

No, but if you want to make or place one you feel better completes the shrine, go for it.

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Question

Can I eat while I meditate at my shrine?

Community Answer

You shouldn't do that when giving offerings or praying, it is not appropriate.

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Question

Can I light up with electric incense sticks (due to too much smoke) instead of real incense sticks?

Maty Filler

Community Answer

Yes, you can. You do not have to use incense at all if you do not want to. Some monasteries do not allow people to use incense because of the fire hazard.

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Question

If we offer money to a Buddha or a Bodhisattva. Should we give the money away?

Maty Filler

Community Answer

Money offerings are not very common instead of that you should donate the money to a Buddhist monastery or any good charity.

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