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ALTAR Basic Points Basic Points for setting up a Soto Zen ALTAR: BUTSUDAN As a center-point of PRACTICE: “The Buddha-altar (Butsudan) A Buddha-altar isn't only a place to honor one's ancestors. Within the altar, there is an area where Mt. Sumeru (the mountain at the center of the Buddhist cosmology) is represented and in the center of that area the main image is enshrined. In the same way as a temple's main Dharma Hall, the Buddha-altar is “the temple in the middle of the home”. hEp://global.sotozen-net.or.Jp/eng/commemoraKon/altar.html • Liên: a focal-point of our commitment to PRACTICE • AND the ELEMENTS / stuff / paraphernalia which supports us to do it GENERAL ALTAR POINTS: • Highest point in the room (not so much w/ SFZC Zendo but in BH; at Hoshinji…HUGE • SFZC: often has a cloth covering it….as a way to MARK THE SPACE, say on your dresser drawer • Part of your “meditation space” or “home Zendo space” • Cleaned with a separate cloth than your regular dust cloth; even one than for altar • CAN be tiered: (top to bottom: Buddha; flower/incense bowl, candle; bell, sutra books, okesa/ rakusu)….. (AND, practically, may be…..) • Can have pictures of deceased persons (in US, of your teacher or maybe someone you esteem), name(s) of person(s) for well-being; Dharma or inspirational quotes; other important/ resonating items (rocks;feathers; water….) Buddha: The most obvious of an altar element. • Typically a statue of the Buddha…..NOT that we are honoring an image or a person per se; more the EMBODIMENT or REPRESENTATION of our AWAKENED NATURE • Again, typically a STATUE but can be a drawing or picture • CENTER-POINT of the altar lay-out; at the back • Typically highest point in the room….Highest point on the altar itself (ie: no flower, candle higher) • That’s why typically on a PEDESTAL; a clean cloth at the very least • STATUE only cleaned/ dusted at NEW YEAR Incense Bowl (Receptacle to receive incense or petals) • Center, below and in front of Buddha • Bowl has “front” and “back”: Mark is “front” • If has feet (typically 3), the front has only ONE foot • Sifted ash that “packed” just right so that it holds an incense stick up right but not too hard that doshi has to tap-tap/poke hard into it (A developed skill). • SMOOTH and flat or heaped • Or raw Rice or Water bowl to receive petals Flowers: • On left, in front of Buddha • Odd # • No thorns; or at least, cut off • Not ALL white….Unless to commemorate death • Can-NOT be go above the Buddha’s head • NO dead flowers; dead-head Candle • Right side, EQUAL distant fr/ incense bowl as the flowers are • Can-NOT be higher than Buddha’s head • Lit only for FORMAL sitting in Zendo; for service and lectures obviously Other Dharma Items Bell Mala Sutra book/Dharma texts Incense/Match Holder Mokugyo hEp://global.sotozen-net.or.Jp/eng/commemoraKon/altar.html.
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