Rituals in Buddhism are not formalities. They are meaningful practices to connect us with something greater than ourselves. They call to our sense of beauty and often engage all our senses. When chanting mantras, for instance, we can feel our energies gather and flow in the direction of something meaningful. When bowing to the shrine, we connect with our own potential for awakening.
At first, many react with scepticism, confusion, even aversion to ritual. This is understandable, and isn't a sign to run away!
Especially in Western culture, rational thought is often valued above all else. We’re trained to analyze, think critically, and solve problems with our minds. But according to Buddhism, to connect with the world, we need to engage not only our minds but also our hearts, bodies, and entire beings.
Moving Beyond the Intellectual
In Buddhism, the intellect is important, but it’s not the whole picture. Imagine describing the taste of a ripe mango to someone who has never tasted one. No matter how accurate your words are, they can’t convey the experience of biting into the fruit. Similarly, understanding concepts intellectually is only part of the journey.
To experience life at its fullest, we need to go beyond words and ideas, tapping into a deeper way of knowing. This involves quieting our thoughts and allowing ourselves to experience things directly. Buddhism offers various tools to help us engage our whole being, with ritual and mantra being two powerful methods.
The Power of Ritual and Mantra
Participating in ritual creates space for our hearts and minds to connect with an experience beyond the everyday. Simple acts such as lighting incense, offering flowers, or bowing, are infused with intention, helping us to step out of the ordinary.
Mantras, an important part of Buddhist ritual and also a practice on their own, are sacred sounds or phrases. When chanted, they carry spiritual energy, and their repetition helps focus the mind and open the heart. Often after a period of chanting there's a deeper sense of peace and connection in the room.
Embracing the Transformative
Engaging in these practices allows us to connect with something rich and creative, something beyond our everyday experiences. This connection is transformative—it helps us break down the walls we’ve built around ourselves and see the world with fresh eyes.
We have mantra workshops and events with ritual regularly at the Croydon Buddhist Centre. Do come along if you want to give it a go, you might find that reality is far more beautiful and inspiring than you've imagined.