Brass Altar
I need advice from Buddhists?
I want to follow Mahayana Buddhism as much as possible, but I'm unsure of some things.
As a buddhist, can you swear, have sex, and indulge in things you like?
I would be willing to give these up (:
Also, is it ok to have a small statue of Buddha, it's not a hugely ornate one, just one made from brass.
Can I have an altar to place my statue on.
If yes, what other things can I place on my altar?
And, can I eat meat.
I only eat fish and chicken anyway, but I was just wondering.
I've already been to the local buddhist centre, and they said I can believe what I want.
I thought I asked for Buddhist opinions anyway?
The Mahayana Buddhist tradition encourages practitioners to examine the motivations that shape a life. As a practitioner, you might ask:
What impulses shape my actions?
What intentions drive my behaviors?
How can I help, in this moment, in this situation?
The questioning approach to life is much more important than any fixed set of rules. By questioning how we live, we can discover how habits of mind shape the way we relate to the world around us.
And, as we become intimate with our habitual impulses and intentions, we might also discover how to gain freedom from them.
At that point, we can live with wisdom and compassion for all beings. That's the real meaning of the Mahayana tradition.
In this context, you might understand your question a little differently. Lay practitioners in the Mahayana tradition can certainly engage in sexual activity, eat meat, have statues of the Buddha, altars, etc.
But when you look into the intentions and impulses behind these behaviors, you might find that some behaviors only serve to gratify Your Own desires and actually obscure your ability to live generously and with wisdom.
Sexual lust, for example, arises out of self-absorption, not out of concern for the well-being of another. In this way, lust produces suffering for all involved. Creating a lovely altar with a statue of the Buddha, on the other hand, may inspire you to practice with consistency and sincerity, thereby turning Your Life away from habitual self-concern.
The Buddhist precepts serve as useful guides for how to live with a spacious intention to promote happiness and reduce suffering. You might reflect on these and discover for yourself how they apply to your own life.
http://zencomp.com/greatwisdom/ebud/bd101/bd101_05.htm
Best wishes on your path!
Unholy Sonnets 1. "Time To Admit My Altar Is A Desk"
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Tags: brass, brass altar candle holders, brass altar candlesticks, brass altar cross, brass altar crosses, brass altar vases, kwan, mini, yim, yin
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