Are Buddhists Worshippers? -- The following, excerpted from (1) Vision of the Buddha-The Buddha & His Teachings by Narada Maha Thero, published by Singapore Buddhist Meditation Centre, (2) A Guide to Buddhism A to Z by S Dhammika, published by Buddha Dhamma Mandala Society, have been slightly edited by FYI.

Illustrations from (1)

Do Buddhists worship images?

Buddhists do not worship an image expecting worldly or spiritual favours, but pay their homage to what it represents.

A Buddhist goes before an image and offers flowers and incense not to the image but to the Buddha. He does so as a mark of gratitude, reflecting on the virtues of the Buddha and pondering on the transiency of flowers.

Buddhist do not worship the Buddha/ the Bodhi tree, but consider Him/ it a symbol of Enlightenment, and so, worthy of reverence.

An understanding Buddhist designedly makes himself feel that he is in the noble presence of the Buddha, and thereby gains inspiration to emulate Him.

For one’s own good, and out of gratitude, one pays such homage, but what the Buddha expects from His disciples is not obeisance but the actual observance of His teachings.

Why do Buddhists Honour the Buddha?

Born a man, living as a mortal, by His own exertion He attained the supreme state of perfection called Buddhahood, and without keeping His Enlightenment to Himself, He proclaimed to the world the latent possibilities and the invincible power of the human mind.

Instead of placing an unseen Almighty God over man, and giving man a subservient position in relation to such a conception of divine power, He demonstrated how man could attained the highest knowledge and Supreme Enlightenment by his own efforts. He thus raised the worth of man.

He taught that man can gain his deliverance from the ills of life and realize the eternal bliss of Nibbana without depending on an external God or mediating priests.

He taught the egocentric, power-seeking world the the noble ideal of selfless service.

He protested against the evils of caste-system that hampered the progress of mankind and advocated equal opportunities for all. He declared that the gates of deliverance were open to all, in every condition of life, high or low, saint or sinner, who would care to turn a new leaf and aspire to perfection.

He raised the status of down-trodden women, and not only brought them to a realization of their importance to society but also founded the first religious order for women.

He did not force His followers to be slaves either to His teachings or to Himself, but granted complete freedom of thought and admonished His followers to accept His words not merely out of regard for Him but after subjecting them to a thorough examination, "even as the wise would test gold by burning, cutting and rubbing it on a piece of touchstone."

Why do some Buddhists honour the Bodhi Tree?

Bodhi, a Pali word meaning "awaken", is the name given to the individual tree growing at Bodh Gaya which the Buddha was sitting under when he became Enlightened. This Bodhi Tree was a variety of fig known to botanists as Figus religiousa and which has large spreading branches and rounded leaves with a characteristic pointed tip.

Tradition says that after His enlightenment, "As a mark of profound gratitude to the inanimate Bodhi tree that sheltered him during His struggle for Enlightenment, He stood at a certain distance gazing at the tree with motionless eyes for one whole week.*1 Following His noble example, His followers, in memory of His Enlightenment, still venerate not only the original Bodhi tree but also its descendents*2". The present Bodhi Tree at Bodh Gaya planted in 1880, is a distant descendent of the original one.

*1 On the spot where the Buddha stood a Cetiya (stupa) has been erected by King Asoka. This was named Animisalocana Cetiya and is still to be seen.

*2 The right-hand branch of the original Bodhi tree which was brought to Ceylon (Sri Lanka) by Sanghamitta Theri and planted by King Devanampiyatissa at Anuradhapuran, the ancient capital of Ceylon (Sri Lanka), still exists in a flourishing condition, though more than 2200 years old.

Bodhi Trees in Singapore from the same lineage

Do you know there are a few Bodhi Trees in Singapore which came from the same sapling brought from Bodh Gaya to Anuradhapuran, Sri Lanka by Sanghamitta?

They can be found in

1. Sri Lankaramaya Buddhist Temple

2. Mangala Vihara

3. Singapore Buddhist Federation in 12 Ubi Ave

4. Sagaramudra Buddhist Society - SBS (Brought by Ven.Dhammaratana of Buddhist Library, it was first planted in Tisarana Budddhist Association in Duku Rd, later presented to Ven. Yuan Fan of SBS in Pulau Ubin and later transplanted to SBS in Geylang.)