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Creating a home Buddhist altar correctly brings peace to family life.
For those on the Buddhist path, they often set up a Buddhist altar at home to express reverence for the teachings and enlightened beings. Setting up a home Buddhist altar provides practitioners with an opportunity to be closer to the core teachings, contributing to a serene and peaceful soul and life.
Setting up a Buddhist altar at home correctly is not something everyone is proficient in. Here are 4 principles to remember when placing a Buddhist altar; doing it right ensures a peaceful family and brings good fortune to its members.
Positioning the Buddhist altar at home
Feng Shui experts suggest placing the Buddhist altar in the central hall of the house, with the back against the wall and the front facing the main entrance. This allows homeowners to easily see the Buddha for sincere meditation and deters malevolent spirits from disturbing the family.
If there is already a family altar, it should be relocated, positioned below, to the right, or to the left of the Buddhist altar. The Buddhist altar should be placed in the highest position in the house, as the Buddha is the Enlightened One for all beings.
Avoid placing the Buddhist altar or Buddha statues in the bedroom
The bedroom serves as a private sanctuary, unsuitable for placing Buddha statues or altars. Doing so might be seen as a disrespectful act, potentially inviting unfortunate events into the household.
Additionally, it is strictly advised against setting up a Buddha altar directly facing the bedroom, kitchen, or bathroom. Even positioning the back of the altar towards the staircase, bathroom walls, or shower walls is discouraged.
A Buddha altar should be placed in a clean and serene environment.
The altar should embody a sense of tranquility, remaining undisturbed in a quiet setting. If feasible, it is recommended to allocate a dedicated space for the Buddha altar.
Alternatively, you can arrange it in common living areas or the living room, but never in the kitchen, dining room, or bedroom. The designated spot for a Buddha altar or statue should be peaceful, clean, and organized. It's best to keep away items like TVs, speakers, or miscellaneous objects that might disturb the spiritual ambiance.
Do not decorate a Buddha altar at home arbitrarily.
The items placed on the Buddha altar must adhere to the following principles:
– Buddha/Bodhisattva Statues: Position them in the center of the Buddha altar. If worshiping the Western Three Saints, place Amitabha Buddha in the middle, Great Strength Bodhisattva on the right, and Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara on the left of Amitabha Buddha.
– Incense Bowl: Opt for a size that suits the altar space, avoiding extremes that disrupt balance. The incense bowl should be placed in the center of the altar.
– Flower Vases: You can position two vases on both sides of the altar or place them on the right side (from an external perspective) following the 'east vase west fruit' rule. According to this, the fruit plate should be on the left side of the altar.
– Bell: Position it at the most convenient spot for practitioners to strike three times during chanting and Buddha mindfulness.
– Water Glass: Place it in front of the incense bowl for easy water replacement and daily cleanliness.
Posted by: Nguyen Binh An
Keywords: Placing a Buddha altar remembering 4 principles, fostering a peaceful family life
