walsh@uunet.UU.NET (07/11/90)
Anyone know the hows and whys of the Buddhist water offering - a cup of water placed in front of the image of the Buddha? andoli
SECBH@CUNYVM.BITNET (07/12/90)
I can give you an answer based on my own understanding and practice (I am a Buddhist), however there may be twists based on culture and the influence of indigenous non-Buddhist religions in various areas. There are four "offerings" made on Buddhist altars: light (candles or oil lamps, incense, water and food (usually rice, sometimes fruit). It seems to me that these types of offering are pretty standard fare in many, many religions. Buddhist clerics and books will tell you that the light represents the light of the Buddhadarma, the incense the sweetness of the Buddhadarma and other water and food "offerings" are symbolic of those you would make to an honored guest. Forgot about the flowers or greens, which are standard in most places. They are often said to symbolize the fragility of human life as they decay so quickly. These offerings are the ones made in Theravada Buddhism and in Mahayana as well. The Vajrayana Buddhist (Tibet and Mongolia) make many more offerings and they have more esoteric significance. I hope this is a satisfactory explanation. Jack Carroll