Tip 1: Buddhist symbols
Tip 1: Buddhist symbols
Buddhism is not only a world religion, but alsothe path of a person's spiritual development leading to penetration into the true nature of life. As the most ancient religion, Buddhism involves the use of symbols of auspicious omen.
The history of the appearance of Buddhist symbols
Buddhism arose in the IV-VI centuries. BC., When Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha) began to spread in India the doctrine of rebirth, suffering and nirvana. The Buddha did not like to use his own image, therefore he used various symbols to designate the basic teachings. So, in Buddhism there is the 8th symbol of auspicious omen that the Buddha received after he attained divine enlightenment. These include: a dome (umbrella), a lotus flower, 2 goldfish, a bowl, a victory banner, a dharma wheel, a vase and an endless knot.8 symbols of auspicious
In everyday life, the umbrella protects people fromsuch weather phenomena as rain or sunlight. In Buddhism the umbrella (dome) is a symbol of protection against suffering and thoughts that bring harm. In addition, the sign is associated with a cool shadow that is bestowed on a person. The lotus is a flower that is mentioned in Buddhist studies as a demonstration of the true nature of man. The roots of this plant go into the mud, but he still dissolves his beautiful flowers over the turbidity of the water. Like a lotus, a person goes through suffering and suffering to beauty, purity and spiritual enlightenment. In Buddhism, lotus color is of great importance: white is a symbol of purity of thoughts and spirit, pink is a symbol of Buddha, red is a symbol of love and great suffering; blue is a symbol of enlightenment and wisdom; purple is a symbol of mysticism and otherworldly forces. Two goldfish were originally associated with Buddhists with the rivers Yaman and Ganges. Later, a reinterpretation of this symbol took place, which began to denote wealth, success and luck. Like a fish in the water, a person can fearlessly swim in the ocean of suffering. The ravine is a traditional symbol of war, as well as a sign of the salvation of the human soul from ignorance. The white shell, spirally twisted to the right, means the joyful voice of the doctrine of dharma about the awakening of disciples. The victory of the Buddha over the evil demon Mara, associated with lust, pride and anger, signifies victory. This sign is designed to serve people as a reminder that they must fight their vices (anger, lust, etc.), since only this way will lead them to spiritual enlightenment. The wheel of dharma (chakra dharma, dhamma chakka) denotes the Greatest Teacher - the Buddha, and also is the symbol of the whole teaching of Buddhism. It has 8 spokes, which recalls the 8 stages of the Buddha's path and 8 good symbols. Vase is a Buddhist symbol of inexhaustible wealth, longevity and other favorable phenomena that accompany the enlightened person in his life. In addition, the vase means a vessel that can be filled with anything. The endless node is the intertwined lines tied into a knot. It should remind believers that everything in this world is interconnected. In addition, the symbol symbolizes the unity of suffering and wisdom, religion and secular life of a person.Tip 2: What is Shintoism
Shinto called the ancient religion of the Japanese, which reflected the patriarchal tribal system. The essence of this religion consists in honoring the gods-patrons (kami) and tribal spirits.
Usually places of veneration of the gods-patronswere marked by special stone buildings. By the way, the Japanese never made pictures of Kami, but they kept divine symbols in the sanctuaries. At one time, the Buddhist faith had a huge influence on Shinto. Gradual organization of the priests into the hereditary caste occurred. The construction of Shinto temples began, which nevertheless differed from Buddhist temples by their simplicity. Shinto even began to create images of the gods. Gradually these two religions became as close as possible. Inside the Buddhist temples, special places for Shinto gods began to be assigned. If one believes a religion such as Shinto, the origin of man is derived from one of the many gods - Kami. Kami spirits live in nature and in material objects. They can harm or help a person. The supreme deity Kami is the goddess of the sun. The Japanese believe that it was she who became the ancestor of their emperors. It is believed that the soul of the deceased person can also be reborn in kami, but only under certain circumstances. According to Shinto, Kami can be reborn into some everyday object and then he will become sacred. As for the Shinto worship, it includes four main stages - purification, sacrifice, a brief prayer and a libation. But the ethic of Shinto does not involve any difficulties. The main moral commandment has long been subordination to the emperor. Approximately from the sixth century it was the Imperial Court that began to unreservedly manage Shinto temples. Some very important rites could be performed only by the emperor himself. In fact, he was the supreme priest. The worst sins in Shintoism are considered to be spoilage of dams and cruel treatment of animals. By the way, nothing is said about the man here. Shintoism is characterized by the absence of a single canonical literature. It is completely replaced by collections of ancient myths and various legends. In general, Shinto religion has very little to do with the other world. She is more drawn to the earthly life. The essence of the Shinto religion can be considered the religious consecration of the political system that has developed in Japan. This also applies to the social life of the Japanese. But gradually Shinto was replaced by a Buddhist trend.
Tip 3: What is Visakha Bucha
Visakha Bucha is one of the most importantBuddhist festivals, dedicated to the three most important periods of Buddha's life: his birth, enlightenment and death. The exact date of its celebration is determined annually and coincides with 1, 15 or 31 days of the fourth or sixth lunar month. In the Buddhist countries, additional days off are introduced and colorful festive events are held everywhere.
Visakha Bucha is an international holiday,Which is celebrated at the state level in Buddhist countries: Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Singapore, Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Burma, Indonesia and the Philippines. Also the holiday is celebrated by Buddhists of China, Japan, Korea and many other countries of the world. Visakha Bucha is primarily a religious holiday, and on this day all Buddhist believers are sent to the temples to worship the wisdom, purity and compassion of the Buddha. In large cities, the procession is headed by members of royal families. From early morning, believers are busy preparing food and sweets for monks. Then they, dressed in snow-white robes, go to the temple, where until the evening the monks read sermons in honor of the Buddha, his poems, spoken 25 centuries ago, hold festive rites and meditations. By the evening the festive ceremony reaches its climax, and the most colorful part of the celebration begins - a candle ceremony. Each of its participants holds a burning candle in their hands - a symbol of the Buddha, three incense sticks and living flowers - they symbolize his teaching and followers. These three symbols also remind believers that just as beautiful flowers will soon fade, and candles and The rods will turn into cinder, life is prone to destruction and wilting. During the candle ceremony, the believers circle around the temple and its main chapel three times. On this day, Buddhists abandon alcohol and other temptations and devote a day to prayers, charity, uw monks and execution practices. In addition, during the holiday, any actions threatening the life and health of the animal kingdom are prohibited. One of the symbolic rituals held on this holiday is an "act of liberation": thousands of birds, animals and insects are released to freedom. According to legend, shortly before his death, the Buddha met his faithful assistant, who sat on a rock and cried. He reassured him and revealed to him the secret of the teaching: one can not worship the Buddha only by bringing flowers, incense and light, but one must sincerely follow his laws. Since then, Buddhists celebrate this holiday every year, observing all the laws of Buddhism, presenting gifts to churches and performing religious rites. In 1999, the festival was recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Day.
Tip 4: How to celebrate the New Year in Japan
The Japanese cherish the traditions of their country. Every detail of the New Year's celebration in the country of the rising sun is symbolic - dishes of the festive table, decorations, customs, gifts.
Just like in Russia, the New Year is celebrated in Japan on January 1. However, almost all workers leave for rest on December 29-30. The festive period in the country is called the "golden week".
Holidays most of the Japanese spend in the family or in the country.
Traditional dishes of the Japanese New Year's table
Almost every Japanese house before the holiday ona table you can find moti (rice cake). The recipe for cooking it goes deep into antiquity - a sticky sort of rice was loaded into a real wooden barrel, several people stirred it for a long time, and then beat it back with heavy wooden hammers.The preparation of mochi was formerly the exclusive prerogative of men, but due to the reduction in their number in the villages, the Japanese began to be content with mochi, prepared by machine.In addition to rice cakes, a dish that is alsomust necessarily be on every Japanese table, is ossi. It is a collection of non-spoiled products that can feed a large number of people. This meal excellently helps housewives, significantly reducing the time spent on New Year's holidays at the stove. Recently, the oases have been bought in supermarkets and the majority of young Japanese women have already forgotten about the recipe for making it at home.
