Ritual and Devotion in Buddhism: An Introduction

by Sangharakshita

Imagine a world without beauty, myth, celebration or ritual. It seems that to feel fully and vibrantly alive, these experiences are essential to us—helping us to feel in touch with all levels of our being by engaging our emotions, senses and imagination. Devotional ritual also speaks this language of the heart and can bring us closer to our highest ideals, but it can be a confronting aspect of Buddhism for some people in the West. However, for the Buddha’s teachings to have a real impact on our lives we need to have a deep feeling for the Buddha’s teaching, a clear understanding is not usually enough. Skilfully steering us through the difficulties we may encounter, Sangharakshita leads us through the sevenfold puja, a poetic sequence of devotional moods found in Tibetan and Indian forms of Buddhism. Within this he discusses the use of chanting, offerings, recitation and other activities in creating ritual space and moods. Engaging in this way can help us commit ourselves to the spiritual journey with all our heart.

"A useful addition to the canon of Buddhism in the West."— Publishers Weekly

Genres: Buddhism

128 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1996

About the author

Sangharakshita was born Dennis Lingwood in South London, in 1925. Largely self-educated, he developed an interest in the cultures and philosophies of the East early on, and realized that he was a Buddhist at the age of sixteen.

The Second World War took him, as a conscript, to India, where he stayed on to become the Buddhist monk Sangharakshita. After studying for some years under leading teachers from the major Buddhist traditions, he went on to teach and write extensively. He also played a key part in the revival of Buddhism in India, particularly through his work among followers of Dr B.R. Ambedkar.

After twenty years in the East, he returned to England to establish the Friends of the Western Buddhist Order in 1967, and the Western Buddhist Order in 1968 (now known as the Triratna Buddhist Community and the Triratna Buddhist Order respectively).

Sangharakshita has always particularly emphasized the decisive significance of commitment in the spiritual life, the paramount value of spiritual friendship and community, the link between religion and art, and the need for a ‘new society’ supportive of spiritual aspirations and ideas.

In recent years Sangharakshita has been handing on most of his responsibilities to his senior disciples in the Order. Based at the Adhisthana retreat centre in Herefordshire UK, he is now focusing on personal contact with people. For more, go to www.sangharakshita.org.

A collection of 27 volumes will represent the definitive edition of his life’s work as a Buddhist writer and teacher. Find out more about The Complete Works of Sangharakshita

A series of talks by Sangharakshita: ‘Launch of The Essential Sangharakshita and Living Ethically’.

Reviews

[Callum Griffiths · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant introduction to the sevenfold puja as the main component of Buddhist ritual. Simply and eloquently explained and made to be down to earth. Buddhist ritual seems daunting; what is this strange thing? However sangharakshita puts it in laymen’s terms and shines the light on its simplicity, beauty and significance in Buddhist practice.

[Gemma Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very helpful book focusing on the Sevenfold Puja, puts everything into context and enriches the experience by doing so. The section on Entreaty and Supplication is especially interesting.

[Elaine · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a reasonably good read, although I found a few passages waffling and found myself passing over a few pages. However it's an insightful book opening your mind to other ways of viewing life, some of the book is extremely useful and well written. All in all a useful little book

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

A compelling and thorough introduction to pujas with the Triratna Buddhist Order.