PROSTRATIONS

 PROSTRATIONS:

Why do we do prostrations?  

The tradition of prostrations goes back thousands of years, long before the Buddha.  

Buddha Shakyamuni did thousands of prostrations when he was on the Bodhisattva Path. Prostrations are a powerful and practical method of purification for body and mind.  Prostrations are an antidote to pride and arrogance around who you think you are.  It is a good way to test your ego and purifying your mind.

As Roshi Philip Kapleau used to say, "Lower the mast of ego."

Most Buddhist paths include some form of prostrations in daily practice. Traditionally, prostrations are more than a show of respect for Buddha, Dharma and Sangha; they are a method to purify the mind, or the “antidote” for ego-clinging. Cutting the ego down to size is at least somewhat important to helping us understand the wisdom of emptiness. 

Additionally, in terms of the “five faults” you could also say that prostrations can be an antidote for the fault of “laziness.”

Making prostrations is an excellent antidote for slicing through false pride.  

Prostrations are often encouraged in the context of showing respect for all living beings. Since every sentient being has Buddha Nature (in Mahayana traditions), bowing to any person can be thought of as bowing to the Buddha Nature in all of us.

Cutting the ego through preliminary practices such as prostration is “point one”, while Bodhichitta, is “point two.” Both are critical.  

Contemplate that as long as you are too focused on self-importance and too caught up in thinking about how you are good or bad, you will experience suffering. 

Obsessing about getting what you want and avoiding what you don’t want does not result in happiness. The main preliminary practice focused on cutting the ego is prostrations.

Every morning, I begin my practice with 108 prostrations.  

If you think you'd like to practice this, you can go to this link:  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZmRCuJRJYuo 

~ Bhikkhuni Tịnh Quang (清光)