[…]It’s what we refer to nowadays as the promotion of Buddhism, promoting the faith and benefiting the broad masses of people.
“Zēng 繒” is silk fabric. There are different kinds of flags and banners in Buddhism. Flat flags are called “fān 幡”. Cylindrical flags are called “chuáng 幢”.
The cylindrical flags look like air ducts at the airport.
Back in the day, it was a signal from the temple to the public.
If there is an assembly at the temple and they have a flagpole at the temple.
They would hang a “fān” on the flagpole
When people see that the temple has a flat flag displayed, they know there is an assembly today.
And those who enjoy Buddhist assemblies would come and join.
Back in the day, this is the way they let people know.
If there is a Buddhist classics lecture in the temple, they would hang a “chuáng”.
If you see a cylindrical flag displayed, you know that the temple has a Buddhist classics lecture in the temple today.
And those who like to listen to Buddhist classics would come.
Nowadays they don’t do this anymore.
Temples nowadays notify people of events via phone and the Internet.
Post ads on newspapers or advertise on TV channels.
Back in the day, when they didn’t have such modern tools, they “hang the silk fabrics” as a way to communicate information.
These are for event promotion purposes.
Lighting lamps, offering flowers, and burn incense are to be offered to Buddha.
Light represents wisdom.
Lighting candles and oil lamps in front of the Buddha represents wisdom.
Another symbol is "devotion".
A candle lights others and consumes itself.
It’s altruism.
Burning incense means to place burning incense on the monk’s head and leave burn marks. Some people call this “ordination scars”. That’s wrong.
How would ordination leave scars?
There are no ordination scars.
What does it mean to leave a scar by burning incense?
It means that one makes an oath before the Buddha that they would consume themselves to light others.
Which means they would sacrifice themselves.
Contribute to others and provide services to others.
So if you have a lot of scars on the head, but are still selfish and penny-pinching. Then you are a liar.
Who do you lie to?
To the Buddha.
You burned incense and made this oath to the Buddha but didn’t deliver the promise.
So you are completely wrong.
You are guilty by leaving this burn mark.
You lied to the Buddha and to the general public.
General Buddhists burn on their arms.
Monks burn on their head.
Actually, it's all really done by the Chinese. Around the world, no one burn incense on their heads.
Buddhist classics do mention burning on the body.
You should understand what this means.
It is not necessary to burn.
If as a Chinese, you have left a burn mark on yourself, that’s good, too.
Remind yourself all the time.
Tell yourself not to forget.
Offering flowers.
What do flowers symbolize?
Flower symbolizes cause.
Plants bloom first and then bear fruit.
If the flowers bloom well, the fruit must be good.
So the flower represents the cause.
This is a representation of dharma.
What goes around, comes around.
So, when we offer flowers to Buddha, you should understand the meaning of offering flowers.
It is not for the Buddha to see.
It is a reminder that one good turn deserves another.
The light represents burning yourself to light others.
Burning incense.
The incense represents faith.
It represents commandments.
Buddhism says that precepts are true incense.
So while burning incest, you should think of commandments and precepts.
If you say the incense is for the Buddha and has nothing to do with yourself.
You’re completely wrong.
What would the Buddha want the incense for?
The Buddha wants nothing.
Burning incense to the Buddha is for the Buddha to witness our determination to learn.
That’s what it means.
“I want to practice precepts and meditation, and Buddha witnesses this.”
It is not that the Buddha needs the incense.
The incense also represents “messages”.
It’s also called the messaging incense.
It also carries a deep meaning.
Back in the day, people didn’t have modern science and technology to send messages.
Border defense is thousands of miles away.
If the enemy invades.
How do people report this information to the emperor immediately?
So they came up with this technique.
The defense of northern China is the Great Wall.
There is a beacon tower at every section of the Great Wall.
When you visit the Great Wall, you would see.
What is a beacon tower?
It is like a censer.
When something happens at the border.
They light wolf smoke.
They burn wolf dung.
Because wolf smoke is not easily blown away. Not easily blown away.
When a wolf smoke signal is light up.
The second person sees it and immediately lights one up themselves.
It would only take a few hours before the signal reaches the capital, and the capital (Beijing) would know.
This is how people send messages.
The beacon tower is like the censer.
So it represents that “we burn this incense stick to send a message to the Buddha and Bodhisattvas”.
If you know how to remind yourself at all times and tell yourself how to practice.
It is education.
In current terms it is a tool of teaching.
Building Buddha statues (build Stupas)is also a teaching aid.
It lets you see the Buddha and think of equaling their virtue and talent.
I was originally a Buddha.
Why have I become like this?
To make sure that you commit to practicing.
Return to your origin.
Buddha represents virtues.
It is inherent.
Resource
Master Chin Kung
《無量壽經》英文版
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xkq1gJOy9lM
[Translated by 華頓數位資訊有限公司]
It was organized by Jhan, heng- cheng (詹杭橙 師兄)
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