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• Comparing Christian and Buddhist forms of worship

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Comparing Christian and Buddhist forms of worship (Part 1)

Information: This is Part 1 of an article comparing Christian and Buddhist forms of worship. A version of this article was originally published on the website www.faithnet.org.uk.

Introduction

Both Christians and Buddhists emphasise the importance of 'worship' as a ritual which focuses attention on the key elements of their faith. In many respects we might say that worship is a time when people are reminded of why they belong to a particular faith, or religious community. For instance, Christians believe that worshipping God (or Jesus) is something they should do not only because they have been commanded to do this, but because they believe God deserves to be worshipped due to all the good things God has done for them (and given them). They also believe worship will make them more Godly (or God-like - 'Be holy, as your Heavenly Father is Holy' (Matthew 5:48)).

However Buddhists do not believe in a God in the same way Christians do, so they consider worship (puja) to be more directed towards achieving positive merit (or good karma), and to purify oneself in order to advance towards Enlightenment. Although Buddhists greatly respect the Buddha, they do not believe he was a God nor that he should be worshipped. Therefore, Buddhists do not 'worship' for the sake of the Buddha (or some other God), but for the sake of themselves (i.e. for their own benefit).

Something to do: Find out which Buddhists believe in the existence of gods (pretas and devas), and what the main differences are between their belief in these beings, and what many Christians believe about God.

Personal Devotions

Most Christians would try to spend some time alone with God on a regular basis. Some refer to this as a quiet time, and are often encouraged to do this on a daily basis for as long as one feels it is right to do (typically around 15-30 mins). Often a quiet time involves sitting quietly reading the Bible and praying, but it could also involve meditation or even singing. In fact, what a person does at this time (or even where they do it) is not as important as the act of taking some time out of the day to spend alone with God.

Some Christian families also try to have family devotions. This would be a time when all the believers in a one family living in the same house, would spend time together in the same way they would during a quite time (only with more people). Many Christians believe family devotions are important for teaching children the Christian faith, and for recognising the place of God at the centre of family life:

The home is the first school of Christian life... Here one learns endurance and the joy of work... love... [generosity]... forgiveness, and above all divine worship in prayer and the offering of one's life [to God and to other people] (The sacrament of matrimony, Catechism of the Catholic Church, Part two, section two, chapter 3, article 7)

A central practice in all forms of Buddhism is meditation. This can be described as a time when a person sits quietly in order to still their mind and body. However, in Buddhism it is also a time for developing a deeper awareness of who you are, and understanding more fully the Buddha's teachings (the Dharma). In many ways meditation can be likened to a training regime marathon runners will follow in order to prepare their body for the many miles they will run. Not only do they need to physically prepare for the race, but also mentally. In particular, they need to be ready to deal with the pain their body will endure during a race, which is often overcome by having the right mental attitude. In the same way, meditation is something Buddhists do to train themselves for life.

The more time a Buddhist spends reflecting on the Dharma, the more natural it will be for them to live it. It also means that when they face difficulties they will find it easier to respond appropriately as their faith teaches them to, rather than be unprepared for when things get tough. Doing this means Buddhists will increase their good karma, as the more they live according to the Dharma the less suffering they will cause to themselves and other people (bad karma).

Something to do: Make sure you understand what the different religious words mean, and use them in your work where possible (and when appropriate do so).

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Special things in the home

Almost all Christians will have a Bible in their home. Although there is no special room or special place on a bookcase where this needs to be kept, Christians will treat it with respect as they believe it is the Word of God ('All Scripture is God-breathed' (2 Timothy 3:16)). Some Christians may have a crucifix or a cross, a picture or statue of Jesus or one of the Saints.

A crucifix has a figure of Jesus on it, whereas a cross does not. Some Christians prefer to use a cross rather than a crucifix because they want to emphasise the resurrection of Jesus, rather than his death. In other words, an empty cross signifies to them that Jesus has overcome death (and is alive today), more than a crucifix does.

Some Christians offer prayers to the saints whilst standing or kneeling in front of a statue. However, they would never worship the statue itself, nor would they believe the statue has any ability to answer their prayers. It is also common to find pictures or plaques, with popular Bible verses on them in the home of a Christian family.

In terms of Buddhists, it is very likely that one will find a statue of the Buddha or Bodhisattvas in the home:

Bodhisattvas are believed to be beings who have attained Enlightenment, yet they delay their final entry into Nirvana in order help others achieve it too. Bodhisattvas are featured heavily in Mahayana Buddhism.

Many Buddhists would also most likely have a small shrine set up in a room, which will normally have candles, flowers, incense and a statue on it. In Japan, these shrines are called Butsudans. The shrine is a place where one go to sit and meditate and read Buddhist sacred texts. Theravada Buddhists consider worship to be more private than public. As such, they would spend a lot of time at their home-shrine. In Tibet, every home would normally have a shrine in front of which seven bowls of water are placed each day. The shrine is also a place where devotion to the Buddha or Bodhisattvas can be offered. However, as with Christians who may have statues of the saints in their home, Buddhists do not worship the statues, nor do they believe they are objects which have magical (or spiritual) properties within them.

Theravada Buddhism is regarded as the oldest form of Buddhism. It is a very formal and traditional approach to understanding the Buddha's teaching, and one that particularly emphasises the need for each person to go down a certain spiritual path in order to attain Enlightenment. Mahayana Buddhists call Theravada Buddhism 'the 'lesser way', because they feel only a few people will find Enlightenment through it. In contrast, Mahayana Buddhism (also known as the 'greater way') emphasises the need for faith, and the idea that all people can be 'saved' (or reach Nirvana). Rather than having to go down a specific spiritual path, Mahayana Buddhists believe that any good action can lead someone towards Enlightenment.

Comparing Christian and Buddhist forms of worship (Part 2)

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