Offerings, Images, Shrines, etc.

[theravada_guy]

Greetings all,

Regarding the topics in the Subject of this thread, does anyone know when we, as Buddhists, first started doing these things? Who made it traditional for the offerings to be incense, light and flowers? Did the same person come up with the symbolism of these offerings? I hope I do not annoy with my questions, I just sit there and think about things and they come up. I have no where else to really ask these questions. Also, even with my library (both on the computer and bookshelf) I don't think I have any books that answer these questions.

[cooran]

Not sure of who came up with these ideas. It was probably already a custom of the country, of all countries, to have an area set aside to show respect in this manner.

Lay Buddhist Practice
The Shrine Room, Uposatha Day, Rains Residence by Bhikkhu Khantipalo
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/auth ... el206.html

with metta
Chris