Hello.
What exactly is the aim of the image consecration ritual in Theravada? Is it intended to accomplish something in the Buddha image, in the participants, or both? Is it just a commemoration of the Buddha? Does it make a statue spiritually potent like a relic? Does it affect the merit of offerings? Is it perceived differently in different Theravada countries? Do the commentaries say anything about it?
I have been wondering about this for some time.
Thank you to the person with the patience and the knowledge to answer this for me.
Ed
What Does the Image Consecration Ritual Do?
- sukhamanveti
- Posts: 169
- Joined: Sun Mar 08, 2009 7:33 pm
- Location: U.S.A.
What Does the Image Consecration Ritual Do?
Sīlaṃ balaṃ appaṭimaṃ.
Sīlaṃ āvudhamuttamaṃ.
Sīlamābharaṇaṃ seṭṭhaṃ.
Sīlaṃ kavacamabbhutaṃ.
Virtue is a matchless power.
Virtue is the greatest weapon.
Virtue is the best adornment.
Virtue is a wonderful armor.
Theragatha 614
Sabbapāpassa akaraṇaṃ,
kusalassa upasampadā,
Sacittapariyodapanaṃ,
etaṃ buddhāna sāsanaṃ.
Refraining from all wrong-doing,
Undertaking the good,
Purifying the mind,
This is the teaching of the buddhas.
Dhammapada v. 183/14.5
Sīlaṃ āvudhamuttamaṃ.
Sīlamābharaṇaṃ seṭṭhaṃ.
Sīlaṃ kavacamabbhutaṃ.
Virtue is a matchless power.
Virtue is the greatest weapon.
Virtue is the best adornment.
Virtue is a wonderful armor.
Theragatha 614
Sabbapāpassa akaraṇaṃ,
kusalassa upasampadā,
Sacittapariyodapanaṃ,
etaṃ buddhāna sāsanaṃ.
Refraining from all wrong-doing,
Undertaking the good,
Purifying the mind,
This is the teaching of the buddhas.
Dhammapada v. 183/14.5
- SeerObserver
- Posts: 96
- Joined: Wed Mar 11, 2009 5:52 pm
- Location: USA
Re: What Does the Image Consecration Ritual Do?
Well some statues actually have relics embedded within. There are many statues with sarira, bones, etc. embedded. From the practitioner's point of view, there are people of the belief that devas will reside nearby. On the other hand, merit fields are be created by other means and many people feel that is more important/potent than embedding relics which may or may not change the constitution of the congregationers.
Re: What Does the Image Consecration Ritual Do?
To consecrate images.sukhamanveti wrote:What exactly is the aim of the image consecration ritual in Theravada?
- Peter
Be heedful and you will accomplish your goal.
Be heedful and you will accomplish your goal.
Re: What Does the Image Consecration Ritual Do?
Becoming the Buddha: The Ritual of Image Consecration in Thailand (Buddhisms: A Princeton University Press Series) (Hardcover)
by Donald K. Swearer
http://www.amazon.com/Becoming-Buddha-C ... 0691114358" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Has anyone read this book?
Or this one:
Relics of the Buddha (Buddhisms: A Princeton University Press Series) (Hardcover)
by John S. Strong
by Donald K. Swearer
http://www.amazon.com/Becoming-Buddha-C ... 0691114358" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Has anyone read this book?
Or this one:
Relics of the Buddha (Buddhisms: A Princeton University Press Series) (Hardcover)
by John S. Strong
Bhikkhu Gavesako
Kiṃkusalagavesī anuttaraṃ santivarapadaṃ pariyesamāno... (MN 26)
Access to Insight - Theravada texts
Ancient Buddhist Texts - Translations and history of Pali texts
Dhammatalks.org - Sutta translations
Kiṃkusalagavesī anuttaraṃ santivarapadaṃ pariyesamāno... (MN 26)
Access to Insight - Theravada texts
Ancient Buddhist Texts - Translations and history of Pali texts
Dhammatalks.org - Sutta translations
Re: What Does the Image Consecration Ritual Do?
Hehehe I recall this thread on another Forum
http://www.lioncity.net/buddhism/index. ... opic=77613" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Happy reading
http://www.lioncity.net/buddhism/index. ... opic=77613" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Happy reading
- sukhamanveti
- Posts: 169
- Joined: Sun Mar 08, 2009 7:33 pm
- Location: U.S.A.
Re: What Does the Image Consecration Ritual Do?
Thank you all for the information.
Peter, you crack me up. I thought you were such a serious person.
I haven't had much time on the computer the last few days. Looks like I've got some reading to do.
Thanks again.
Ed
Peter, you crack me up. I thought you were such a serious person.
I haven't had much time on the computer the last few days. Looks like I've got some reading to do.
Thanks again.
Ed
Sīlaṃ balaṃ appaṭimaṃ.
Sīlaṃ āvudhamuttamaṃ.
Sīlamābharaṇaṃ seṭṭhaṃ.
Sīlaṃ kavacamabbhutaṃ.
Virtue is a matchless power.
Virtue is the greatest weapon.
Virtue is the best adornment.
Virtue is a wonderful armor.
Theragatha 614
Sabbapāpassa akaraṇaṃ,
kusalassa upasampadā,
Sacittapariyodapanaṃ,
etaṃ buddhāna sāsanaṃ.
Refraining from all wrong-doing,
Undertaking the good,
Purifying the mind,
This is the teaching of the buddhas.
Dhammapada v. 183/14.5
Sīlaṃ āvudhamuttamaṃ.
Sīlamābharaṇaṃ seṭṭhaṃ.
Sīlaṃ kavacamabbhutaṃ.
Virtue is a matchless power.
Virtue is the greatest weapon.
Virtue is the best adornment.
Virtue is a wonderful armor.
Theragatha 614
Sabbapāpassa akaraṇaṃ,
kusalassa upasampadā,
Sacittapariyodapanaṃ,
etaṃ buddhāna sāsanaṃ.
Refraining from all wrong-doing,
Undertaking the good,
Purifying the mind,
This is the teaching of the buddhas.
Dhammapada v. 183/14.5
- sukhamanveti
- Posts: 169
- Joined: Sun Mar 08, 2009 7:33 pm
- Location: U.S.A.
Re: What Does the Image Consecration Ritual Do?
Thank you, Bhante. I am putting these on my reading list.gavesako wrote:Becoming the Buddha: The Ritual of Image Consecration in Thailand (Buddhisms: A Princeton University Press Series) (Hardcover)
by Donald K. Swearer
http://www.amazon.com/Becoming-Buddha-C ... 0691114358" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Has anyone read this book?
Or this one:
Relics of the Buddha (Buddhisms: A Princeton University Press Series) (Hardcover)
by John S. Strong
Ed
Sīlaṃ balaṃ appaṭimaṃ.
Sīlaṃ āvudhamuttamaṃ.
Sīlamābharaṇaṃ seṭṭhaṃ.
Sīlaṃ kavacamabbhutaṃ.
Virtue is a matchless power.
Virtue is the greatest weapon.
Virtue is the best adornment.
Virtue is a wonderful armor.
Theragatha 614
Sabbapāpassa akaraṇaṃ,
kusalassa upasampadā,
Sacittapariyodapanaṃ,
etaṃ buddhāna sāsanaṃ.
Refraining from all wrong-doing,
Undertaking the good,
Purifying the mind,
This is the teaching of the buddhas.
Dhammapada v. 183/14.5
Sīlaṃ āvudhamuttamaṃ.
Sīlamābharaṇaṃ seṭṭhaṃ.
Sīlaṃ kavacamabbhutaṃ.
Virtue is a matchless power.
Virtue is the greatest weapon.
Virtue is the best adornment.
Virtue is a wonderful armor.
Theragatha 614
Sabbapāpassa akaraṇaṃ,
kusalassa upasampadā,
Sacittapariyodapanaṃ,
etaṃ buddhāna sāsanaṃ.
Refraining from all wrong-doing,
Undertaking the good,
Purifying the mind,
This is the teaching of the buddhas.
Dhammapada v. 183/14.5
- sukhamanveti
- Posts: 169
- Joined: Sun Mar 08, 2009 7:33 pm
- Location: U.S.A.
Re: What Does the Image Consecration Ritual Do?
Hi thorn,thornbush wrote:Hehehe I recall this thread on another Forum
http://www.lioncity.net/buddhism/index. ... opic=77613" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Happy reading
Thank you as always for digging info up for me. I loved Ven. Appicchato's concise comment. It was perfect.
Ed
Sīlaṃ balaṃ appaṭimaṃ.
Sīlaṃ āvudhamuttamaṃ.
Sīlamābharaṇaṃ seṭṭhaṃ.
Sīlaṃ kavacamabbhutaṃ.
Virtue is a matchless power.
Virtue is the greatest weapon.
Virtue is the best adornment.
Virtue is a wonderful armor.
Theragatha 614
Sabbapāpassa akaraṇaṃ,
kusalassa upasampadā,
Sacittapariyodapanaṃ,
etaṃ buddhāna sāsanaṃ.
Refraining from all wrong-doing,
Undertaking the good,
Purifying the mind,
This is the teaching of the buddhas.
Dhammapada v. 183/14.5
Sīlaṃ āvudhamuttamaṃ.
Sīlamābharaṇaṃ seṭṭhaṃ.
Sīlaṃ kavacamabbhutaṃ.
Virtue is a matchless power.
Virtue is the greatest weapon.
Virtue is the best adornment.
Virtue is a wonderful armor.
Theragatha 614
Sabbapāpassa akaraṇaṃ,
kusalassa upasampadā,
Sacittapariyodapanaṃ,
etaṃ buddhāna sāsanaṃ.
Refraining from all wrong-doing,
Undertaking the good,
Purifying the mind,
This is the teaching of the buddhas.
Dhammapada v. 183/14.5