The How-To About Worshipping

｜Photo: The Wondrous Temple Expedition｜

Offerings for worshipping:

Simple worshipping: snacks or cookies.

Full worshipping: fresh flowers, three types of meat, fruits.

Fruits must be in multiples of three.

Fruits not suitable as offering:

• Custard apple: Avoid offering custard apples if Sakyamuni Buddha is residing at the temple!
• Fruit with seeds that may get swallowed, like guava and tomato.
• Wax apple: the hole on the bottom of wax apple symbolizes money leaking out of your pocket.

Worshipping Etiquettes:

│Hand-drawn pictures: Amber.W│

Wash hands before worshipping.

Enter the temple through the door on the left, and exit from the door on the right (while facing out of the temple).

Large temples may have an additional door in the center that is reserved for deities, not for worshippers.

Do not step on the doorstep.

How to Worship:

Clean then place offerings on the offering table.

Light incense (follow directions from the temple), don’t blow out the flame, fan off the flame with hand.

Hold the incense with left hand, try to place the incense in the center of the burner, try to keep the incense straight.

Start from the burner on the outside and work your way in, next go to the main burner in the middle, then go from left to right.

First inform the deities of your name and address when worshipping, then move on to what you came for.

│Hand-drawn pictures: Amber.W│

After worshipping all the deities, you may go to the deity that you want help from and ask for guidance by tossing poe.

If the poe shows one flat side facing up and one round side facing up, then the deity has approved your request. If the poe shows two flat sides up, then it means the deity is still pondering your request, or you have not made your request clear. If the poe shows two round sides up, then it means the deity has rejected of or is angry at your request. It is not wise to proceed with the request.

Once your request is fulfilled, don’t forget to thank the deity and show your appreciation.

Attire:

｜Photo: The Wondrous Temple Expedition｜

Dress neatly.

People wearing a skirt do not need to kneel.

Prohibition:

If an incense falls on the ground, you may not use it again, get a new one.

Females in menstrual cycle and people who are in mourning are not suitable to worship.

Do not point to the deity with finger.

Source Text:The Wondrous Temple Expedition｜Photos: The Wondrous Temple Expedition