I think it's necessary to explain some basic meanings of
buddhist rituals, esp. for those beginners who are into
buddhism.
In making offerings to the Buddha, most buddhist will probably
know you need to burn 3 incense, make two palms together and then
make 3 kowtows. In modern times, some buddhist temples have reduced
to 1 incense partly due to reasons of environmental protection.
However, in most dharma services, the tradition is still 3
incense.
Not all buddhist know the significant meaning about the 3
incense, palms together and 3 kowtows. Let me explain.
3
Incense
In Mahayana Buddhist practice, the 3 incense represents
"Precepts incense" (戒香）, "Concentration
Incense" (定香）and "Wisdom Incense" （慧香）.
It coincides with Mahayana Buddhist's spiritual practice towards
enlightenment, particularly the 3 learning 三學：Precepts
(戒）， Concentration (定）, Wisdom (慧）. Precepts are laid down to cut
off all evils, to prevent bad karma from rising, to purify bad
karma, in order for one's Bodhicitta to develop and for good karma
to arise. If a person's mind is full of impediments and bad karma,
it will continue to create obstacle to a person's spiritual
practice, it will continue to create trouble and sufferings for
him. With such obstacles and bad karma in a person, a person will
not be able to subdue his own mind, let alone develop
concentration. Therefore, beginners in buddhism typically focus on
practising precepts to prevent bad karma from rising, to cut off
all evil, to allow all good karma to rise up. And without creating
any more bad karma, a bodhicitta pure mind can progress towards the
next stage (particular in meditation) such as concentration (at the
intermediate level) and the last stage wisdom (at the more advanced
level) as the highest level of full enlightenment.
Palms Together
(合十）
Holding two palms together. The Chinese buddhist term for this
is called "He Shi 合十" (literally "10 together")
represents putting 10 fingers together. Typically, it's angled
about 45 degree to the body. Palms together is not just a
typical ritual in making offerings to the Buddha, it's also a
typical practice of greeting amongst buddhists, to venerables, to
buddhist masters etc.
It has an internal effect of subduing one's internal mind and
creates an impression of peace and humility. When we feel nervous,
trouble, angry, holding the palms together allow us to feel
internal peace, serenity and mind concentration. Although it looks
simple, it is known in Buddhism to able to subdue a troubled
mind.
Palms on top
of each other (操手）
This involves putting two palms horizontally on top of each
other and known in Chinese as "Chao Shou 操手 " In
common practice, the right palm should be on top of the left palm,
with both palms facing top. The two palms should be put around the
front of abdomen. The position should be in a relaxed position.
This is a common practice in dharma services, sometimes in
chanting, but usually after chanting esp. when listening to
venerable's talk (known as Kai Shi 開示 in Chinese). It has an effect
of remaining calm and relaxation.
Ritual of
Finger tips (triangular position/shape) on head
(問訊）
The Chinese buddhist term for this ritual is called "Wen
Xun 問訊"
First of all, put your two palms together but focus your eye
attention on your finger tips. Then bow 90 degree together (without
kneeling down) to the Buddha with your two palms together. However
when you come up, you need to change your palm signs.
Basically, the thumb and 2nd finger of each left and right
hand palm should form a triangular position/shape). The rests of
other fingers should laid one after each other.
This palm position signifies the meaning of a lotus flower
waiting to be blossom (it's shaped like a lotus flower), just like
offering flowers to the Buddha and Bodhisttava.
When you rise up, put through your chest and rise your
triangular palm signs on top of your head to your eye brow, but not
touching the forehead. This presents offering to the buddha and
bodhisattva to the top and is a form of respect, reverence and
humbleness.
After this, slowly raise your palm back to the chest position
and then change it to the palms together position.
3 kowtows
(拜佛／禮佛）
The entire ritual of kowtow in Chinese Buddhism is known as
"bai fo 拜佛／li fo禮佛" (pay respect to Buddha/offering to
Buddha)
Kowtows (磕頭） involve palms together, two legs slowly together
(forming the Chinese word 八 shape). The distance between the legs
should be around 5 cm. One then slowly kneel onto the ground. The
right hand should touch the ground first followed by the left hand,
then let your hand slide towards the front. The palm should face
down initially and your knee should not move. Slowly let your head
your head and hands down (palms facing down) touching the ground.
The distance between your hands should be around 15 cm. Your
forehead should touch the ground.
Then, flip your palms up and lay it align with the floor. This
is known as 頭面接足禮( ritual of palm head accepting the legs). When
you are getting up, you need to flip your palms back to face the
ground. After that, you can get up.
In common practice, it's 3 kowtows to the Buddha.
The 3 kowtows to the Buddha typically means the following:
1st kowtow -
pay respect to the Buddha
2nd kowtow -
seek refuge in Buddhism and express the wish to learn the
dharma from the Buddha
3rd kowtow -
repentence for one's own wrong-doing, past bad karma and vow
never to commit any more evils.
When doing the 3 kowtows to the Buddha, it actually means paying
homage to the Buddha, to seek refuge in triple gems, to learn the
dharma (teachings of the Buddha) and to do repentence service.
In many occasion, kowtow to the Buddha (拜佛） can be one time,
esp. during chanting services.
The 3 Kowtows are often accompanied by Ritual of Finger
tips (triangular position) on head
(問訊）
Dedicating
Merits (回向）
Many buddhists do not know the significance of dedicating
merits. It's known as "Hui Xiang 回向" in
Chinese. In chanting sutra, buddha's name, it's important to
dedicate merits to other sentient beings, to your family members,
to your friends, to those who are sufferings, and to all sentient
beings.
Dedicating merits is a form of transferring the merits that
you've gained through good dharma practice to all sentient beings.
It allows one to progress towards bodhicitta and nirvana. One can
also dedicate the good merits that you've gained through doing good
to those who had passed away. It can actually create karmic
affinity to the person you dedicate the merits to, esp. if you pray
the person suffering from sickness hoping him to get better.
Dedicating merits usually come in the form of a verse where one
chants after chanting. A common verse is as follow:
愿以此功德，庄严佛净土。
上报四重恩，下济三途苦。
若有见闻者，悉发菩提心。
尽此一报身, 同生极乐国
Translation:
May I dedicate my good merits, to dignifiy the buddha
pureland
To repay the 4 kindness on top, to save the 3 sufferings
below
If any person hear this, may one vow a mind of
bodhicitta
With this, I repay my body, to be born together in the
pureland
Some verse can simply be:
愿以此功德， 回向給 ....(name of
person)
May I dedicate this good merits to ....name of person
Dedicating merits can be categorized into common (一般回向）, personal （個人回向）, great（大回向）,
mass（普回向）, and final dedication（縂回向）. In most common practice,
dedicating merits typically involve great and mass
dedication. Common dedication of merits is usually used for common
merits. Personal dedication is individual dedication of merits to a
particular person, to past debtors, karmic haters of you, to
diminish disaster, to someone who is suffering etc. Great
dedication involves massing all the powers of compassion and vows
together to dedicate for all the sentient beings. Mass dedication
basically follows the dedication of Samanthabra Bodhsittava 普賢菩薩
(symbolizing great action) to all sentient beings. Final dedication
is the last stage of dedication, usually done at the end of big
dharma services and sometimes held at the end of year in buddhist
temples.