Candle Ceremony
A lit lamp is one of the offerings found on the altar in front of a Buddha image. It signifies the
radiance of a lamp,. It is generally referred to as simply a "lamp". The lamps offered to the Buddha include oil lamps or candles. There is also a type of lamp that is kept lit throughout day and night. It is the "perpetual lamp". The dharma assembly where many lamps are lit as offerings to Buddhas and Bodhisattvas is called the "Ten Thousand Lamp Assembly."
In Buddhism, lamps are categorized according to their purpose into the ones used in daily life and the ones as offerings to the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. The offering lamps are further divided into two groups: the ordinary lamps used during bowing and sutra recitation, and the perpetual lamps used to adorn Buddha halls. To classify by its material, there are seven types: fat, tallow, ghee, oil, lacquer, wax and pearls.
Besides the traditional oil lamps used as offerings the Buddhas in temples, there are also wax
candlesand lights of various colors. When we want to put out the oil lamps or wax candles after the offering is made, don't blow with our mouth or fan them out. We should also not to fan with our sleeves. We should snap and extinguish from the burnt wicks.
Lighting lamps inside a temple also signifies the meaning of group cultivation. Lighting lamps dignifies the temple, and help everyone generate a minds of reverence. Moreover, it also symbolizes brightness and wisdom, capable of removing darkness of afflictions.
According to Buddhist scriptures, lighting lamps as offerings among stupas, monasteries, Buddha statues and scrolls is greatly meritorious. It was said in the “Sutra of the Buddha Explains the Differences in Karma Retributions for Elder Suka, "If people offer a lamp, they will obtain ten types of merits. One is to be able to illuminate the world like a lamp. Two, regardless of the place of birth, their flesh eyes will never deteriorate. Three, they will gain clairvoyance. Four, they will obtain good wisdom from both good and evil Dharmas. Five, they will eliminate great darkness. Six, they will obtain the brightness of wisdom. Seven, they will always be far from places of darkness wherever they reincarnate to. Eight, they will have great blessings. Nine, they will be reborn in the heavens at the end of their lives. Ten, they will quickly attain Nirvana."
In the “Sutra of the Buddha Speaks the Merits of Offering Lamps” it is written thus, "If there are sentient beings offering lamps at stupas and temples of the Buddha, they will gain four types of joyous dharmas. What are the four? One is physical body. Two is wealth. Three is great goodness. Four is wisdom." This is to say that people who light lamps as offerings to the Buddhas will get a dignified appearance, ample wealth, roots of goodness and great wisdom. The “Sutra of the Original Conducts of Bodhisattvas” also suggests that in order to hear the Dharma, a king lighted a thousand lamps on his body to seek the unsurpassed path of truth. Also as recorded in the Anguttara Nikaya, while Buddha Dipamkara was an elder monk in a previous life, he used candle fire and sesame oil to offer to the Buddha Ratnagarha every day, thus receiving a prediction that he would become a Buddha.
The true meaning of lighting a lamp actually is that, while lighting an oil lamp to offer to the various Buddhas, through this form of lighting a lamp, we become aware of the power of our vows from within. From the merits of offering to the Buddhas, we accumulate for ourselves the provisions to awakening to and becoming a Buddha. With the light clearing away darkness in our lives, we become more motivated.
radiance of a lamp,. It is generally referred to as simply a "lamp". The lamps offered to the Buddha include oil lamps or candles. There is also a type of lamp that is kept lit throughout day and night. It is the "perpetual lamp". The dharma assembly where many lamps are lit as offerings to Buddhas and Bodhisattvas is called the "Ten Thousand Lamp Assembly."
In Buddhism, lamps are categorized according to their purpose into the ones used in daily life and the ones as offerings to the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. The offering lamps are further divided into two groups: the ordinary lamps used during bowing and sutra recitation, and the perpetual lamps used to adorn Buddha halls. To classify by its material, there are seven types: fat, tallow, ghee, oil, lacquer, wax and pearls.
Besides the traditional oil lamps used as offerings the Buddhas in temples, there are also wax
candlesand lights of various colors. When we want to put out the oil lamps or wax candles after the offering is made, don't blow with our mouth or fan them out. We should also not to fan with our sleeves. We should snap and extinguish from the burnt wicks.
Lighting lamps inside a temple also signifies the meaning of group cultivation. Lighting lamps dignifies the temple, and help everyone generate a minds of reverence. Moreover, it also symbolizes brightness and wisdom, capable of removing darkness of afflictions.
According to Buddhist scriptures, lighting lamps as offerings among stupas, monasteries, Buddha statues and scrolls is greatly meritorious. It was said in the “Sutra of the Buddha Explains the Differences in Karma Retributions for Elder Suka, "If people offer a lamp, they will obtain ten types of merits. One is to be able to illuminate the world like a lamp. Two, regardless of the place of birth, their flesh eyes will never deteriorate. Three, they will gain clairvoyance. Four, they will obtain good wisdom from both good and evil Dharmas. Five, they will eliminate great darkness. Six, they will obtain the brightness of wisdom. Seven, they will always be far from places of darkness wherever they reincarnate to. Eight, they will have great blessings. Nine, they will be reborn in the heavens at the end of their lives. Ten, they will quickly attain Nirvana."
In the “Sutra of the Buddha Speaks the Merits of Offering Lamps” it is written thus, "If there are sentient beings offering lamps at stupas and temples of the Buddha, they will gain four types of joyous dharmas. What are the four? One is physical body. Two is wealth. Three is great goodness. Four is wisdom." This is to say that people who light lamps as offerings to the Buddhas will get a dignified appearance, ample wealth, roots of goodness and great wisdom. The “Sutra of the Original Conducts of Bodhisattvas” also suggests that in order to hear the Dharma, a king lighted a thousand lamps on his body to seek the unsurpassed path of truth. Also as recorded in the Anguttara Nikaya, while Buddha Dipamkara was an elder monk in a previous life, he used candle fire and sesame oil to offer to the Buddha Ratnagarha every day, thus receiving a prediction that he would become a Buddha.
The true meaning of lighting a lamp actually is that, while lighting an oil lamp to offer to the various Buddhas, through this form of lighting a lamp, we become aware of the power of our vows from within. From the merits of offering to the Buddhas, we accumulate for ourselves the provisions to awakening to and becoming a Buddha. With the light clearing away darkness in our lives, we become more motivated.
