Exploring the psychology and meaning of Buddhist ritual through the ‘Sevenfold Puja’
A six-week course exploring Buddhist ritual. Provided by Vajrapriya, Cambridge Buddhist Centre, UK. Module 5 of Vajrapriya’s Buddhism Two Course in six modules.
Download this overview here
Overview
- Who/what do Buddhists worship? Commitment to a path of personal development.
- The practice of openness, disclosure and confession.
- The importance of developing positive emotion.
- Receptivity: turning towards what is deepest in ourselves and the universe.
- The ‘Awakening Heart’ (Bodhicitta).
- The Heart Sutra: the essence of emptiness. Chanting, and the use of mantras.
Week 1: Ritual: what, why, and how
a) Notes for the teacher, including suggestions for:
- Learning outcomes
- Importance of an explorative attitude
- Rituals we know
- Ritual – what and why?
- Triratna dedication ceremony
- Suggestions for home practice
- Recommended further reading
b) Materials/handouts:
- Triratna dedication ceremony
- Handout on main topics
Week 2: Who or what do Buddhists Worship?
a) Notes for the teacher, including suggestions for:
- Learning outcomes
- Review of last session
- “Heroes”
- Worship and egalitarianism
- Relating to ‘archetypal figures’
- Personal exploration by the course leader
- Symbolisms of offerings and shrine room etiquette
- Threefold Puja
- Suggestions for home practice
b) Materials/handouts:
- Handout on main topics
- Triratna Threefold Puja
Week 3: Introducing the Sevenfold Puja
a) Notes for the teacher, including suggestions for:
- Learning outcomes
- Review of last session and home practice
- Introduction to 7-fold Puja
- Discussion of sections 1 to 3 in small groups
- Going for Refuge
- How do we develop sraddha / confidence?
- Short introduction of Mantra
- Suggestions for home practice
b) Materials/handouts:
- The Sevenfold Puja
- Refuges & Faith worksheet
- Translations of Pali refuges & precepts
- Handout on main topics
Week 4: Confession and Rejoicing
a) Notes for the teacher, including suggestions for:
- Learning outcomes
- Review of previous class and home practice
- Why confess?
- Reflecting on faults
- Why rejoice in merits?
- What holds us back from rejoicing / appreciating others
- Exercise for group or pairs
- Puja
- Suggestions for home practice
- Recommended further reading
b) Materials/handouts:
- Diary of regrets/apologies and rejoicings/appreciation
- Handout on main topics
Week 5: Receptivity to the Truth
a) Notes for the teacher, including suggestions for:
- Led meditation around nama-rupa
- Review of previous class and home practice
- Entreaty and Supplication
- What’s your question?
- What closes us off to receptivity?
- Introducing the Heart Sutra
- Suggestions for home practice
- Recommended further reading
b) Materials/handouts:
- Handout on main topics
Week 6: Bodhicitta – the Awakening Heart
a) Notes for the teacher, including suggestions for:
- Learning outcomes
- Review of previous class and home practice
- Transference of merits and self-surrender
- Being of service
- The Bodhicitta
- Puja
- Suggestions for home practice
- Recommended further reading
b) Materials/handouts:
- Bodhicitta Meditation by Kamalashila
- Handout on main topics