Types of flowers that are usually offered on an altar (For reference only):
Lily, Lotus Flower, Peony, Gladiolus (Sword Lily), Narcissus, Tulip, Chrysanthemum, Carnation
Those who look dignified must have had spiritual cultivation in their previous life. Our appearance will look kind and compassionate when we offer flowers to the Buddha.
Offering flowers to the Buddha more often will smoothen our skin and make us better looking.
Excerpt from Buddhism: Your Questions Answered No. 42
It’s good to offer lucky bamboo on the altar
Flowers such as chrysanthemums, lilies, orchids, daffodils, peonies, carnations, etc. can be offered to Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. Roses are not suitable for offerings due to their thorns.
You can tell whether a flower is suitable for offerings or not by its Chinese name. For example, flowers such as peach blossoms or Japanese morning glories are not suitable offerings.
Do not place potted plants with soil on Buddhist altars.
Sunflowers are not suitable to be used as offerings.
Number of flowers
Excerpt from Buddhism: Your Questions Answered No. 42
In general, when offering lucky bamboo, place one vase on each side of the altar. It is fine to offer one, two, or three stems of lucky bamboo in each vase, but not too many. There is no quantity requirement for the offering of fresh flowers.
Excerpt from Wenda20110417 23:21
(Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program)
Flowers offered to the Bodhisattva will be imbued with divine energy. They will improve the energy field in our home.
Best to separate lucky bamboo and lily on the altar
Excerpt from Wenda20160207B 10:39
(Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program)
Caller:
Should we place lucky bamboo and lilies in the same vase, or separate them?
Master Lu:
Either way is fine, but it is best to separate them. Use different vases for lucky bamboo and other plants. Understand?
What kind of flower is more suitable to offer? The number of flower stalks should be even.
Excerpt from Wenda20160401 01:14:40
(Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program)
Caller:
Master, what kind of flower should we offer to Bodhisattva? For example, lily, orchid, water lily, lotus flower, etc. Does Bodhisattva prefer one over another?
Master Lu:
Lotus flower and bamboo are okay. A famous place for Guan Yin Bodhisattva is the “Purple Bamboo Forest”. Those bamboos are lucky bamboo.
Caller:
Yes. Many practitioners offer lilies. There are red, yellow and pink lilies.
Master Lu:
That’s good.
Caller:
Which colour is the best?
Master Lu:
Yellow and white ones are better.
Caller:
The amount of flower stalks on both sides should add up to an even number. But some stalks have several flowers. Should we have even number for stalks or flowers?
Master Lu:
Stalks.
Regarding the vases on the altar
Vases on both sides of the altar should look symmetrical and not vary in size; Porcelain vases are best
Excerpt from Wenda20120527B 55:04
(Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program)
Caller:
Is it correct that we shouldn’t use glass or crystal vases?
Master Lu:
It is best to use a porcelain vase.
Avoid using vases with characters, poems or animal patterns
Excerpt from Wenda20140509 01:26:48
(Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program)
Caller:
If a vase has lotus flower patterns on the front and a few poems on the back, can this be placed on an altar?
Master Lu:
Lotus flower patterns are okay but not poems. The poems were written by deceased people a long time ago or even in ancient times. It’s not good for an altar. (I see.)
Different kinds of flowers can be placed in one vase
We can use white vases for lucky bamboo
Question:
A practitioner wants to keep some lucky bamboo as decoration in the living room. What should be the colour of the vase?
Answer:
Lucky bamboo is green. They go well with a white vase. White represents pureness. But don’t use transparent vases, as spirits are all transparent.
Regarding tidying and organising flowers on an altar
To clean up flower pollen
Excerpt from Wenda20120610B 45:59
(Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program)
Caller:
Lilies produce a lot of pollen. Can we remove the pollen?
Master Lu:
Yes.
Caller:
Should we remove it before offering the flowers on the altar?
Master Lu:
You can clean it up after the pollen drops on the altar surface. You can prune the flower stalks too but make sure you invite the vases off the altar before doing so. After pruning, you can put them back on the altar.
The plants need to be taken off the altar before pruning
Question:
Can we remove yellowed bamboo leaves?
Answer:
Yes, but you will need to invite the bamboo off the altar first. Don’t trim them while it’s on the altar. You cannot touch the items on the altar. If you have to tidy things up on the altar, you need to recite the Heart Sutra at the same time. Alternatively, you can keep apologising to Bodhisattva. Otherwise, your hands will be burnt by the incense.
Flowers on the altar need to be replaced once every week
Replace the fruit and flowers on an altar once a week to keep them fresh. If they aren’t fresh, replace them as soon as you can. Even if there’s no replacement yet, never leave rotten fruit or withered flowers on the altar.
发表于 2021-9-7 13:28:40