Comments on: Bowing to a Statue? http://themiddleway.net/2008/01/13/bowing-to-a-statue/ Commentaries on Meditation, Zen, Buddhism, and Mindfulness Sun, 12 Oct 2008 19:16:19 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: Greg http://themiddleway.net/2008/01/13/bowing-to-a-statue/#comment-12795 Greg Fri, 18 Jan 2008 01:22:43 +0000 http://themiddleway.net/2008/01/13/bowing-to-a-statue/#comment-12795 I enjoy bowing and prostrations there is something very liberating about it, I think it helps train us to face life with reverence and humility. I find that chanting a few verses and bowing before meditation helps to prepare me for the work ahead settling the mind and bringing me out of my shell a bit. Gassho, Greg I enjoy bowing and prostrations there is something very liberating about it, I think it helps train us to face life with reverence and humility.

I find that chanting a few verses and bowing before meditation helps to prepare me for the work ahead settling the mind and bringing me out of my shell a bit.

Gassho,

Greg

]]> By: Terry http://themiddleway.net/2008/01/13/bowing-to-a-statue/#comment-12754 Terry Tue, 15 Jan 2008 15:20:13 +0000 http://themiddleway.net/2008/01/13/bowing-to-a-statue/#comment-12754 Or it could be another way of "Art". The Art of Bowing. Our basic mind is like space, a mystical consciousness! When was the last time you bowed? And who did you bow to? Namaste Or it could be another way of “Art”. The Art of Bowing. Our basic mind is like space, a mystical consciousness! When was the last time you bowed?
And who did you bow to?

Namaste

]]> By: Wade http://themiddleway.net/2008/01/13/bowing-to-a-statue/#comment-12744 Wade Tue, 15 Jan 2008 09:52:18 +0000 http://themiddleway.net/2008/01/13/bowing-to-a-statue/#comment-12744 @ReddyK, I'd like to read more of your waxing, feel free to write here or pingback :) @Chief, thanks, as always @Dan, you're right on there about it bring humbleness and appreciation, the good fuzzy stuff :) I've continued to bow back 'in the world', for meals, always, as well as many other places as a form of gratitude, it always brings humility. PS great to see you on here, didn't know you were reading :) May all beings be happy, may all beings be peaceful. Gassho, Wade @ReddyK, I’d like to read more of your waxing, feel free to write here or pingback :)

@Chief, thanks, as always

@Dan, you’re right on there about it bring humbleness and appreciation, the good fuzzy stuff :) I’ve continued to bow back ‘in the world’, for meals, always, as well as many other places as a form of gratitude, it always brings humility. PS great to see you on here, didn’t know you were reading :)

May all beings be happy, may all beings be peaceful.

Gassho,

Wade

]]> By: Dan http://themiddleway.net/2008/01/13/bowing-to-a-statue/#comment-12737 Dan Mon, 14 Jan 2008 19:53:48 +0000 http://themiddleway.net/2008/01/13/bowing-to-a-statue/#comment-12737 Hey Wade, nice insightful post. Bowing is a practice that usually for me is first performed as an act of gratefulness for something (e.g. the utility of the toilet, the teachings of the Buddha) however afterwards I find it brings humbleness and deep senses of appreciation - warm fuzzy good stuff. Hey Wade, nice insightful post. Bowing is a practice that usually for me is first performed as an act of gratefulness for something (e.g. the utility of the toilet, the teachings of the Buddha) however afterwards I find it brings humbleness and deep senses of appreciation – warm fuzzy good stuff.

]]> By: On Bowing… « Zen Dreams http://themiddleway.net/2008/01/13/bowing-to-a-statue/#comment-12735 On Bowing… « Zen Dreams Mon, 14 Jan 2008 19:00:37 +0000 http://themiddleway.net/2008/01/13/bowing-to-a-statue/#comment-12735 [...] This is a great explanation of all the bowing that goes on in Zen…  [...] [...] This is a great explanation of all the bowing that goes on in Zen…  [...]

]]> By: Albert | UrbanMonk.Net http://themiddleway.net/2008/01/13/bowing-to-a-statue/#comment-12727 Albert | UrbanMonk.Net Mon, 14 Jan 2008 11:30:06 +0000 http://themiddleway.net/2008/01/13/bowing-to-a-statue/#comment-12727 Hey chief! This is a very relevant post - I was thinking on the difference between self-depreciation and showing humility, and this shed a lot of light. Hey chief! This is a very relevant post – I was thinking on the difference between self-depreciation and showing humility, and this shed a lot of light.

]]> By: ReddyK - The Atma Jyoti Blog http://themiddleway.net/2008/01/13/bowing-to-a-statue/#comment-12718 ReddyK - The Atma Jyoti Blog Sun, 13 Jan 2008 23:31:44 +0000 http://themiddleway.net/2008/01/13/bowing-to-a-statue/#comment-12718 Bowing is a sign of humility, a sign of respect. Without humility, a person is a dense as the stone he refuses to recognize the heavenly symbolism in. Without respect, a person will block his ability to learn and grow. This is a subject I could wax eloquent on, as I have seen an abundance of foundationless arrogance in some who profess spirituality, yet get tied up in knots when it comes to showing respect in any way, such as bowing. Congratulations on such a successful Spread the Love NOW! Group Writing Project! It required quite a bit of dedication for you, Albert and Kenton to read through and judge all those entries. Thanks for all your work. Bowing is a sign of humility, a sign of respect. Without humility, a person is a dense as the stone he refuses to recognize the heavenly symbolism in. Without respect, a person will block his ability to learn and grow.

This is a subject I could wax eloquent on, as I have seen an abundance of foundationless arrogance in some who profess spirituality, yet get tied up in knots when it comes to showing respect in any way, such as bowing.

Congratulations on such a successful Spread the Love NOW! Group Writing Project! It required quite a bit of dedication for you, Albert and Kenton to read through and judge all those entries. Thanks for all your work.

]]> By: Wade http://themiddleway.net/2008/01/13/bowing-to-a-statue/#comment-12717 Wade Sun, 13 Jan 2008 23:07:04 +0000 http://themiddleway.net/2008/01/13/bowing-to-a-statue/#comment-12717 @Terry, my pleasure @Evan, Look beyond the forms, there you will see what is being bowed to. We don't need to wear robes, chant, meditate, drink tea, draw, or use any of the gates of practice either, none of them are for their own purpose. We use the gates as a way of investigating what we can't directly access. Gassho, Wade @Terry, my pleasure

@Evan, Look beyond the forms, there you will see what is being bowed to. We don’t need to wear robes, chant, meditate, drink tea, draw, or use any of the gates of practice either, none of them are for their own purpose. We use the gates as a way of investigating what we can’t directly access.

Gassho,

Wade

]]> By: Evan http://themiddleway.net/2008/01/13/bowing-to-a-statue/#comment-12714 Evan Sun, 13 Jan 2008 21:40:12 +0000 http://themiddleway.net/2008/01/13/bowing-to-a-statue/#comment-12714 If it is really not bowing to a statue then don't. Bow to one side of it. Take away the statues. Otherwise it is bowing to a statue. Or do away with bowing altogether. There are other ways to show respect - although they don't lead to developing sensitivity on the top of your head (an interesting consequence of bowing). If it is really not bowing to a statue then don’t. Bow to one side of it. Take away the statues. Otherwise it is bowing to a statue. Or do away with bowing altogether.

There are other ways to show respect – although they don’t lead to developing sensitivity on the top of your head (an interesting consequence of bowing).

]]> By: Terry http://themiddleway.net/2008/01/13/bowing-to-a-statue/#comment-12711 Terry Sun, 13 Jan 2008 17:49:23 +0000 http://themiddleway.net/2008/01/13/bowing-to-a-statue/#comment-12711 Thank You for today's message. Yes, it feels different or odd to bow to others. But, knowing that were all equal and connected, it gives a unique quality to each other! Thank You for today’s message. Yes, it feels different or odd to bow to others. But, knowing that were all equal and connected, it gives a unique quality to each other!

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