Does anyone have secular rituals, crafted anew or adapted from non-secular ones for the purpose of bringing you peace, ‘centering’ your thoughts, focus better about the things you want to accomplish in the day ahead? If so, would you share a bit about this? Also, if you integrate any object(s)/ tchotchkes into it, why and what are/is they/it. Thanks.
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I am the most anti-ritual person. I'm not against rituals themselves, or anyone else performing them; they just don't work for me.
There are a few ritual actions performed at the Dharma (Buddhist) center I frequent and they don't really bother me. I don't do all the namaskars to the image of the Buddha but just about everyone else does, and I think it's more about focusing your intention than anything else. I'll trade namaskars with folks because it's a customary greeting and a show of respect; failing to do so would probably be considered rude. The lama performs some chants before satsang, and they're about setting intent and focusing awareness. Chimes are rungat the start of satsang; they have a very pleasant sound and the sequence is very conducive to focusing your attention. Group chanting is a form of meditation. I'm sure there's more of which I'm unaware because I'm a neophyte.
Basically nothing that goes on is "worship", because that's not really part of the system. But it can sure look like it to an outsider.
stinkeye_a
Level 8
Jan 12, 2018
2
What is the difference in namaskars and namaste?
@jlynn37 namaskar salutes the Divine in you and namaste salutes you. They say namaste, though. It may be a bit different across cultures, and I was honestly surprised when I learned they used it there bc I hadn't thought "recognizing the Divine" in people was a part of Buddhism at all. This tradition seems to borrow liberally from different schools. The way it makes sense to me is that the core teaching is at the level of ultimate reality all is one, so the salute is to the core of our essence at which we are all connected. It's still a little weird to me.
@stinkeye_a actually both are used synonymously but namaskar is considered more virtuous or having more qualities. Both words are the combinations of two sanskrit words. In Sanskrit its called sandhi. Namaskar is the sandhi of namah and kara. Namah is obeisance or in common parlance to bow. Kara is the action. So namaskar is the action of bowing to you. Namaste is the sandhi of namah and te which means you. You here symbolises your soul. So the word means bowing to you. Namaste, namaskar and namaskaram is also used as the words for salutation or greeting others when you meet.
@Srijith Ah, I had wondered if you'd chime in in this one! TYVM
@stinkeye_a Haha... You are welcome 
Yes, I always have a bunch of singles in one pocket for the panhandlers I pass when biking to and from work, and a bag of peanuts for the squirrels when I leave or come back to my home. (we live in a park with lots of hungry squirrels.) The first one is part of Hebrew social justice laws, but my rationale is that if I'm having breakfast, everybody should have breakfast.
andygee
Level 7
Jan 12, 2018
2
Enjoy being online again!
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