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An open altar
This is the recommended style
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An enclosed altar
When conditions don’t allow, say, if the environment is messy or if the altar is close to the kitchen or a couple’s room due to limited space, it’s recommended to use an enclosed altar with a curtain or cabinet door. Open the curtain or the cabinet door when making incense offerings.
Different styles of platforms underneath the images/statues of Bodhisattvas (Optional: A wooden platform can be placed underneath an image or statue to make it taller.)
Podium-style;
T-shaped;
Bar-shaped
Types of cloth used on an altar (for references only)
Golden-coloured napped fabric;
Golden-coloured thick satin
The altar will look more dignified with a piece of cloth covering the sides of the table. Yellow or golden-yellow napped fabric/satin is best.
A sample Buddhist altar
For further information, please refer to Section 5 on making offerings of water, oil, fruit and flowers
Incense burner;
Fruit tray;
Water cup;
Oil lamp;
Vase
The altar
It’s not appropriate to offer pearls on an altar
Excerpt from Wenda20131011 36:05
(Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program)
Caller:
Some practitioners ask if it’s appropriate to offer pearls on a Buddhist altar. Can they keep pearls in front of an altar?
Master Lu:
No, it is inappropriate.
Caller:
Should they remove the pearls then?
Master Lu:
Yes.
Caller:
What scriptures should they recite?
Master Lu:
The Eighty-Eight Buddhas Great Repentance, they should recite 17 times.
The platform for the image/statue of a Bodhisattva must be made of wood. Do not use stones.
Excerpt from Wenda20140126B 14:56
(Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program)
Do not wear prayer beads made from ivory or place them on an altar
Excerpt from Wenda20111225 94:33
(Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program)
Caller:
My daughter’s friend just got back from Hong Kong and she bought me ivory beads. But I heard that it’s not good wearing prayer beads made from animal teeth. What should I do?
Master Lu:
Do not wear them.
Caller:
Can I place them on the altar?
Master Lu:
No.
Caller:
Should I place them in the drawer?
Master Lu:
Wrap them with a piece of red cloth.
A Buddhist altar should only be used to make offerings to Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, not auspicious creatures
Excerpt from Wenda20141005A 1:01:35
(Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program)
Caller:
There are two lion statues made of ceramic on our altar. Is this appropriate?
Master Lu:
How can you place animal statues on your altar? An altar is dedicated to Bodhisattvas. Auspicious creatures can’t be placed together with Bodhisattvas. A Buddhist altar can only be used to pray to Buddhas or Bodhisattvas, not auspicious creatures.
Can we remove the image or statue of a dragon from the altar before reciting Little Houses?
Excerpt from Wenda20120325A 45:27
(Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program)
Caller:
There are two dragon statues on our altar and my daughter had a dream that we needed to offer 150 Little Houses. We won’t be completing these Little Houses soon. Can we remove those statues first?
Master Lu:
No. The Bodhisattva have already advised to offer 150 Little Houses (Note: This is an individual case), you can only remove the dragon statues after completing these Little Houses. Look how good this Dharma Door is. Previously, I advised you to remove images or statues of auspicious creatures from the altar. The Buddha gave you guidance in your dream to recite 150 Little Houses.
Caller:
Yes.
Master Lu:
Little Houses are acknowledged by all realms, be it Heaven, the Underworld or Human Realm.
Caller:
Should the Little Houses be addressed to the karmic creditor of our house?
Master Lu:
Yes. When you are reciting Little Houses, the karmic creditors won’t create trouble. Don’t have ill feelings or cast doubts about it.
Caller:
I won’t. What should we do after completing 150 Little Houses?
Master Lu:
Pay respect to them before removing. Do not touch them while the incense is burning; only do so after the incense and the oil lamp are extinguished.
Crystals and Dharma instruments on an altar
Question:
A practitioner has hung a five-coloured flag at home. What scriptures should they recite to remove it?
Answer:
The same way as you would when removing a Dharma instrument from an altar. The five-coloured flag is also a type of Dharma instrument, but each Dharma instrument serves as an offering to a specific Bodhisattva. Therefore, Master Lu didn’t advise to place a lot of instruments on the altar. A feng shui master might suggest placing certain things at certain places, but feng shui changes all the time. What is deemed to be good now may change next year. So to be safe, it is best not to place these Dharma instruments on the altar.
Question:
What about a crystal ball with the Heart Sutra engraved on it?
Answer:
Best not to. Scriptures are very sacred and have an aura. Whereas crystals are transparent which attract spirits easily. It is not respectful to carve scriptures on a crystal ball. Therefore, it’s best not to place it on an altar. Also, feng shui stones, fossils and purple crystals are also not advisable to be placed at home.
Question:
Where should we store Pixiu (an auspicious creature) at home, or should we just dispose of it?
Answer:
You can leave it there. Pixiu is a type of Dharma instrument. It doesn’t have a specific appearance so that’s good. The colour of green is a bit like jade, which is a symbol of power and wisdom. Placing it on the altar could improve your energy. Once the Bodhisattvas come, this Dharma instrument will be very powerful; but if Bodhisattva doesn’t visit, it’s not of much use.
Altar cabinets
The shelves under an altar can be used to store scripture books, Buddhist instruments and prayer mats. Do not place sundries or irrelevant books within
Question:
What kind of wood is best for an altar? Any requirements on the colour?
Answer:
Not much. Generally, rose wood would be better but don’t use old wood. A lot of old wood contains spiritual energy and carries the Yin energy. Colour-wise, it’s not advisable to use a dark colour, as dark colours also carry the Yin energy and light colours carries the Yang energy. Use solid wood in a reddish colour. That’s why, wearing light-coloured clothes will make you happy, and dark-coloured ones will make you look old-fashioned.
Best colour for an altar cabinet
Excerpt from Wenda20140718 21:19
(Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program)
Caller:
Is it good for an altar to be milky white?
Master Lu:
Milky white is okay, but it would be even better to cover it with a piece of yellow cloth.
Caller:
A practitioner has made a milky-white cabinet and the altar has been set up in it. Should she recite the Great Compassion Mantra, Heart Sutra and Eighty-Eight Buddhas Great Repentance 7 times each and cover the altar with yellow cloth?
Master Lu:
No need to recite those scriptures. As long as the incense isn’t burning, they can just cover it.
Caller:
Okay. What’s the best colour for an altar?
Master Lu:
A little darker would be good. It’s not advisable for an altar to have drawers so it’s best to cover it with yellow cloth if it has one. If there’s no drawers, then vermilion or dark colours like brown or coffee colour are all okay.
Questions regarding setting up an altar
Excerpt from Wenda20140105A 01:14
(Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program)
Male caller:
A practitioner is setting up an altar today. His altar is composed of several cabinets. Is this okay?
Master Lu:
It is not very good if it’s composed of individual compartments.
Caller:
It is made from smaller squares. The top isn’t flat. He has placed the Bodhisattva’s statue in one cabinet and two incense burners in another.
Master Lu:
It’s best to place Bodhisattvas’ statue in one cabinet. If the incense burners are placed separately, that’s okay.
Caller:
As the surface isn’t big enough, the statue and the two incense burners cannot be placed together.
Master Lu:
That would be fine. Do not place Bodhisattvas’ statues or images into many different compartments.
What if there’s a corner behind the altar?
Excerpt from Wenda20130524 37:53
(Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program)
Caller:
My altar cabinet is triangle-shaped. The back of the statute is one of its angles. Is that okay?
Master Lu:
Definitely not.
Caller:
Should I change it?
Master Lu:
Yes.
Caller:
The room is used by my mother alone. Do I need to install a curtain?
Master Lu:
If the room is used by your mother only, that would be fine.
Caller:
What scriptures should I recite when changing the cabinet?
Master Lu:
This is not necessary. You can do so when the incense isn’t burning.
Can an altar be stepped?
Excerpt from Wenda20141121 01:18:29
(Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program)
Caller: Can an altar be stepped with different levels?
Master Lu:
Yes.
Caller:
The Bodhisattvas’ images will be placed on the top layer, and incense burners will be placed on the lower layer. It’s easier to clean it this way.
Master Lu:
That’s fine.
Can a chest of drawers be used as an altar?
Excerpt from Wenda20140615B 15:44
(Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program)
Caller:
Is it not advisable to use a chest of drawers as an altar? The ones with multiple drawers.
Master Lu:
When using these types of cabinets, be cautious what you store in them. Socks, undergarments etc. can’t be placed in these drawers.
Caller:
It’s a new cabinet. Can I place things like Buddhist books?
Master Lu:
Yes. In the past, a chest of drawers was called “the mouth of a tiger” according to feng shui. Therefore, it is best to cover it with yellow cloth.
发表于 2021-9-7 13:41:18