Lay Buddhist Minghua: Do you need to be consecrated before offering Buddha statues?

Lay Buddhist Minghua: Do you need to be consecrated before offering Buddha statues?

1 This is a question in the minds of many beginners, such as whether to consecrate Buddha statues? Should we consecrate jade or even decorative items be consecrated?

2 Regarding this issue, we need to think about why we should offer Buddha statues at home. We Buddhist disciples offer Buddha statues for the following reasons:

1)Offering Buddha statues is to always remind the Buddha to remind himself to work hard and not to slacken. He reminds himself that he is a Buddhist son and that what he does and says must be in accordance with the Dharma;

2)In order to use it during daily practice, if you worship Buddha, you can have a real Buddha statue as a reference goal, and use worship Buddha to express your respect for the Buddha to eliminate your arrogance; there are also the meanings of everyone offering water, incense, fruits, flowers, etc. In addition, if you recite the Buddha's name in front of the Buddha, you will be more likely to receive the blessing of the Buddha's power;

3)If you offer sacrifices to the Buddha at home, you can be purified and peaceful. Many of us like to invite people to see the Feng Shui of the house in order to ensure family safety and prosperity. Even if the Feng Shui at home is not good, if we offer sacrifices to Buddha at home, we can purify the aura at home, and all evil ghosts will naturally stay away from it, and all good causes will naturally gather.

3 What does consecration mean? Consecration actually means chanting sutras and mantras for the Buddha statue, and let the Buddha power bless the Buddha statue. Is consecration effective? Of course. The reason is from the power of the sutras and mantras. Most monks practice well and their mentality is purer than us. Their chanting scriptures and mantras will definitely be better than that of us ordinary people. Therefore, it is okay to ask the monk to consecrate the Buddha statue.

4 Can the Buddha statues that are not consecrated be offered? Of course. Whenever we see a Buddha statue, bow in front of the Buddha statue, chant the Buddha's name, or recite sutras, we mentally regard the Buddha statue as a Buddha. The Buddha statue is naturally a Buddha, and the Buddha statue has the power of blessing. Therefore, if you don’t have the conditions to ask someone to consecrate yourself and make it directly, such a Buddha statue will become more and more realistic as long as you are usually sincere. Moreover, to be honest, no matter how high a master is, he is an ordinary person. His master consecrates the Buddha statue and his blessing power is limited.

5 So why does Buddhism have a tradition of consecration? Everyone knows that any temple hall or large Buddha statues must be consecrated. The reason is that in ancient times, the consecration ceremony was actually announced to the world that there was this temple, this hall, or this Buddha statue was completed. Everyone will come in the future, which is what it means.

Namo Amitabha!