1) Is the quoted statement an accurate statement of what you are doing when you worship statues or pictures? "The honor which is paid to the image passes on to that which the image represents, and he who reveres the image reveres in it the subject represented". 2) Is it correct to assert that when you worship a statue or picture, you are not worshiping the thing directly in front of you, but rather you are worshiping the concept of the buddah nature?
No. Are you sure the quote came from a Buddhist? Worship Statues ??? Really !!! There is no Statue Worship in Buddhism. Why would someone who doesn't believe in a God or gods worship an inanimate object? Doesn't this seem a bit absurd to you? However, there is the memory of the qualities of the Buddha when one looks at a statue of him, or a painting, or Tankha. There is a bowing down in front of these objects, but it is not a reverance to the object itself, nor is it a worship of the object. More to the point it is a respect to the memory and qualities of the Buddha. Do Catholics worship the statues of Jesus when they pay homage before it every Sunday and before mass? HTML:
Minus the usage of the word 'worship', is that not essentially what he has said? Obviously that one word changes the whole view of the statement, but essentially the idea is the same, is it not? Edit: Also, I realized the actual quote says, "the honour paid to", and not worship.
On reading my first thought was ... Are you serious? Cultural differences ... In America, or Eurpoe when someone shakes your hand are they worshiping you or honoring you? In Southeast Asia, and surrounding countries where Buddhism is a predominant practice, bowing is the common greeting comparable to hand-shaking is in America. So, this is where I was thinking the question. He actually did say "worship" 1) Is the quoted statement an accurate statement of what you are doing when you worship statues or pictures? 2) Is it correct to assert that when you worship a statue or picture, you are not worshiping the thing directly in front of you, but rather you are worshiping the concept of the buddah nature? And not just once, but twice. It's apparant he thinks, or has been given the reason to think that Buddhists "worship" images (pictures included). And I say Buddhists because the title of this includes the phrase "Buddhist Worship". Though I can't speak for Mayahana Buddhists, I can speak for Theravada Buddhists, there is no "worship of statues or pictures" nor is there any "worshiping the concept of the Buddha nature." But like I stated previously there is the memory of the Qualities of a Buddha being paid respect to or honoured. Same as one would remember their passed-on parent or relative, or friend, or wife/husband, or child. Using words like "worship statues or pictures", even if it was not intended that way only gives cause for people to believe that such things are going on and, even if it was not intended no one will really understand the true intent outside of that which was stated. HTML:
That is where my confusion has come from. I took your reply to be more about the quote in question, when it was more directed at his question and thoughts on the quotes meaning. But if I'm understanding this correctly, if he were to replace 'worship' with 'honour', it would then be more accurate and true to the beliefs?
Perhaps, but only if other words were changed as well ... like for instance ... words indicating that the act is being directed at a particular object, statues or pictures in this case. Example being rather than saying "worship statues or pictures", and saying instead "honoring statues or pictures" is practically the same thing ... this indicates the act is directed at statues and pictures, that statues and pictures now becomes the object of honor rather than the memory of Buddha and/or his good qualities and his teachings. The quote itself directs acts of honor to the image: "The honor which is paid to the image passes on to that which the image represents, and he who reveres the image reveres in it the subject represented". It indicates that the act of honor is directed to the image rather than the memory of Buddha, etc. This still indicates that "statues or pictures" are still the object of ones worship or honor. Perhaps something along the lines of "when seeing a statue or painting of Buddha it is customary in the Buddhist practice to pay respect to the memory of the Buddha and his good qualities such as loving-kindness (metta), compassion (karuna), altruism or sympathetic joy (mudita), and equanimity (upekkha), etc., by bowing in front of the statue or painting." Christian Catholics do as much when they kneel down in front of a statue of Jesus or one of the other saints. Are they also worshiping statues, even when their "Bible" says not to have any graven images before God? No one asks these questions of a Christian Catholic! Why would they ask this very question of a Buddhist? Because there's a statue of Buddha? There's also a statue of Jesus in every Christian Catholic church. HTML:
Probably that's not the best example, as some catholics actually do this - even though they say they don't. Same with Hindus like Hare Krishnas - they believe god actually lives in the deity statue or murti. Miraculous incidents are alleged in the case of both Hindu and Catholic statues.
