3 STEP 1 BOW CEREMONY 2024 4K

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Through the ages, Buddhist monks made long and arduous pilgrimages to the mountains, seeking to refine their minds and honour the Buddha. This practice, symbolising the challenging yet rewarding journey to enlightenment, has been passed down, and has evolved into the “three steps, one bow” we know today.
In this ceremony, devotees engage in meditative circumambulation around the temple’s perimeter, bowing once every three steps while chanting mantras or the name of the Buddha. With each prostration, the Buddha can be visualised to stand before one’s palms, which open to receive His teachings. These open palms also represent the purity of the mind, likened to lotus flowers blossoming untainted despite their roots in the “mud of defilements”. Every prostration is a profound gesture of respect to the Buddha, as well as to the countless Buddhas and Bodhisattvas.
The ceremony’s duration signifies the journey towards enlightenment, emphasising the importance of determination in overcoming obstacles. By persevering through its challenges, practitioners strengthen their faith in the Buddha’s teachings, guiding them towards enlightenment. As dawn breaks at the ceremony’s end, it signifies the wisdom that dispels ignorance on the path to enlightenment.
Join us in this annual ceremony to give thanks for the blessings we have received. May our hearts be filled with gratitude and repentance as we reflect on the power of determination and perseverance to surmount any obstacle.