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| Buddhist Temples.
Inside a temple, there is a shrine and often a statue of the Buddha either meditating or lying down. If someone puts gold leaf on a Buddha statue or on the temple it is said to 'gain them merit'. Monks and Nuns may live at the Temple. Stupas. These are ancient burial mounds of great religious teachers. |
Meditation - Often kneeling or cross-legged.
Still and quiet, eyes closed or slightly open, breathe calmly. Either in
a temple or at home.
Puja - sit or kneel in front of a shrine, bow and say the Three Jewels. Offerings - of flowers and lighting candles and incense in front of a buddha statue. Dhana - saying thanks to monks and nuns by offering food and robes. Buddha rupas - pictures or images of Buddha. |
Meditation - a special kind of concentrated
thinking to make your mind clear and bright.
Mandalas - usually a circular 'map' which helps you to meditate as you go through the 'gateways at the edges towards the centre. Tibetan monks have created sand mandalas in Fremantle. When it was finished it was tipped into the ocean as an act towards world peace. Mantras - a single sound such as Om or Aum constantly repeated. Gardens - Zen buddhists (Japan) make gardens of rocks, raked sand, stones and maybe a few trees to help them meditate |
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| Churches - most churches have an
altar
to remind the people of the Last Supper when they have communion.
The cross or crucifix reminds them that Jesus died for them. The priest or minister will read from the Bible, then during the sermon, will explain what was meant in that passage. At home - People can just as easily pray at home or anywhere, for they believe that God is everywhere and can see and listen to them when they need him. |
A mass on Sundays. People gather to pray,
sing hymns and listen to the priest or minister read and explain passages
from the bible.
Confession confess your sins and receive forgiveness. Holy Communion - sharing in the 'body and blood' of Christ. |
The Lord's Prayer.
The Apostles Creed. The Ten Commandments. Hymns. |
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| Mandir - these can be a large building
or a small shrine in a home.
Inside a mandir there are murtis (statues or pictures) to help you think about God in different ways. |
Take off your shoes as a sign of respect
for the murti.
Ring a bell. Make an offering like water, food or incense. Kneel, bow and say prayers. Dance, music and chanting are other ways to worship in a mandir. As you leave the mandir, you are given prashad (food that has been offered to the Gods.) |
Puja - the typical form of daily
worship might involve stopping at one or more shrines to make an offering,
a visit to a temple and worship in your own home.
Hindus do not often meet as part of a large group (congregation). Home - offering food flowers or incense along with saying sacred words. Temples - are especially important on special ceremony days with pilgrimages and processions. |
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Muslims can go to the mosque at any
time but midday on Friday is the most important time.
Muslims pray five times a day. They show respect by dressing so that their clothes cover their bodies from the neck to the ankles. |
A man will call people to prayer.
Muslims always face towards a building called the Ka'aba in Makkah (Mecca). Men and women pray separately. Before going into a mosque, you take off your shoes, then you wash carefully in a special order. There are ten different praying positions. |
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Men and women sit separately in some synagogues. There is a large cupboard called an Ark. Inside there are the Torah scrolls. Above the Ark is a light which is never put out. |
There are three services a day, when people
can join in prayer. The prayer can be led by any adult Jew. The Rabbi is
their teacher and preacher.
There are no statues or pictures of God, as God does not have a human form. At home - daily prayers, lighting the Sabbath candles and blessing the wine and bread. |
Morning Prayers - men wear a shawl. Once
it is on their shoulders they are ready for prayer. "Hear, O Israel, the
Lord our God, the Lord is One."
Reading of the scriptures. Study of the history of the Jews and the
Jewish faith are linked.
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| Gurdwara
The holiest place for Sikhs is the Golden Temple at Amritsar |
Take off shoes
Cover their heads Bow very low to the scriptures Wear a turban |
Shabads (hymns or poems) |