Basics of Buddhist worship

For the laity, daily worship usually takes place at a shrine in the home. This shrine usually consists of an image of the Buddha and a vase for flowers. The ceremonies usually include puja (usually the offering of flowers), the lighting of candles, the recitation of the Three Refuges and the Five, and specific requests, such as a long life, a good rebirth, and so on. Similar rites will take place in the local chapel and temple.

Buddhist calendar

Before the modern era, most forms of Buddhism were in countries that used a lunar calendar. In Theravada Thailand, for instance, the lunar cycle provides the base for a twelve-month year. Since the lunar year and the solar year do not match in length, there is an elaborate scheme to keep the cycle of lunar months even with the solar year: an additional month is intercalated every two to three years, as well as an extra day or two.

Most Buddhist calendars begin with the Buddha's great passing (or rather, his entrance into Nirvana), is 543 BCE. (Buddhist Era=B. E.)

There is an order in which the prayers are chanted.

1. Homage to Buddha
2. Five precepts
3. Specific prayers only for clergy

First - homage to Buddha

I pay homage to the Blessed One, the Worthy One, the fully Enlightened One. (three times)
Followed by the Five Precepts

Second - five precepts

• I undertake the training rule to abstain from taking life.
• I undertake the training rule to abstain from stealing.
• I undertake the training rule to abstain from sexual misconduct.
• I undertake the training rule to abstain from false speech.
• I undertake the training rule to abstain from intoxicating drinks and drugs causing heedlessness.

Third - specific prayers only for clergy

Maintaining well the five precepts together with the three refuges, strive on with diligence.

• by morality they attain good rebirth
• by morality they achieve wealth
• by morality they attain nirvana
• therefore, one should purify morality.

Worship of a young monk

Followed by laity: the eight precepts

Commonly known as observing Sila.  These precepts are observed and followed during the day. There are eight precepts to be undertaken.

Followed by all:

1. I undertake the training rule to abstain from taking life.
2. I undertake the training rule to abstain from stealing.
3. I undertake the training rule to abstain from in-celibacy.
4. I undertake the training rule to abstain from false speech.
5. I undertake the training rule to abstain from intoxicating drinks and drugs causing heedlessness.
6. I undertake the training rule to abstain from eating at improper times.
7. I undertake the training rule to abstain from dancing, singing, music, shows, wearing garlands, using perfumes, and beautifying with cosmetics.
8. I undertake the training rule to abstain from the use of high and large seats and beds.

Annual worship

There are few religious festivals in Buddhism that are observed by different schools of buddhists at the same time. This is partially due to the nature of Buddhism's historical development and partially due to the impact of the regions and countries Buddhism entered.

On the one hand, because of the differences in the structure of belief among Theravada, Mahayana and Vajrayana, and among the different schools of Mahayana, there is no one event or person who is understood in the same manner, and thus worshipped in the same manner. So although all forms of Buddhism celebrate the Buddha's life, they do so at different times.

Of course, all monasteries have a day celebrating their founding. On the other hand, different countries have celebrations commemorating when

• Buddhism entered their country
• the reign of a particular dynasty

Therefore, there are only few holidays are celebrated throughout Buddhism.