Indian Society for Buddhist Studies

Author(s): Prachya Vidyapeeth
Publisher: Prachya Vidyapeeth

Page 61

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offering food, flower etc., chanting traditional texts and pilgrimage. Moreover, many types of visualizations, recollections and mantras are used in Buddhist meditation in different traditions to devote oneself to a Buddha or a teacher.
In Buddhist context the word 'Devotion' is defined by Srilankan scholar Indumathie Karunaratna where she mentioned Devotion is a factor quality of being devoted to religious observances or a solemn dedication towards an object or person. In Pāli language it covered the terms such as pema (affection), saddhā (faith), pasāda (serene confidence), bhatti (trust) and gārava (respect). In the period of Mahāyāna Buddhism, there was a growing sense of loss in Buddhist communities with regard to the passing away of the Buddha, and a growing desire to be able to meet him again. These developments led to the arising of faithbased forms of Buddhism such as Pure Land Buddhism. Devotional practices became very common, as new techniques were developed to recollect the qualities and magnificence of the celestial Buddhas, such as visualization and chants. In Buddhist devotion the triple gem, i.e. the Buddha, his teaching (Sanskrit: Dharma, Pāli: Dhamma) and his community (Sanskrit: Sangha, Pāli: Sangha) are mostly honored.
Different Buddhist traditions, thought-process is attributed as an important role in the preparation for meditation practice. This thought-process mentioned in hand-in-hand with moral discipline, where practitioners require improving their mindfulness and energy. This mindfulness and energy will help practitioners move forward in meditation through culminating in wisdom and understanding. In Theravāda traditions several anussati are recommended, which means 'recollection of the Triple Gem, recollection of the benefits of moral discipline or giving, or reflection on the good qualities of devas. In Mahāyāna traditions, especially in Pure Land Buddhism five recollections are used to remind oneself of the goodness of Amitabha Buddha. The first three represent body, speech and mind, fourth recollection is a series of visualizations, fifth recollection is the practice to help others to achieve rebirth in Pure Land. There