Monthly Sevenfold Pūjā
Every 1st Friday of the month 7-8pm ***STARTING 3rd APRIL***
Everyone is warmly welcome.
No need to book
No prior knowledge of either Buddhism or Meditation is required.
If you have not done a pūjā before, please notify the Order Member in charge of the evening.
The Sevenfold Puja is the primary devotional ceremony of the Triratna Buddhist Community, designed to cultivate the Bodhicitta (will to Enlightenment) by evoking seven spiritual moods, based on Shantideva’s Bodhicaryavatara.
It transforms the practitioner's emotional state through structured worship, offering, and self-surrender to the Three Jewels.
The seven stages are:
- Worship (Vandana): Reverence for the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha, often with offerings like light, flowers, or incense.
- Salutation (Namaskara): An act of bowing to express humility and respect for the enlightened mind.
- Going for Refuge (Sarana Gamana): Reaffirming commitment to the Three Jewels (Buddha, Dharma, Sangha) as the guiding principles in life.
- Confession of Faults (Papadesana): Acknowledging past mistakes and shortcomings to free the mind from guilt and prepare for positive growth.
- Rejoicing in Merits (Anumodana): Cultivating joy in the goodness and spiritual achievements of oneself and others.
- Entreaty and Supplication (Adhyesana/Yacana): Requesting that the Dharma be taught and that enlightened beings remain in the world to guide beings.
- Transference of Merit and Self-Surrender (Parināmanā): Dedicating the positive energy (merit) generated from the practice to the enlightenment of all beings.
The ceremony is used to deeply engage emotions, fostering a sense of connection with the Bodhisattva ideal. It is performed in a group, often concluding with mantras and silence to absorb the experience.