108 Prostrations and Buddhism
108 Prostrations - Another Form of Yoga and Meditation
Prostrations" is a sequence of movements that begins with
standing in an upright position, then the practitioner slowly
goes down on his knees, rests them (on a cushion), stretches his
hands forward, the back makes a "cat hump", the palms of the
hands turn upward, the head now rests on the floor.
Accompanying this comes from a tape (or "live" from a teacher) a
"clap" sound. According to Buddhist tradition, a bamboo stick
hollowed out in the middle is used for this purpose, producing a
characteristic sound. "Clap" and down, "clap" and up again, 108
times.
Why "108"? The number "108" is considered to have great relevance
in Buddhism. It represents the wholeness of existence, for
example the distance between the sun and the moon is 108 times
the diameter of the sun.
BUDDHIST MALAS (PRAYER CHAINS) HAVE 108 BEADS.
IN SANSKRIT, 108 IS THE "HARSHAD" NUMBER, A "LUCKY CHARM".
IN BUDDHISM, THE NUMBER "108" REPRESENTS THE "108 FEELINGS". THE
SIX SENSES (SIGHT, SMELL, TASTE, TOUCH, HEARING AND
CONSCIOUSNESS)
TIMES THREE BEAUTIFUL, PAINFUL AND NEUTRAL FEELINGS
TIMES TWO INWARD AND OUTWARD FEELINGS
TIMES THREE PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE FEELINGS
SO 36 PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE FEELINGS MAKE THE NUMBER "108",
THE "108 FEELINGS".
THE TIBETANS HAVE 108 HOLY BOOKS.
IN ISLAM, THE NUMBER 108 REFERS TO ALLAH.
IN THE BIBLE, MANY IMPORTANT WORDS ARE MENTIONED EXACTLY 108
TIMES.
IN TAOISM, ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT STYLES HAS 108 POSITIONS.
The "108 prostrations" are a tradition in Buddhist temples in
Asia. In some temples in China and Asia, there are even monks who
make 1080 or even 3240 prostrations daily.
During the prostrations one "throws oneself down" in front of the
Buddha sculptures, one makes oneself small and thus does not take
oneself "so important" anymore.
Since it is known that each of us is a Buddha, because we carry
the "Buddha-nature" in us, the participants prostrate themselves
with it before themselves, and not before the sculptures. These
are only a symbol, a metaphor.
The "108 prostrations" also have components beneficial to health,
it is also a basic "Qi Gong form".
Blood circulation is stimulated by this exercise, which is very
unusual for the human body. Touching" the floor with the head
brings more blood to this important part of the human body. When
the body is subsequently raised up again, the blood goes back,
and when the body is raised down again, the blood goes back to
the head, a constant cycle. This stimulates the blood circulation
in the upper body more than comparable cardiovascular exercises.
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