Shrine Room Etiquette Guide
Welcome to our spiritual community. To help everyone maintain a respectful and sacred environment in the shrine room, we’ve compiled this guide on proper etiquette. Adhering to these practices expresses our respect for the Buddha’s teachings, supports the meditation and learning of fellow practitioners, and cultivates merit for ourselves.
Entering the Shrine Room:
- Please remove your shoes before entering, symbolically leaving behind the external world’s distractions and challenges. Ensure your shoes are neatly placed, not obstructing the entrance.
- Arrive early for teachings to settle in without haste. If you arrive simultaneously with His Holiness or other revered teachers, pause in a bow until they have entered, then proceed to find your seat.
During Teachings:
- Keep your feet covered and avoid pointing your feet towards the shrine or teacher, as a sign of respect.
- Use restrooms outside the shrine room, reserving those within for monks and individuals with disabilities.
- Exiting during empowerments or high teachings is discouraged, though permissible if necessary. A respectful exit involves a slight bow towards the shrine.
- Hydrate before attending the teachings if possible. Do not bring mugs into the temple. A water bottle is permissable.
- Avoid using any devices during the teachings except as part of receiving the teachings (such as for translation).
- Do not talk to other students during the teachings.
Greeting and Respecting Ordained Persons:
- Greet ordained individuals with a simple bow, hands in prayer gesture, honoring their embodiment of the Buddha’s Sangha.
- Stand and bow slightly as the Retreat Master enters and until he is seated. Similar respect is shown upon his departure.
- Sacred texts and prayer sheets should be treated with reverence, never placed on the floor or stepped over.
Maintaining a Sacred Atmosphere:
- Limit personal belongings in the shrine room to essentials, keeping them tidy to minimize distractions. Please remove them after empowerments to allow for cleaning.
- Refrain from eating, casual conversation, and unnecessary noise within the shrine room. Only use ritual musical instruments when specifically instructed.
- Designated smoking areas are provided away from practice spaces to respect practitioners’ commitments and maintain the purity of the retreat environment.
Seating and Participation:
- If you must leave early or require frequent movement for health reasons, choose seats near exits or the room’s perimeter to minimize disruption.
- Reserved seating for Sangha, guests, or individuals with specific roles is clearly marked. Please respect these designations and avoid using areas designated for the A/V department.
- Assist in maintaining the shrine room’s cleanliness by removing personal items after empowerments and helping with general tidying.
This etiquette helps us collectively create a serene and focused setting for spiritual practice. We appreciate your cooperation and commitment to upholding these guidelines, ensuring a harmonious experience for all participants.