How to perform prostrations in the Tibetan Buddhist Tradition
In Buddhism, a prostration (Pali: panipāta, Skt.: namas-kara, Ch.: li-pai, Jp.: raihai) is used to show reverence to the Triple Gem (comprising the Buddha, his teachings, and the spiritual community) and other objects of veneration.
In Buddhism, prostrating has multiple and overlapping benefits for practitioners including:
* an experience of giving or veneration
* an act to purify defilements, especially conceit
* a preparatory act for meditation
* an act that accumulates merit (see also karma)
In the Pali canon, laypersons prostrating before the then-living Buddha is mentioned in several suttas. As part of daily practice, one typically prostrates before and after chanting and meditation. On these occasions, one does typically prostrates three times: once to the Buddha, once to the Dhamma, and once to the Sangha. More generally, one can also prostrate before any sacred object of veneration.
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