In the practice of spirituality, there is always an interesting tension between form and spontaneity. Too much form can easily become empty hypocrisy whereas too much spontaneity can easily become self-indulgence and dilettantism. The sage Kuya once said "Accumulating merit and practising good one's desires and ambitions increase - nothing is comparable to solitude."
Related to this is the tension between the expression of practice in the world and the inner secret practice in one's heart. On the one hand, if practice does not result in a more virtuous life and an increase in concern for one's fallow beings, it is questionable how genuine it is. On the other hand, spirituality cannot be merely nor primarily such performance. First and foremost it is something secret that goes on in the heart.
In this regard, those forms of spirituality that involve a sense of relationship - with Buddha, with the god(s), with a guardian spirit, however - have a certain advantage. In the privacy of one's room one can talk to the divine one, confess one's doubts, give voice to ones adoration, and reflect upon what one has received and done in return. Even without such a relationship, one can contemplate life and death.
These matters are private, but they are the root from which other more visible aspects spring forth, just as the root of a plant cannot be seen. A plant with a deep root is more stable and enduring. Contriving what look like flowers and fruit when there is no root beneath will achieve nothing real, yet when there is a healthy root, much else will occur naturally.
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Namo Amida Bu
A piece of tangential information. "+" is the Chinese character for "ten". It also has the implication "100%" like "ten out of ten", thus meaning excellent or wholehearted, so when you make the sign of the cross it may have different implications in different cultures.
Wonderful comments!! Thank you all of you…Yes Mat, It is not confusing, I fully understand you… many times I finish my practice of nembutsu by making the sign of the cross. I know it may sound strange but I feel it quite natural, my last “Namo Amida Bu”…
The Cross is a symbol of suffering, and the man on the cross is humanity…even Jesus Christ yelled at God, in extreme pain, “Why have you abandoned me?”, feeling hopeless and helpless, like any other human being… Yes, I think we need to express our vulnerability for being able to surrender later on.
The Tathagata can appear in many guises.
Thanks, Ryusho. Yes, the word "Israel", I've been told, means "struggle (with God)". Of course, this kind of thing is more in place in the kind of religion that believes in a divine creator since if He made it then He is responsible, no? So anger comes in quite naturally, but, yes, often a bit of a problem for Christians.
I don't think there is anything wrong with plastic flowers per se - as you say, it is an offering. Going off at a tangent - when real flowers are offered there are different opinions I've noticed about whether to leave dad ones on the shrine - some thing it disrespectful, others that it is a reminder of impermanence. I guess what matters is the intention.
The other thing which came to mind was the 'contriving what looks like flowers....' reminded me of discussions from members of a group I once used to belong to about making offerings of plastic and silk flowers. Such offering pose an interesting dilemma. They are indeed an offering, if I say they aren't then I am judging the person on many levels I'm not qualified nor empowered to do so, my comments should be wisely and carefully given so as to both teach and cherish without diminishing, devaluing, or disrespecting. I've handled this in various ways sometimes perhaps unskillfully and occasionally perhaps with some skill. Now when it comes up as people move from one group to another I usually ask a question or two and say nothing much, I let them sort it out for themselves. Perhaps that way they can out down a deeper root and one that comes from within rather than from without.
Thank you Dharmavidya. Your words have reminded me of those ones of the Bible (Mathew 6:6):
“…but when you pray, go into your room, shut your door, and pray to your Father, who is unseen. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you ( in public)…”
I understand that all that, which is rooted in secret (our “room” , our heart), will blossom in life, that is, it will “result in a more virtuous life”(public reward)…And it will bloom in a natural way, as a gift of nature. It does not depend on ourselves…And Nature or Life does not always respond as we expect or want. …I feel an invitation to faith