Flowers and Buddhas

A forum for discussion of Buddhist ethics.
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pael
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Joined: Thu Jan 10, 2013 12:49 pm

Flowers and Buddhas

Post by pael »

Can you pick up flowers from ground for Buddha/Bodhisattva statue? How to dispose old flowers?
Is it bad karma to pick up flowers?
May all beings be free from suffering and causes of suffering
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Ayu
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Re: Flowers and Buddhas

Post by Ayu »

I don't think so. In our temple they have lots of fresh flowers every day.

Flowers are not even the whole plant. They are the first form of the fruit. The rosebush will grow for ages, while you can pick the roses all the time. The more roses you pick, the more new buds are developing.
Regarding wild flowers, I think, as long as you leave some flowers for the bees and if other flowers are not grown with lots of poison against the bugs, it is completely ethical to have flowers on the altar.

Also, when they wither and become ugly on the altar, they are a perfect methaphor for aging and death. A reminder, IMO.

When you give them to a compost later, they will bless the manifold tiny animals that live there. They will change to soil and be the foundaton of new plants. No problem at all.
joy&peace
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Re: Flowers and Buddhas

Post by joy&peace »

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Om Gate Gate Paragate Parasamgate bodhi svaha
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