As we begin the new year, here at Shao Shan Temple, we have again begun the year with "Bowing Week". Every day this week in the early morning beginning the day with 108 prostrations before our usual online morning program. With each bow chanting "Namu Kie Butsu", "Namu Kie Ho", "Namu Kie So".
Shuryu Suzuki Roshi on Bowing (Zen Mind Beginner's Mind)
By bowing we are giving up ourselves. To give up ourselves means to give up our dualistic ideas. So there is no difference between zazen practice and bowing. Usually to bow means to pay our respects to something which is more worthy of respect than ourselves. But when you bow to Buddha you should have no idea of Buddha, you just become one with Buddha, you are already Buddha himself. When you become one with Buddha, one with everything that exists, you find the true meaning of being. When you forget all your dualistic ideas, everything becomes your teacher, and everything can be the object of worship.
