Katrina Rosales
Burning incense is an ancient practice that is almost universally carried out in all schools of Buddhism. It is used to purify a place of worship, such as a temple, and to evoke the presence of Buddhist divinities. Buddhists regard incense as a divine odour, and it is burned during funerals, special ceremonies, daily prayers, and meditation. Incense is usually either direct burning or indirect burning, with the former being more popular. Direct-burning incense is typically made by coating a bamboo stick with incense paste and fragrance. In Buddhist temples, stick incense is the most commonly used, although huge coils of burning incense are sometimes suspended from the ceilings of some Asian temples.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Purpose | To evoke the presence of Buddhist divinities, purify the space, create a tranquil mood, and aid in meditation |
| Types | Stick, cone, loose, coil, paper, coreless or "solid", incense with a bamboo core |
| Composition | 21% herbal and wood powder, 35% fragrance material, 11% adhesive powder and 33% bamboo stick |
| Ritual | Burned during funerals, special ceremonies, daily prayers, and to pay respects to ancestors |
| Symbolism | Three sticks burned together might signify the Three Treasures: the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha |
| Health Concerns | Studies indicate that incense smoke increases cancer risk |
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What You'll Learn
- Incense is burned to purify Buddhist temples and meditation halls
- Burning incense sticks is a ritual to commemorate special occasions
- Incense is used to evoke the presence of Buddhist divinities
- The type of incense used varies, from coils to sticks to loose incense
- The practice of burning incense is an ancient ritual, predating Buddhism
Incense is burned to purify Buddhist temples and meditation halls
Burning incense is an ancient practice that is almost universally carried out in all schools of Buddhism. It is burned to purify Buddhist temples and meditation halls, but it is also used in people's homes. In Buddhist and Taoist cultures, incense is burned to commemorate various occasions, such as funerals, special ceremonies, daily prayers, and paying respect to ancestors. The act of burning incense is also a way to show respect, to help soothe the mind, and to aid in meditation practice.
Incense is regarded as a "divine odour" by Buddhists, and its smell is meant to evoke the presence of Buddhist divinities. The burning of incense sticks is an irreversible change because when they burn, new substances are produced, such as ash and smoke, which cannot be converted back into incense sticks. Incense smoke contains particulate matter gas products and many organic compounds.
There are two main types of incense: indirect burning and direct burning. Indirect burning incense, also known as loose incense, cannot burn on its own and requires a separate heat source such as hot charcoal or embers. Direct burning incense, which includes stick and cone incense, can be lit with a flame and immediately blown out. The most common type of direct burning incense is the cored stick variety, which is usually made by covering a bamboo stick with a thick coating of incense paste and fragrance. Stick incense is placed in a ceramic bowl or a stick incense holder filled with sand, uncooked rice, or accumulated incense ash.
Burning incense is also used as a meditation timer. Three sticks burned together can signify the Three Treasures or Jewels of Buddhism: the Buddha, the dharma or Buddha's teaching, and the sangha or Buddhist monk community. Buddhists who are unsure of the correct practice in a temple should observe what others are doing and follow their norms.
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Burning incense sticks is a ritual to commemorate special occasions
Burning incense sticks is a common ritual in Buddhist temples and homes. The practice is believed to purify the space and create a tranquil mood, with the "'divine odour'" evoking the presence of Buddhist divinities. This ritual is often performed to commemorate special occasions and ceremonies, such as funerals, daily prayers, and paying respect to ancestors.
In Buddhist culture, incense is also used to mark significant occasions like special ceremonies and warding off bad luck. The type of incense and its fragrance can vary, with Japanese incense offering a more subtle fragrance and Tibetan incense providing a more assertive scent. The act of burning incense is also used as a meditation timer, with practitioners focusing their attention and creating a pure space for their practice.
The burning of incense sticks holds symbolic meanings in Buddhism. For example, burning three sticks together represents the Three Treasures or Jewels of Buddhism: the Buddha, the Dharma or Buddha's teachings, and the Sangha or Buddhist monk community. The ritual of incense offering involves bowing to the divine statues with the incense sticks held overhead, followed by vertically placing the sticks into a censer in front of the statues.
The physical act of burning incense sticks involves lighting one end of the stick after lighting a candle. Blowing out the flame is considered disrespectful, and alternative methods such as waving the stick or fanning the flames are suggested. The unlit end of the stick is then planted into an incense bowl filled with incense ash, sand, or uncooked rice.
Burning incense sticks is a ritual that holds significant meaning in Buddhist culture. It is used to commemorate a range of special occasions and is believed to evoke the presence of Buddhist divinities through its "divine odour." The ritual is carefully performed, following specific steps to ensure respect and purity in the temple or meditation space.
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Incense is used to evoke the presence of Buddhist divinities
Buddhists regard incense as a "divine odour", and its smell is meant to evoke the presence of Buddhist divinities. The burning of incense sticks is an irreversible change because when they burn, new substances are produced, such as ash and smoke, and they cannot be converted back into incense sticks. Incense smoke contains particulate matter gas products and many organic compounds. The use of incense in Buddhist temples is one way to create a sense of peace and sanctity. Buddhist temples mainly use scented wood and herbs to offer a pleasant, aesthetically pleasing-smelling smoke.
In Buddhist and Taoist cultures, the incense is burned to commemorate numerous occasions such as funerals, special ceremonies, daily prayers, paying respects to ancestors and warding off bad luck. In Buddhist cultures, burning incense sticks is an old tradition. Apart from incenses, food, drinks, flowers, and even clothing were common offerings made to a revered person as a sign of respect. Offering incense at an altar is a universal Buddhist custom.
Incense is also believed to attract positivity, good luck, and blessings to those who use it. This isn’t purely a Buddhist thought but something applied in other religions and cultures with an affinity for burning incense. There is a real symbolic meaning in what incense is chosen and how it is burned. For example, burning three sticks of incense typically represent what is known as the 'Three Jewels of Buddhism' or the Three Treasures: the Buddha, the Buddha’s teaching, and the Buddhist monk community.
Burning incense is a sign of respect. It is used frequently in Buddhism as a tribute to the heavens and those that have come before us and to honour the Buddha and enlightened beings, from arhats to bodhisattvas. Incense is widely used in temples and monasteries because most people find it adds a peaceful, sacred tone to the setting. It is a way to help calm stress and produce more kind interactions across meetings with visitors, practitioners, and other parties.
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The type of incense used varies, from coils to sticks to loose incense
The type of incense used in Buddhist temples varies, from coils to sticks to loose incense. Incense is burned to purify the space and create a tranquil mood. It is also used to symbolise the Three Treasures: the Buddha, the dharma, and the sangha.
Stick incense is the most common type used in temples, and it is usually made by covering a bamboo stick with a thick coating of incense paste and fragrance. They are typically placed in a ceramic bowl filled with sand or an incense holder. There are two types of stick incense: coreless or "solid" incense and incense with a bamboo core. The bamboo-cored variety is usually the most widely used, as it can burn continuously for a long time. However, the coreless or "solid" incense is better if you want a longer-lasting fragrance.
Loose incense is another type of incense used in Buddhist temples. It is burned by dropping grains of incense onto hot charcoal. This type of incense is considered indirect burning, as it requires a separate heat source, whereas stick incense is considered direct burning, as it can be lit directly with a flame.
In some Asian temples, huge coils of burning incense are suspended from the ceilings. These coils are an example of direct-burning incense, as they can be lit directly with a flame.
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The practice of burning incense is an ancient ritual, predating Buddhism
In Buddhist temples, stick incense is commonly used, with the most popular type being incense with a bamboo core. These sticks are made by coating a bamboo stick with a thick layer of fragrant incense paste. They are often placed in bowls filled with sand, uncooked rice, or accumulated incense ash. Huge coils of burning incense are also used in some Asian temples, suspended from the ceilings.
The number of incense sticks burned can hold symbolic meanings in Buddhism. For example, burning three sticks together can represent the Three Treasures or Jewels of Buddhism: the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha or Buddhist monk community. The act of burning incense is also used as a timer for meditation or other tasks, with the length of the stick indicating the duration of the practice.
The ritual of burning incense involves lighting a candle first, then using the flame to light the incense. Blowing out the flame is considered disrespectful, and instead, the incense stick is waved to put out the flame or fanned with the hand. The incense is then bowed to, with palms pressed together, before placing it in an incense bowl.
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Frequently asked questions
Burning incense is a way to show respect, purify a space, and aid in meditation. Buddhists regard incense as a "divine odour", evoking the presence of Buddhist divinities.
Most Buddhist temples use sandalwood for incense. The incense is usually in the form of sticks, which are easy to use and the most popular type. However, there are other types of incense such as coils, cones, paper, and loose incense.
First, light a candle. Then, light the incense from the candle. Bow to the Buddha image with your palms together and light one end of the incense. Do not blow out the flame as it is considered disrespectful. Instead, wave the incense stick to put it out or fan the flame with your hands.
Incense has a symbolic meaning that varies depending on the school of Buddhism. For example, three sticks burning together can represent the Three Treasures or Jewels of Buddhism: the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha (the Buddhist monk community).
If you are sensitive to incense smoke, you can offer dried flower petals instead. Once the offering bowl is full, the petals can be used as compost. There is also electronic incense, although this is not widely adopted.
