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[myfs_149708]

Dear Sir
Six years ago my father passed
away and I always had a beautiful picture of the two of us. I had it in
my room for a long time next to a picture of my mother, who is still
alive, next to a buddha statue. I was not born a Buddhist but I have
been a member of a traditional buddhist kung fu school for some time and
although I have no profound knowledge yet, the buddhist philosophy
explained in my school has more appeal to me than any other philosophy. I
am now integrating the pictures and the statue into an altar in a more
visible part of my appartement (before it used to be tucked away in the
corner of my bedroom). I layed down both pictures on the top shelf of a
cabinet and put a small decoration with stones and water flowing through
a pump, in between the pictures. I also placed some pictures of both
deceased family members and deceased friends and living family members
and living friends on the shelf below next to the buddha statue. Finally
I placed a large frame with the depiction of my kung fu style on top of
the cabinet.
Although I am not of eastern descent I do feel that
paying tribute to both the dead and the living will improve my quality
of live and that of my family members. I have some questions regarding
the placement of the objects:
1) Is it ok to put pictures of both deceased and living persons on an altar or should they be separated?
2)
My kung fu school has given a new direction to my life and my highest
personal aspiration lies there. Is it ok to put a large frame (40 cm x
80 cm) the depiction of my kung fu style on the altar?
3) If I put a bowl fruit on the altar, can I eat the fruit afterwards?
4) Is it ok to put the Buddha statue on the lower shelf or should it always be placed on the upper shelf?
5) Can I lay down the pictures or should they be placed upwards?
Kind regards
Jelle

[Cecil Lee]

These are some considerations:-
1. Traditionally, when one stands looking at an altar; ancestor tablet or photo is on the LEFT side of the altar.

2. While if a deity is placed on the same table; the deity is to the RIGHT side of the altar.
3. Here, are ready (customed made) altars; where the standard height is always in the range of 49 3/4 inches (plus minus a few cms if one wants to add a piece of glass) so that the table top is easier to clean.
4. On many of such altars; if it is meant for both the ancestor tablet (or photo) the table is not exactly flat. Where the right side is higher while the left side is slightly lower.
5. Here, for example; if one has a deity to the right side of the ancestor tablet (or photo) the deity must be seen to be higher than the "ancestor". Hey, symbolically; deities are suppose to be "higher" (level) than "ordinary deceased persons.
You wrote:

1) Is it ok to put pictures of both deceased and living persons on an altar or should they be separated?

Reply: For the Chinese; no; we consider this a taboo. Again; if one is not a Chinese; then really up to you.

2) My kung fu school has given a new direction to my life and my highest personal aspiration lies there. Is it ok to put a large frame (40 cm x 80 cm) the depiction of my kung fu style on the altar?
Reply: Have not heard of this in the Chinese culture. But it does not mean that you can't do so. If you do feel comfortable doing so, then go ahead.
3) If I put a bowl fruit on the altar, can I eat the fruit afterwards?

Reply: For us Chinese; yes, why waste perfectly "good fruits". For example, oranges have tough skin and even for those who pray with this fruit or red apples; they can easily be washed; kept refrigerated and eaten, later.
Reply: Traditionally, the Cantonese Dialect group set the "standard"; here. Many other dialect groups follow their tradition of placing countable fruits: FIVE each. Here, it symbolises the Five areas or "deities" or "spirits": North, South, East, West and the Central or 5 "ghosts"; not the type of ghosts but in the Catholic religion; one often says "the holy ghost" sort of nice thing.. not that "evil" ghosts.

4) Is it ok to put the Buddha statue on the lower shelf or should it always be placed on the upper shelf?

Reply: Please refer to Para 5. above. It should always be higher than the "ancestor" and to the right side. (Standing looking at the altar).

5) Can I lay down the pictures or should they be placed upwards?

Reply: Our common method is to place it "upwards" never lying down.

In Conclusion:

I must emphaise that there is no right or wrong answers. The purpose of some of the information; provided above is to give a better understanding to NON-Chinese of our common practises.
IT DOES NOT MEAN that you should follow everything I said. This is especially true when there is no precedence of this in other cultures; like yours.
What is more important is that you feel GOOD about it (psychologically speaking).
Neither am I trying to push the Chinese culture to anyone. Use this as a discourse in having a better understanding of our culture.
In addition; for our altar(s) we follow specifically to the Feng Shui ruler measurements. And many standard altar tables are readily purchased with all the "fine" measurements and ornate decorations. You don't need to buy one of these, also.

Quote

On 4/21/2011 5:38:44 PM, Anonymous wrote:
Dear SirSix years ago my
father passed
away and I always had a
beautiful picture of the two
of us. I had it in
my room for a long time next
to a picture of my mother, who
is still
alive, next to a buddha
statue. I was not born a
Buddhist but I have
been a member of a traditional
buddhist kung fu school for
some time and
although I have no profound
knowledge yet, the buddhist
philosophy
explained in my school has
more appeal to me than any
other philosophy. I
am now integrating the
pictures and the statue into
an altar in a more
visible part of my appartement
(before it used to be tucked
away in the
corner of my bedroom). I layed
down both pictures on the top
shelf of a
cabinet and put a small
decoration with stones and
water flowing through
a pump, in between the
pictures. I also placed some
pictures of both
deceased family members and
deceased friends and living
family members
and living friends on the
shelf below next to the buddha
statue. Finally
I placed a large frame with
the depiction of my kung fu
style on top of
the cabinet.Although I am not
of eastern descent I do feel
that
paying tribute to both the
dead and the living will
improve my quality
of live and that of my family
members. I have some questions
regarding
the placement of the
objects:1) Is it ok to put
pictures of both deceased and
living persons on an altar or
should they be separated?2)
My kung fu school has given a
new direction to my life and
my highest
personal aspiration lies
there. Is it ok to put a large
frame (40 cm x
80 cm) the depiction of my
kung fu style on the altar?3)
If I put a bowl fruit on the
altar, can I eat the fruit
afterwards?4) Is it ok to put
the Buddha statue on the lower
shelf or should it always be
placed on the upper shelf?5)
Can I lay down the pictures or
should they be placed
upwards?Kind regardsJelle

[Cecil Lee]

Further to what I had mentioned; you can check out this reference material:-
http://forum.geomancy.net/phpforum/article.php?bid=2&fid=19&mid=23837&new=
This resource even discuss the proper dimension(s) of an altar.
You can always do a SEARCH on the TOP LEFT frame of this forum e.g. "Ancestor Tablet" and there are many other resources on such a topic.

[myfs_149708]

Thank you so much, Master Lee, for your comprehensive explanation. I have made some changes according to your knowledge and I feel much better about my apartment now!
Kind regards
Jelle

[Cecil Lee]

 

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