SHRINE ROOM ETIQUETTE

Many folks are unaware of proper etiquette in the shrine room and so, at their request, we are providing some details that you may wish to follow.

Etiquette is an expression of respect and gratitude for one's own Buddha nature, which is embodied by one's teacher and is reflected by the shrine room environment. It can also be a source of merit for, by not disturbing one's fellow practitioners, one is actually aiding their practice.

Part of the practice of making the shrine a sacred space is that we try our best to leave ordinary activities, speech and thoughts outside. Please remove your shoes before entering the shrine room. By doing so, you can leave the distractions and difficulties of the outside world with your shoes, and you avoid tracking in the dirt from the road. Be sure that you do not leave your shoes in the way of others entering the shrine. It is possible that His Holiness will enter where you have and it is nice to keep a neat environment for him to see before the teachings begin. At times students may offer a special carpet for His Holiness to walk on. Out of respect for this offering try to remember to walk around it when exiting or entering the room.

Try to arrive for teachings early. If you find you are running late for and your arrival coincides with that of His Holiness, stand in a slight bow and wait until he enters the shrine room ahead of you. Then wait a few moments allowing him to walk a few paces ahead of you before going in to find your seat.

If you find you need to stretch your legs when you are seated in the shrine room, please cover your feet. Try not to point your feet towards the shrine. In many cultures it is considered very disrespectful to show the soles of your feet to the teacher (and the teacher is always present in the shrine).

If you need to use the restroom during a teaching, please use the restrooms at the Dining Facility. The restrooms in the temple are for monk use and for the disabled. At the door you can turn towards the shrine and bow slightly if you wish (or simply exit). Prostrations may be offered upon returning, but are not customarily offered when exiting. During an empowerment or certain high teachings, it is best not to have to leave during the ceremony or explanations, but of course you can if you need to!

A respectful way to greet an ordained person is with a simple bow, with your hands in the gesture of prayer. You are bowing to one who represents the Buddha's Sangha. When His Holiness enters the shrine room, you should rise and stand in a slight bow until he is seated. The monks and the students may then offer three prostrations if they wish. When His Holiness stands at the end of the session, rise and stand, again, in a slight bow until he has left the room.

Texts, including prayer sheets, should never be placed directly on the floor, not stepped over, or stood upon because of their power to bring liberation and happiness. Please help those who must pass through the shrine room when it is crowded by picking up and holding your text.

In the shrine room we try to offer the most pleasing sites, sounds, and smells and cause the least distraction to His Holiness, the monks and our fellow practitioners. To achieve this, please keep your belongings to a minimum, and neatly contained, in the shrine room. Also, please do not eat in the shrine room during teachings or engage in any other activity that might distract someone who is practicing. This includes beating of drums, bells, cymbals, etc. during periods other than at Tsog. Please do not touch the monks' dharma musical instruments except in their presence with their express permission. Try to keep all ordinary conversation to an absolute minimum. Also be conscious that the small devices used to count prostrations can be distracting with the sound of their clicking. In general, try to be mindful; does it seem like your activity is disturbing others?

Please do not smoke in the vicinity of any practice areas, but restrict this activity far away from any possibility of disturbing the monks or His Holiness. Also, there may be practitioners who have taken vows to refrain from smoking; smoking near them may make it more difficult for them to keep those vows.

Please arrange your schedule so you can stay for the complete teaching session. If you know you must leave before the conclusion, please sit as close to an exit as possible so you can leave quietly and easily. If, for health reasons, you must get up or move around during the teachings, please sit close to the side or the back of the room so others are not disturbed. Evening teachings are known to run quite late with the question and answer period following so please consider sitting in the back if you know you will need to leave early to rest.

There may be seats in the shrine room reserved for Sangha, for guests, or for the people involved in work in various capacities. These seats will be clearly marked. Please do not sit in the sound recording station. Tapes will be made available as soon as is practically feasible. The sound recordist does not dupe the tapes. Please be sure to remove your belongings from the shrine room after empowerments to assist in the removal of rice.