Bowing - External Form Supports Mental Cultivation | Ajahn Dhammasiha | Talk on Buddhism at Dhammagiri Monastery

Ajahn Dhammasiha talks about Luang Por Kalyano's 60th birthday, and shares that he's really looking forward to having a senior monk visiting that he can bow to. 

Contrary to attitudes common nowadays, having something to respect, and to express that in an external gesture, is actually very uplifting for our mind.  

A member in the audience asks if bowing is still of benefit if one doesn't really feel anything, but is just following external convention?  

In his response, Ajahn explains that we can get stuck in 'Sīlabbata-parāmāsa', the third of the ten fetters ('saṃyojana'), if we perform rituals perfuctory, in a superficial way without understanding. However, if we use the external form to develop the corresponding internal attitude and emotions, then rituals can be a strong support for our mental cultivation ('bhāvanā').  

Conceit ('māna') and it's relationship to bowing and the delusion of self is also touched upon in the discussion.

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