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Book: A Complete
and Detailed Exposition on the True Buddha Tantric Dharma
- Book: A Complete and Detailed Exposition on the True
Buddha Tantric Dharma
- Title: Handclapping - "Wake-up call and dismissal"
- Written by: Living Buddha Lian-sheng, Sheng-yen Lu
- Translated by: Janny Chow
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HANDCLAPPING: "WAKE-UP CALL AND DISMISSAL"
In the past, when I sat down to do a practice, I first began by
clapping my hands twice. In group practice, this step is omitted.
Clapping the hands twice has two functions. At the beginning of
meditation, it serves as a "wake-up call." It signifies
that one is about to do the practice and requests all the Buddhas
and Bodhisattvas in the shrine and the spirit realm to pay attention.
At the end of the practice, when one is ready to get up to leave
the shrine, the clapping of hands twice serves as a signal of "dismissal."
It means that one has completed the practice and the Buddhas and
Bodhisattvas can disengage and rest. This is the meaning behind
clapping the hands twice at the beginning and end of each practice
session.
There are some practitioners who, after clapping their hands, employ
an additional mudra by crossing their hands and snapping the thumb
against the middle finger [Grand Master illustrates with a demonstration].
Actually this mudra serves exactly the same purpose as the clapping
of hands. In Tantra, many rites appear enigmatic. For example, people
may wonder why the clapping of hands is necessary for individual
and not group practice. This is due to the fact that, when a group
of people gathers to do meditation, the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas
automatically become aware of their combined intent, whereas a single
individual entering the shrine to do the practice might escape their
notice. So, to attract the Buddha's and Bodhisattva's attention,
one claps one's hands to signify a kind of beginning or wake-up
call. The same gesture also serves as notice of completion at the
end of the meditation practice. It is a ritual with esoteric meaning.
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