Buddhist-Meditation-Systematic-and-Practical

Some Buddhists even mistake their own religion as
atheistic and say that there is no need to pay attention to
the gods. This is a wrong view.
l. Why We Pay Homage to the Gods
Some reasons are given here why we should honor the
deities and ask them to help us:
a. Before their final attainment, all the Buddhas obtain
the help of the gods to subdue demons. In this way,
Gautama won Anuttara-Samyak-Samhodhi under the
Bodhi tree at Bodhi Gaya.
b. The Buddha taught his disciples six subjects of
mindfulness, the last one of which is the mindfulness of
the gods (devanusmrti). One should remember the gods
and then they will certainly help.
c. The neophyte is weak in spiritual attainment and
needs help from the gods. Even the small divinities of
earth should be received; then it will be easy for one to
obtain the siddhi (power) of samatha.
d. Every temple and monastery, whether of the exoteric
or esoteric school (in Tibet and China), has outside its
doors the images of the Four Great Kings as protectors.
Even my small hermitage has their shrine by my door. I
always give them incense and a candle as an offering.
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