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¡á Buddhist
instruments
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¡Þ
The Bell
The
Bell was made for saving sentient
beings in hell and it is said
that the sounds of the bell
are similar to the sound of
the Buddha.
At
the temple, the bell is struck
to tell the time or to call
buddhist people.
In
the morning, the bell is struck
28 times, in the evening, 33
times.
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¡Þ
Dharma
drum
It
symbolizes spreading the Dharma
and saving all sentient beings
on the earth. Spreading the
sounds with the drum is like
spreading Buddha's teachings
in the world.
¡Þ
Wooden
Fish
The sound
of the Wooden Fish singifies
saving all fishes in the water.
The Wooden Fish has a fish shape,
and the inside of the Wooden
Fish is empty, so a monk
strikes the inside of the hole
of the Wooden Fish with two
sticks.
A
long, long time ago, there was
a monk who did not follow his
master's teaching. He used to
tell lies and do unwholesome
deeds. Finally he died and was
reborn as a fish, not an ordinary
fish but one with a tree on
its back. One day, his old master
was crossing the river by boat.
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At
that time, the strange fish which had a
tree on its back came to the boat and wept
sadly. The master looked into the former
life of the fish and found out the fish
was his former disciple. The master took
pity on his former disciple and held a memorial
ceremony for sentient beings in the water
and on the earth, and freed his former disciple
form the strange fish shape.
That
night, the former disciple appeared in the
master's dream and told him, "I deeply
appreciate my master's kindness. From now
on, I am going to practice hard. Please
cut the tree which was on my back, make
a fish shaped instrument, and beat it with
a wooden stick. And tell people my story.
My story will be a good lesson for monks
and practitioners." So the master did
as his former disciple said and warned monks
to practice diligently.
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¡Þ A
Wooden Gong
It
is used for Buddhist ceremonies. This percussion
instrument is shaped like the round head
of a fish with a handle, has a big mouth
and a hole for eyes on each side. It is
used for reciting sutras, signaling mealtime
and calling the congregation.
¡Þ Bamboo
stick
It
is a widely-used Buddhist instrument, which
signals the start and the end of meditation
at the meditation halls. It is also used
at the time of buddhist meal. It is made
of a whole bamboo rod, with certain portions
cut so that it can make a sound by clappping.
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