Etiquette for Burning Incense on Mount Putuo – Rules for Worshipping Buddhas

1. Inviting Incense: The verb "buy" is used for shopping elsewhere, but you should say "invite" when purchasing incense in temples.
2. Main Gate Entrance: Do not walk through the main front gate of any temple or nunnery. This gate is reserved for Buddhist monastics.
3. Palm Posture for Kowtowing: Keep your palms facing upward when kowtowing to show respect to Buddhas. Palms facing downward are only used to pay homage to ancestors.
4. Lighting Incense: Light incense only at designated ignition spots. Do not borrow flame from incense burners, nor use your personal lighter for convenience.
5. Hand Rules: Hold the incense with your left hand, which Buddhism regards as the purest hand. Then respectfully insert the incense into the censer with your right hand.
6. Making Vows: Clearly state your name, residence, your wishes, and where you will return to fulfill your vow once your prayer comes true. Many worshippers kowtow and make wishes before Buddha statues without knowing their identities. Buddhas and Bodhisattvas answer sincere prayers, yet they cannot respond if you do not know which deity you are praying to. Learn the name of the Buddha or Bodhisattva before kneeling to worship.
7. Fulfilling Vows: Sincerity makes prayers effective. However, if you make vows in every temple but fail to come back to fulfill them after your wish is granted, it is considered inauspicious. You may burn incense at different halls to show reverence, but only make formal vows to one or two deities.
8. Ritual Instruments: Buddhist ritual tools such as wooden fish and meditation benches may be gently touched after worship to absorb auspicious Buddhist energy. Never touch Buddha statues themselves.
9. Official Incense Counters: Every temple has official stalls for inviting incense. Ignore merchants selling overpriced bundled sets labeled "fortune incense", "wisdom incense" or "longevity incense", which overcomplicate simple incense worship to overcharge pilgrims. If your heart is sincere, three sticks of ordinary incense offered before any Buddha statue will suffice.