When it comes to Vietnamese customs of offering worship, there are usually various items such as fruits, tea, alcohol, medicine, cakes, candles, betel leaves, and incense… There are many occasions for worship, such as mid-month, holidays, weddings, anniversaries, business opening days, housewarming… There are also many places for worship, such as temples, ancestral halls, shrines, and family altars…
Offering flowers during worship signifies respect, goodness, and brings blessings and good luck. Those who prepare the offering tray by buying flowers show sincerity, express gratitude and reverence, and demonstrate filial piety and ceremonial propriety. Depending on their economic conditions, some may not be able to offer salted food or a large amount of gifts; however, there is always incense, flowers, and betel leaves. Sometimes, when visiting and offering worship, if there is no betel leaves or tea, simply offering a bouquet and incense to express sincerity is sufficient.
This demonstrates the pivotal role that flowers play in Vietnamese spiritual rituals and the subconscious mind. Among the various types of flowers used in worship, one of the most popular is the lily.
Lilies are regarded as high-quality flowers of great value among the many types of flowers used in worship. However, lilies have their own distinct characteristics that must be taken into consideration when offering worship. Many people mistakenly believe that lilies can be offered anywhere, so they bring lilies when worshiping at ancestral altars, temples, shrines, etc., in order to show sincerity (as lilies are beautiful, fragrant, and expensive). However, from the perspective of feng shui and spirituality, this is incorrect and inappropriate.
The Meaning of Lilies
In European culture and Catholicism, lilies symbolize purity, resurrection, and are closely associated with the Virgin Mary. Therefore, lilies hold great significance in Catholicism.
In general, lilies are loved for their beautiful and fragrant appearance, their large, vibrant blooms, and their noble and elegant qualities.
Lilies can remain fresh for a long time, making them suitable for display in the home or on altars.
However, the strong fragrance of lilies can be overpowering, especially when placed in a small room or when multiple lilies are used. Additionally, lilies can cause allergies in some individuals.
When to Offer Lilies and When Not to
In general, when offering flowers, it is important to choose flowers that have beautiful, pleasant fragrances, and are not foul-smelling. When offering flowers to Buddha, it is common to use pure and predominantly yellow or red flowers as these colors are associated with Buddhism. It is inappropriate to offer flowers with multiple colors that are less solemn. Lily flowers should not be offered to Buddha because their strong fragrance is not conducive to purity. Offering flowers to Buddha represents a practitioner’s cultivation of virtue. For highly realized Buddhas, they do not place great emphasis on the external formalities and rituals, but rather on a practitioner’s internal state of mind. However, for Buddhist practitioners seeking to cultivate goodness and purity, it is advisable to cultivate humility and purity in their personal lives and to avoid anything that may disrupt their peace of mind. Therefore, lilies are generally not appropriate for offering to Buddha. When offering to Buddha, flowers such as chrysanthemums or red roses (avoiding faded or wilted roses) are preferred.
Lilies should not be offered to ancestral altars at home as the altars are usually located in small rooms where the strong fragrance of lilies can cause discomfort. Additionally, the word “ly” in Vietnamese sounds similar to “ly tan” which means separation, so offering lilies does not carry the auspicious meaning of reunion and can even be considered inauspicious.
The best place to offer lilies is at temples or shrines dedicated to female deities, as the lily symbolizes the beauty of women and the virtuous qualities of mothers. Therefore, when visiting such places, it is appropriate to bring lilies to express gratitude and seek the protection and blessings of the female deities. Lilies are suitable for worshiping deities and are known to bring blessings, prosperity, and protection to households.
Considerations for Lily Worship
In addition to selecting lilies for worship in the aforementioned places, there are a few other things to consider when offering lilies:
Due to the strong fragrance of lilies and the difficulty of removing pollen stains from objects, it is advisable to remove the stamen when the flowers bloom to prevent the pollen from staining the altar and other worship objects.
Since lilies have a strong fragrance and may cause discomfort when inhaled, it is recommended not to use too many lilies in small worship areas. If multiple lilies are used, it is best to remove the stamen.
Although lilies remain fresh for a long time, the water in the vase can develop an unpleasant odor. To maintain cleanliness, it is recommended to change the water daily so that the water remains clean. This ensures that the flowers remain fresh and adds a sense of solemnity and respect without violating any taboos.
When offering lilies, it is best to use flowers of the same color and avoid using flowers of multiple colors, as this may not be in accordance with solemnity.
This information is for reference and contemplation purposes only.
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