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Is it necessary to wash fruits before placing them on the altar for offering?

Cleaning any object is like cleaning the dust in our soul, washing away the dirt and purifying our inner being. A clean fruit is fresh and fragrant, bringing joy to the observer and enhancing positive energy.

Administrator

8 February, 2024

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According to tradition, Vietnamese people often offer fruit and flowers on the altar during Tet holiday and on the 1st day of the lunar month to pay respect to their ancestors and deities, and to pray for the well-being and prosperity of their descendants.

So have you ever wondered if it’s necessary to wash the fruits before offering them on the altar?

The answer is yes.

It is advisable to wash the fruits before offering them on the altar.

Some people are negligent and do not wash the fruits they buy, and they offer them to the deities with dirt and impurities. This is not correct.

Cleaning any objects is similar to cleansing the dirt in our souls, it purifies our souls.

Clean fruits will bring a pleasant and fresh aroma, and enhance positive energy.

Offering fruits to the deities is not something that requires much attention, you can offer as many fruits as you like. After washing the fruits, arrange them neatly on a plate and place it in front of the deities.

In addition, when offering fruits to the deities, there are two things to avoid:

Avoid offering rotten or overripe fruits

Offering fruits before the deities is a reminder for people to understand cause and effect (karma) and to respect it.

The flowers represent goodness, while the fruits represent the result of goodness. Flowers blooming and bearing fruits symbolize the reciprocation of goodness. Only by advising people to do good can their lives be truly transformed.

In Buddhism, it is not superstition. Buddha is not a god, but an enlightened being. Buddha represents the past, present, and future. If sentient beings diligently cultivate, they can realize the Buddha Way.

In Buddhism, there are three types of practitioners: Arhats, Bodhisattvas, and Buddhas. Arhats belong to the Lesser Vehicle, while Bodhisattvas and Buddhas belong to the Great Vehicle. Attaining the state of “Buddha” is the most complete and perfect.

To avoid negative manifestations, disrespect, and creating negative karma, when offering fruits, we must ensure that they are fresh, intact, and not rotten.

Even if you discover any fruits that are rotten during the offering, promptly replace them with fresh ones.

Avoid offering fruits with a foul smell

Offering fruits to the deities does not require specific types of fruits. Usually, common fruits such as apples, bananas, lemons, oranges, grapes, watermelons, dragon fruits, etc., are acceptable. These fruits have a pleasant aroma, reasonable prices, and are easily accessible to most people.

However, there is one fruit – for example, durian – that has a strong odor that most people cannot tolerate. It is best not to offer it as it shows a lack of respect for the Triple Gem.

This information is for reference only.