Etiquette

While at a buddhist place of learning you may experience certain values and/or customs that are new, or different from what we are used to. Here are some useful pointers to help you orient yourself when visiting Budda House or another Buddhist centre.

1. Shoes are always left outside the gompa: shoes may be worn in other parts of Buddha House. Socks or clean jiffies are fine.
2. Appropriate Clothing: attire that is not too revealing or distracting. Head gear is considered disrespectful in the gompa. Neat casual dress is acceptable. Remember what looks modest when sitting on a chair, may not be so if you are sitting on the floor.
3. Avoid directing the soles of the feet towards any sacred object or towards the teacher: this is considered disrespectful.
4. Prostrations are not required of everyone: You will see older students making these at the beginning and end of teachings - at this time just stand and wait respectfully, and sit down when they do. If you wish to learn the way of doing prostrations, older students will be happy to demonstrate.
5. The greatest respect is shown to sangha:  As representing the Buddha and the transmitters of the lineage of teachings. Please stand when the teacher enters or leaves and sit down immediately after he or she sits down. If tea is served to all, wait for the tea blessing and for the teacher to take the first sip before drinking yourself.
6. The teacher will usually give opportunities for students to ask questions: Please try to express these simply (to help the interpreter, if applicable) or wait and discuss the point with other students. Don't engage in cross discussion with other students during the teaching.
7. Other people, both ordained and lay, also teach at Buddha House and while less formality may be required, generally respectful behavior should maintained at these times.
8. Monks and nuns should be addressed as "Venerable" or  with "Venerable" added before their name. Additional honorifics such as Geshe, Rinpoche, or Lama are reserved for those who have been granted these titles.
9. Great respect is shown to all holy objects, especially Dharma books (including the gompa prayer books). To avoid creating negative karma, Dharma material, including your own notebooks, should not be placed on the floor or on any low or dirty place, or under other objects, even Buddha statues. Ideally they should not be placed under a cushion without something such as a cloth book-cover beneath them. Dharma cassettes are similar to books.