Temple: The Place of Worship in the Buddha’s Lifetime

Abstract

            An article entitled ‘Temple: The Place of Worship in the Buddha’s Lifetime’ aimed to study the meaning, nature, purpose of temple building and sappaya 7 principles and strengthen the temple into Place of Worship. The temple in the Buddhist era is a shady garden filled with trees. There is clear, cold water, a peaceful place, but crowded. It is not too far from the village. Buddha allowed the temple to be built as a place to live and meditation prayer. The temple is therefore a shady condition that is a great place to pay asceticism. In addition to consisting of a rich natural environment, it is also a good place to be. What strengthened the temple as an important place was the seven main principles of Sappaya, Àvàsa-sappàya: suitable abode, Gocara- sappàya: suitable resort, Bhassa - sappàya: suitable speech, Puggala - sappàya: suitable person, Bhojana-sappàya: suitable food, Utu-sappàya: suitable climate and Iriyàpatha- sappàya: suitable posture. The result of Sappàya in seven aspects makes the temple to remain a holy place and suitable for Dhamma practices to refine the mind. In the Buddha's lifetime, therefore, the temples were the center of the Buddhist propagation and the center of people's mind who wanted to seek the path to eliminate sufferings.