Bowing in Buddhism

Bowing is a common Buddhist practice in every tradition. People bow to an image of the Buddha, to teachers, to monks and nuns, and sometimes to each other. For a newcomer it can feel unfamiliar, so it helps to understand what a bow means.

What a bow expresses

A Buddhist bow is not worship of a god or of a statue. It is a gesture of respect and gratitude towards the Buddha, the Dharma and the Sangha, and towards the qualities they stand for: wisdom, compassion and purity. Bowing also works on the one who bows. Lowering the head is a simple way to set aside pride and the sense of self-importance, which Buddhist teaching sees as a source of suffering.

Many people find that bowing marks a shift. It is a way of arriving, leaving the busy mind behind and turning towards practice.

The threefold bow

In many traditions, people bow three times: once to the Buddha, once to the Dharma and once to the Sangha. A common form, found in Theravada practice, is the five-point bow, in which five points touch the floor: the forehead, both forearms and both knees.

To make it:

1. Kneel, sitting back on your heels.
2. Bring your palms together at your chest, in the gesture called añjali.
3. Raise your joined hands to your forehead.
4. Lower your hands to the floor in front of you and bend forward until your forehead touches the floor between them.
5. Rise back to kneeling with palms together, and repeat twice more.

Other traditions have their own forms. In Zen, people often make a standing bow from the waist with palms together. Tibetan practitioners may make full prostrations, stretching the whole body out on the floor, sometimes many times as a dedicated practice.

Bowing at home

You can bow at the start and end of meditation, in front of a home shrine if you have one. Move slowly and with attention, as you would in meditation. Let each bow be complete, not rushed. If kneeling is difficult, a standing bow with palms together is just as meaningful.

Bowing with awareness

The value of bowing lies in the attitude behind it. A bow done mechanically is just exercise. A bow done with attention and respect can soften the heart, deepen humility and remind you of the path you are walking.