Question & Answer, Ven. K. Sri Dhammananda

Question: Why is incense offered to the Buddha?

Dear Master,

It has been great benefit and blessings to me to be able to buy most of the
books authored by you. I had taken the Triple Gems for almost 10 years now
but due to family commitment, was never able to find time to attend even a
single Dharma talk. I could only read from your books and gain much
knowledge from it. Your contributions that touch down in the hearts and
humble level understanding of laymen like me is truly highly commendable.

I would be grateful if you can tell me if this is one of the true and
amusing facts in the Buddha's life.

An ex-colleague's husband who was a Buddhist once undertook a recluse life
in one of the temples in Thailand for a month. Beside the Sangha life he
experienced as well as learning to chant and practice the code of conduct,
they were also taught about the Life of the Buddha. He told me that it is
actually not necessary to burn incense for the Buddha for it was a wrong
idea being brought down by folks during the Buddha's time.

The story goes like this. One day Buddha was residing under a tree doing
his meditation as usual. As the place was in bad condition, it was infested
with flies and mosquitoes everywhere. In order not to kill the insects one
of the 5 precepts - Do not kill) that hounded Him, he burnt some incense so
as to ward off the insects with its smoke. At that time, a few folks at the
nearby village was passing by and saw Buddha's actions at a distant and
from then, the thought of burning incense was passed down up till now.

I don't know how true this is but I find it really amusing and presume that
the folks actually didn't see clearly what the Buddha was trying to avoid.
I hope you would not feel offensive about it.

My apologies if my message has been intruding.

With Metta

XXXXXXXXX

Answer: 

Dear XXXXXXXXX, 

At the outset, greetings of peace, happiness, good health and long life to
your goodself and your family.

I am certainly amused by the story you just shared. The Buddha certainly did
not light incense to keep away insects. The practice of offering incense and
flowers is an ancient Indian practice to pay homage to great teachers. This
practice was adopted by Buddhists in ancient India as it is a good and
valuable practice.

The Buddha certainly did not need incense to keep the insects away as one
who has achieved Enlightenment can allow one's body to be subject to decay,
pain, etc but will not allow one's mind to disturbed by it. The Buddha went
forth fearlessly to tame the intoxicated elephant; Nalagiri, the bandit;
Angulimala, to mediate between two warring countries, etc. He certainly did
not need to be afraid of insects biting him.

This story related to you must have been misunderstood by the person who
related the story or the person who taught your friend's husband.

With the Blessings of the Noble Triple Gem.

Yours in the Dhamma,

Ven. K. Sri Dhammananda