How to Be Respectful While Visiting a Buddhist Temple

Visiting a Buddhist temple in Asian countries can be a great cultural experience for a tourist. Although this may be a completely new experience for you and your traveling companions, there are a few things to keep in order to have a smooth and respectful visit.

Instructions

1. Remove shoes at the entrance before entering the temple. This is fairly easy to remember since there will usually be a pile of shoes, shoe racks or cubbies off to the side.

2. Remind children and your companions that quiet conversation and respect for your surroundings are important in every religious building.

3. Refrain from eating and drinking in the temple.

4. Check that your feet are never pointing directly at a statue of Buddha inside a temple or anywhere else. It is considered disrespectful, so be sure to point your feet either away from the Buddha or in a "V" shape.

5. Plan picture taking in a temple or near a Buddha statue so that you and your traveling companions are not leaning against or climbing on the statue. This kind of disrespect will often be met with verbal reprimands.

6. Observe the customs concerning monks and women. This includes that a woman can never touch a monk, can never touch a monk's robes and cannot hand anything directly to a monk.

7. Avoid interrupting meditation sessions and religious services that are occurring during your visit. This can be done by checking the schedule of the temple ahead of time.

Tips & Warnings

• A smile can go a long way in communications and when misunderstandings occur. Oftentimes, smiling is a sign that everyone is trying to be respectful.