Prostrations in Buddhism

In Buddhism, kneeling three times is not an empty ritual, is a simple and conscious exercise. Prostrations (bowing) in Buddhism are physical gestures of reverence, humility, and gratitude directed towards the Triple Gem—the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha—to accumulate merit and reduce ego. They involve bowing with hands and knees on the ground, sometimes full-body, to purify negative karma, cultivate devotion, and prepare for meditation. 

The first prostration:

Buddha. Not worshiping figures.

Appreciating the qualities of enlightenment, wisdom, and full consciousness that any human being can develop.

Second prostration: Dhamma. Respecting the path of life that teaches us to see reality as it is.

Reduce greed, hatred, and confusion.

The third prostration:

Sangha. Appreciating those who preserve, practice, and pass down the teachings with discipline and integrity. Significance and Purpose 

• Humility and Ego-reduction: Bowing acts as a direct antidote to pride, helping practitioners overcome the "I am better than others" mentality.

• Purification: Prostrations are a key practice for purifying karmic obstacles created by negative actions of body, speech, and mind.

• Veneration: It is a way to express gratitude and respect for the Buddha and his teachings.

• Spiritual Training: Full-body prostrations are used to cultivate mindfulness and physical flexibility. 

The point is simple .

What is subjected is not the body.

The one trained is the ego.

Small gestures.

Big meaning.

Silent practice for a more conscious life.