What guests should know while visiting this temple
Monks do not shake hands. The traditional greeting to a monk consists of hands held together in an attitude of prayer.
There is no physical contact with a woman. Monks accept things from a woman (of any age) using a receiving cloth.
When visiting a monk one should be properly and moderately dressed. Women should not wear shorts or anything revealing, but loose clothing that gives freedom of movement.
Monks should not touch money; any offerings of cash donations should be in an envelope and put it in the proper place or be given to the monk’s attendant.
Food offerings must be formally offered into monks hands (in case of women, on the receiving cloth). Monks should be left alone while eating. A monk does not eat after 12:00pm (Noon), he may consume drinks like sodas, tea, and coffee though.
Monks do not attend weddings, birthday parties, or anything that is for enjoyment. However, monks are asked to bless the couple after a wedding, also true for births, birthdays, funerals, & home blessings.
Traditionally, the head is considered high and the feet low. A monk’s head should never be touched, and one’s feet should never be pointed towards the monk, for this reason during meditation classes, your feet should not be stretched towards the monk or the Buddha shrine. When speaking to a monk you should never be standing over him.
The rules and customs concerning a monk’s behavior towards women are not meant as a prejudice. The nuns have the same customs directed towards men.
Such rules and etiquette are for the protection of the monks and the women, hence the protection of the Dhamma.
Shoes: leave all shoes in the area near the door or outside the shrine area; never enter the shrine area with shoes on.
Greetings: place your palms together in front of your heart and bow slightly as a proper gesture of either greeting or farewell to a monk. It is not mandatory, but very respectful and polite to do so. When greeting him, you don’t shake hands but clasp your hands as in prayer. Monks do not have any physical contact with women.
Appropriate dress: wearing revealing clothing, such as tank tops, short skirts, shorts, and the like is considered inappropriate attire in the temple and in shrine room settings.
Legs outstretched: it is considered impolite and disrespectful when seated on the floor or on a cushion to stretch the legs out and face the soles of the feet toward the shrine or monk. Please sit as comfortably as you can without pointing your feet frontwards.
Prostrations: you may notice some people doing three prostrations (either low bows or stretching out on the floor) when entering or leaving a shrine room or when a monk arrives or leaves. This is extremely respectful, and a personal gesture of special respect when done by a practitioner.
Stepping over: when moving through a crowded shrine room, make every effort not to step over the top of another person’s body (e.g., leg or foot) or dhamma items. When seated, if others are passing by, raise the knees to provide a pathway so they are not forced to step over you in any way. Stepping over is considered disrespectful and rude.