The red exhibit above the Three Jewels altar symbolizes the compassionate spirit of the Buddha. This was when the Master first founded the religion, but after eight months, he changed it to a dark brown color. Regarding the meaning and reason for the change, he clearly stated in a passage:
“Previously, we worshipped the red exhibit as a relic left by the Buddha Master Tay An. But recently, many who worship the red exhibit have claimed to be of the same sect as us, acting improperly and contrary to the Buddha’s principles, so the entire religion has changed it back to a dark brown color. Furthermore, the monks have always used the dark brown color to represent their detachment from worldly affairs, and this color is a combination of all other colors, thus symbolizing the harmony of humanity, without distinction of race or individuality. Therefore, we use it in worship to represent the supreme spirit of Buddhism.” (See Worship Methods, p. 201, SGTVTB 2004)
Commentary on the Buddhist Sutras (1975)
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