Buddhist symbols and etiquette

Hondo: The Buddha Hall, where services are held.
Naijin: The inner sanctuary (often mistakenly called the "altar")
Nokotsudo: The place to place ashes of the deceased.

The Buddha (Buddha means awakened one,
Enlightened One, teacher) was the historical
being named Siddhartha Gautama who lived
about 566 BCE to 486 BCE At the age of 35, he
gained insight into the true nature of existence.
For the next 45 years, until his death at age 80,
he taught the answers to humans' inescapable
problems such as death, old age, sickness,
separation from loved ones, and so on. All his
teachings are focused at understanding human
problems through insight into the changing
nature of existence. The Buddha's teaching is
not based on authority, doctrines, creeds, belief
or anything supernatural. Everything in
Buddhism is explained by causes and conditions
that are continuously changing in law of impermanence.

Buddhist art is expressed in the decorative
scheme of the altar. Everything on the altar has
a meaning. These are artistic representations or
symbols of particular Buddhist teachings. The
altar or symbols are not necessary to have in a
Buddhist temple, but when these symbols are
understood, much meaning is expressed.