Expert: Joe McSorley - 2/3/2003

Question
In the Buddhism religion: In your opinion, Do superstitious rituals really work or are they just illusions? thank you for your time ...

Answer
Dear Mr. LaPlant,
When you ask if  “superstitious rituals really work”, then the answer would have to be ‘no' but many would claim they do by anecdotal evidence.  There is the placebo effect and wishful thinking involved in these rituals and there are many of all faiths that would claim that there is a true and empirical effect when evoking them.  There are no miracles in nature, it is strictly a human construct and though one might think that their ritual is an objective catalyst for an effect I would have to say that it is merely coincidental to the action.  So, again, no they don't work and it could fall under illusion but if someone does carry out a ritual and something coincidentally happens how do you argue against it?  They would claim it works, even if only one time in a thousand.
 Fundamentally speaking there should be no ritual or superstitions in Buddhism so this should not even be an issue, however, everyday Buddhism is rife with such beliefs and practices and is very problematic.  I don't know how these followers reconcile this with the teachings of the historical Buddha.
  Take care,
                   Joe