Over the course of the last six months I have seen my practice slip in a number of ways with some being more blatant while others have been more subtle. I have noticed that, for some time now, I have not been bowing as frequently before the Buddharupa before or after formal practice and, although this came upon me slowly and did not stir me to act until now, I feel that it must have had real and far-reaching effects.
I had always wondered about the efficacy of this particular ritual and took it more or less on faith that it had a good reason. Even now I am unable to decisively say that bowing leads to this or does that but I have noticed a slackening in my dedication which seems to be concurrent with my failure to consistently make obeisance. So, I am taking it up again as a true practice and bringing my resistance, my inertia into awareness before bowing to the Buddha and then to the Triple Gem. Namo buddhaya.
Cattāri Brahmavihārā 
I agree that the practice of bowing is a useful one even if it is difficult to pin down the exact benefits — it is sort of like chanting or meditation in general because I perceive the benefits over time but when I try to put mileage on it, it just kind of slips away.
I find it is just as useful, if not more so, to bow slightly and offer anjali to friends and family, coworkers, etc. — not just bowing down to rupas or monks. I use it as an opportunity to offer up a sort of silent “prayer” or wish of well-being upon everyone… maybe you have an equivalent practice, or maybe not, but I figured I could share that thought in case it was useful.
Please be well, friend.
By: Hickersonia on 02/17/2014
at 4:43 pm