Vandanā

vandanā (T. phyag 'tshal ba; C. lijing zhufo 敬諸佛). Translated as "prostration", "homage", "obeisance", etc. One of the seven branches of practice.

The Library of Wisdom and Compassion (Vol 2) sates:

Prostrating reduces our pride and increases our humility. Making the excellent qualities of the holy beings vivid in our minds, it strengthens our aspiration to practice the path to develop those same qualities ourselves. Prostrations are done mentally by remembering the good qualities of the Three Jewels, verbally by praising these qualities with our speech, and physically by bowing down to show our respect.

Sources

• Dalai Lama; Thubten Chodron (2018), The Foundation of Buddhist Practice, The Library of Wisdom and Compassion, Volume 2, Wisdom Publications