The teachings in Buddhism is like the heartwood. The ceremonies and art are like the bark and the sapwood. A tree can stand strong and tall only if it has all the heartwood, the sapwood, and the bark.

Buddhist  ancestors understood this concept well and so they organized the ceremonies in Buddhism such as the chanting of the Buddhist metaphysics (Abhidhamma) at funerals, chanting in happy ceremonies, walking clockwise around religious buildings to pay respect, etc., in order to attract people to come and participate in Buddhist ceremonies, which lead to the studies of the teachings and using them in real life.