Making Offerings

Making Offerings

It has two subdivisions:

1. offerings based on what you have

2. mandala offering of all things

1: Offerings Based on What You Have

It has three subdivisions:

1. Five kinds of offerings

2. Eight kinds of offerings

3. Eight precious symbols offerings

1: Five Kinds of Offerings

Butter lamps, flowers, incense,

Pure food grains, and clean water,

In order to purify the deluded experiences of the five paths,

I offer to you Ӧpagmé, Buddha Limitless Light!

“Butter lamps, flowers, incense, Pure food grains, and clean water,”

What are the five kinds of offerings?

Butter lamp, incense, water, torma/food, and flowers. Each purifies the two experiences of the five paths.

“In order to purify the deluded experiences of the five paths,”

What are the five paths?

1. hell being path, 

2. hungry ghost path, 

3. animal path, 

4. human path, and 

5. god path. 

There is no demigod path as they are included in the god path and hungry ghost path. The upper part of the path of the demi-gods is the path of the gods and the lower part of the path of the demi-gods is the harm bringers, which is the path of the hungry ghosts. Each of the five paths have two experiences which are purified by the five offerings.

For those beings who are continuing on the five paths, there are the six or twelve deluded experiences.

For hell beings, there are the experiences of heat and cold.

For hungry ghosts, there are the experiences of hunger and thirst.

For animals, there is the experiences of stupidity and being mute.

For humans, there are the experiences of constant toil and poverty.

For demi-gods, there are the experience of conflict and fighting.

For the gods, there are the experiences of defeat and downfall.

Now, in what way do the five offerings purify the deluded experiences of the five paths?

Butter lamps purify the suffering of the hell realm.

The melted butter cools the heat of the hell realm and the wick warms the cold of the hell realm.

The flame of the butter subdues the hatred of the hell realm.

The clear light of the butter shows the expanse of great love which leads to enlightenment in the Pure Realm of Ӧpagmé.

The incense offering purifies the suffering of the hungry ghosts realm.

The collection of the incense ingredients satisfies the hunger.

The pleasant smell satisfies the thirst.

The light of the burning incense dries up the ocean of desire and attachment.

The smoke shows the expanse of great generosity, which leads to enlightenment in the western Blissful Pure Realm.

The pure water offering purifies the suffering of the animal realm.

By the water, stupidity becomes clear and clean.

When we offer the water, we put in some amrita ritual medicine inside.

The added medicinal ingredients make speech come from the beings that are mute.

The cleanness of the water clears the darkness of ignorance.

The continuous stream of water shows the expanse of primordial wisdom, which leads to enlightenment in the eastern Pure Realms of manifest joy.

You can offer these everyday. You can buy six bowls. Ideally gold, silver, copper, or whatever you can use. Keep them very clean. There are 6 for the 6 realms and the 7th for the bardo beings. Bardo beings are all of the 6 realms.

The torma offering - also called the food offering - purifies the suffering of the human realms.

When the grains of the torma are mixed with the water, the desire of humans is satisfied.

[For example, when Tibetans eat tsampa, we usually mix it with tea or water, satisfying the desire of humans.]

There are decorations on torma that have different meanings. The butter decoration of torma clears sickness.

The good taste destroys the prison of jealousy. There are often torma with many heads of the individuals or multiple deities. The horn shows the extensive expanse which leads to enlightenment in the southern realms of pure glory.

The flower offering purifies the suffering of demi-gods and gods.

By the lack of any stains, the flowers benefit the gods to be free from the suffering of defeat and downfall.

By the radiant light of the blossom, the demi-god sufferings of conflict and fighting is purified.

By the pedals, there is overcoming of pride and laziness.

By space in the stem, it shows the great peaceful expanse of the northern pure land of fulfilled action.

There are five realms, five poisons, and twelve deluded experiences all purified by the five offerings.

“I offer to you Ӧpagmé, Buddha Limitless Light!”

Now, to whom are the offerings made? Where are we offering them? 

We know what we offer and the benefits of offering. This is the gathering of deities of Limitless Light, to whom we offer.

How do we offer these?

There is the general way of really offering - the offering of the actual objects. If you have these five things, you can offer them.

Second, is the contemplation offering. This is the visualized offering of countless objects imagined. The five offering goddesses are holding the five offerings. Imagine all sentient beings offering all of the objects to limitless retinues.

You can do the five gestures/mudras of the five offerings. [See appendix for images of the mudras]

2: Eight Kinds of Offerings

Beautiful forms, melodious sounds, fragrant smells,

delicious tastes, soft touch, supreme teachings,

Elegant dance, and precious minerals.

In order to naturally purify the eight deluded consciousnesses,

I offer to you Ӧpagmé, Buddha Limitless Light.

What are the eight kinds of offerings?

Beautiful forms, melodious sounds, fragrant smells, delicious tastes, soft touch, supreme teachings, elegant dance, and precious minerals. Each purifies the eight consciousness.

Beautiful forms are offered like the lights that appear from the butter lamp, the lights of mirrors, the light of the crystal balls, light of the sun and moon, and so forth. Melodious sound offerings are offered like the sound of drums, bells, conch, flute, lute, tambura, small bell, and songs. Fragrant smells offered are like sandalwood, camper, incense, medicinal herbs, aromatic substances from rocks, and so forth.

Delicious tastes are offered like the three white offerings (yogurt, milk, and butter), sweet offering (sugar, honey, and molasses), fruits, sweet cheese, cottage cheese, the nine types of grains of torma. Soft touch offerings are offered like silk clothing, cotton (usually orange), and rainbow silk brocades. The supreme teaching offerings are things like volumes of scriptures with the magical letters, the four doors of Bön, and the treasures of the Buddhas and their commentaries.

The flexible elegant dance, soft, coiling, flowing, joyful, smiling, etc. are the elegant dance offerings. Precious mineral offerings are like gold, crystal, coral, iron, sapphire, lapis lazuli, etc.

As for the supreme teaching offerings are things like volumes of scriptures with the magical letters, there are forty magical letters.

Forty Magical Letters: These are the thirty consonants plus the six vowels and four special characters.

Why are these offerings made?

“In order to naturally purify the eight deluded consciousnesses,”

This is why there are eight offerings. This means they are offered so the deluded appearances of the eight consciousnesses are naturally purified. 

What are the eight consciousnesses?

Eight Consciousnesses:

1. Eye consciousness

2. Ear consciousness

3. Nose consciousness

4. Tongue consciousness

5. Body consciousness

6. Mind consciousness

7. Afflictive mind consciousness

8. Universal ground consciousness

How are the deluded appearances of the eight consciousnesses purified by the eight offerings?

By the offering of form, the apprehended object of form and the mind that apprehends form are both purified (subject and object). From the mind that apprehends form recognizing its own nature, the object and the mind are liberated from it’s own nature.

So, we have the object and we have the apprehending mind - the mind and the object. We have one grasping the other. That grasping or that delusion by ignorance are freed from the delusion of grasping - not only the object of offering but also the mind. The object of form and subject of mind then naturally recognize their own nature. We know the reality of the object of form and the subject of mind.

By the offering of sound, the apprehended object of sound and the mind that apprehends sound are both purified by the mind that apprehends sound recognizing it’s own nature. The apprehension of sound being pleasant or unpleasant are liberated in it’s own state.

By the offering of smell, the apprehended object of smell and the mind that apprehends smells are both purified by the mind that apprehends smell recognizing it’s own nature. The apprehension of smell being fragrant or foul smelling are liberated in it’s own state.

By the offering of taste, the apprehended object of taste and the mind that apprehends tastes are both purified by the mind that apprehends taste recognizing it’s own nature. The apprehension of taste being delicious or disgusting are liberated in it’s own state.

By the offering of touch (bodily sensation), the apprehended object of touch and the mind that apprehends touch are both purified by the mind that apprehends touch recognizing it’s own reality. The apprehension of touch being soft or rough are liberated in it’s own state.

By the offering of teachings, the apprehended object of the words and meaning of scripture (four doors of Bön, and the fifth treasures) and the mind that apprehends phenomena are both purified. From the mind that apprehends phenomena recognizing its own nature the apprehension of phenomena being pure or impure are liberated in its own state.

By the offering of dance, the apprehended object of movement and the mind that apprehends movement are both purified. From the parts of afflictive emotions of the mind that apprehends movement and the mind that apprehends movement their nature is realized as the display of emptiness. The dualistic apprehension of subject and object is naturally liberated.

By the offering of precious minerals, the karmic traces accumulated from the apprehended object and the karmic traces by the apprehending mind being liberated in its own state. The suffering of karma is liberated.

This is how the deluded eight consciousnesses are purified through offering according to the subject and object.

To whom are the prayers offered? 

“I offer to you Ӧpagmé, Buddha Limitless Light.”

This means that the offerings are made to the eyes, ear, nose, tongue, pure body, and enlightened mind of the deities of Limitless Light. As the apprehended objects of the six consciousnesses are the mind that apprehends the essence of self-liberation by making the eight offerings we can get the blessing.

How do we offer?

We can do the actual offerings or we can make drawings, constructions, something out of barley or PlayDoh, etc. Second, we can visualize the offerings by generating hundreds of thousands of offerings presented to the deities.

3: Eight Precious Symbols Offerings

Lotus, vase, golden fish,

Victory banner, white conch, endless knot,

Thousand-spoked white parasol and wheel,

In order to get your qualities

I offer to you Ӧpagmé, Buddha Limitless Light.

What are the eight auspicious symbols?

Lotus, vase, golden fish, victory banner, white conch, endless knot, 1,000 spoked white parasol and wheel. 

Offering of lotus flowers brings benefits in the future to having a lotus seat in the next life.

The lotus flower is without blemish and without stain. Just as the lotus goddess offered the lotus cushion to Tonpa Shenrap, I too offer the most beautiful lotus cushion to the gathering of the deities of Limitless Light so that in the future, I get a pure lotus cushion.

Offering of the vase of pure nectar benefits in the future an Enlightened neck of all 84,000 teachings.

The jewel vase - Just as the vase goddess offered a golden vase filled with nectar to Buddha Tonpa Sherab, we offer the golden vase filled with nectar to the gathering of deities of Limitless Light so that in the future I get a neck like the golden vase so that the nectar of the 84,000 teachings continuously flow.

Offering of the golden fish benefits never being separated from the teachings like a fish in water.

The golden fish with turquoise fins swimming in the pond of precious jewels - Just as the golden fish goddess offer liberation upon seeing the golden fish to Buddha Tonpa Shenrab, I too offer liberation upon seeing the golden fish to the Buddhas of Limitless Light so that in the future, just as the fish remain in water, I remain with the teachings and the positive qualities of the teachings.

Offering of the victory banner benefits in the future conquering evil forces.

The victory banner over the demons of afflictive emotions - Just as the victory banner goddess offered the conquest over the demons banner, I too offer conquest over demon victory banner to the Buddhas of Limitless Light so that in the future I get the pure body that subdues the unruly demons.

Offering the melodious sound of the white conch benefits in the future pure speech that clears the suffering of cyclic existence.

The white conch, spiraled to the right (Bönpo) - This is often important in the Buddhism and Hinduism. Just as the goddess offered the melodious sounding white conch to Buddha Tonpa Shenrab, I too offer melodious sounding conch to the gathering deities of Limitless Light so that in the future I get pure speech that clears the suffering of cyclic existence. The conch is a symbol of pure speech.

Offering the endless knot having natural rainbow light benefits in the future the wisdom of knowing the reality just as it is and the wisdom of knowing all existence. 

The precious endless knot, radiating rainbow light - just as the endless knot goddess the endless knot having natural rainbow light to Buddha Tonpa Shenrab, I too offer the endless knot of natural rainbow light to the Buddhas of Limitless Light so that in the future I get the wisdom of knowing reality just as it is and wisdom of knowing all existence. This is the wisdom based on the reality of phenomena and knowing the phenomena. The endless knot is the symbol of the enlightened mind and of enlightened beings.

Offering the 1,000 spoked wheel benefits in the future rule over the 3,000-fold universe continually turning the wheel of the teachings for all sentient beings.

A wheel with one thousand spokes - Just as the wheel goddess offer the gold 1,000 spoke wheel to Buddha Tonpa Shenrab, I too offer a golden 1,000 spoked wheel to the gathering of deities of Limitless Light so that in the future, I rule over the 3,000-fold universe, continuously turning the wheel of the teaching for all sentient beings. The spoked wheel is the symbol of the thousand spoke universe and continuous teaching.

Offering of the 1,000 spoked white parasol spinning over the head benefits in the future I become more eminent of all and become an object of respect.

The white parasol with a beautiful jewel topped ornament that spins by itself - Just as the parasol goddess offered the great parasol spinning over the head to Buddha Tonpa Shenrab, I too offer a great parasol to the gathering of deities of Limitless Light so that in the cute I become the most eminent of all and become the object of respect.

To whom are these offerings made and why do we offer them?

“In order to get your qualities I offer to you Ӧpagmé, Buddha Limitless Light.”

We offer these eight to Ӧpagmé, Buddha Limitless Light in order to get the qualities of Buddha Limitless Light.

Notice that this is a different order - we make these offerings to receive these positive qualities of the marks and signs of the Buddhas. These are the cooperating causes of qualities of the marks and sign of the Buddhas.

How do we make the offerings?

The actual offerings are made through the objects, the drawings, sculptures, etc. If you don’t have these substances, then you manifest them through your mind.

2: Mandala Offering of All Things

The primordially, naturally Pure Realm of the three thousand-fold universe,

Mount Meru, continents, lakes, along with everything desirable,

In order to get the supreme Enlightened Bodies and Primordial Wisdom,

I offer all of this to you Ӧpagmé, Buddha Limitless Light.

In this way, first, what is offered?

“The primordially, naturally Pure Realm of the three thousand-fold universe, Mount Meru, continents, lakes, along with everything desirable,”

3,000-fold universe: 

Mount Meru, seven golden mountains, seven lakes, four continents, eight sub-continents, boundaries, and sun and moon make up one universe. There are 3,000 universes in total.

What is the cause of these 3,000 universes?

Four Causes of the 3,000-fold universe:

1. General merit/karma of all sentient beings. 

2. Compassion of the Buddhas. 

Through these two the universe arises.

The abhidharma kosha, about the universe, is a very big subject. By understanding this, we have a better sense of what it means to offer the mandala. We can explore this at a later time.

Mount Meru:  Sits in the center of the universe, surrounded by seven golden mountains, and seven lakes. Four continents rest in each of the four directions. Besides each continent are two subcontinents of the same shape. All of these together make up a single universe.

Four Continents:

1. East Continent of Superior Body, white, half moon shaped, and vase full of treasure is the precious symbol.

2. Northern Continent of Unpleasant Sound, green, square shaped, and tree giving fruit that provides all with perfect nourishment is the precious symbol.

3. Western Continent of Utilizing Cattle, red, circle shape, the cow that provides endless milk that fulfills endless wishes is the precious symbol.

4. Southern Continent of Rose Apple (where we are living now), blue, human shoulder blade shaped, a jewel is the precious symbol.

Each of these continents have two small sub-continents to the left and right.

Eight sub-continents:

1. Right and left of the East Continent: “long body” and “short body” in Zhang Zhung language

2. Right and left of the North Continent: Jockte and Jopte

3. Right and left of the West Continent: Marshi and Tingshi 

4. Right and left of the South Continent: Carlo and Tenjo

Seven Golden Mountains: 

The mountains are in a square pattern. Mountain, and lake, mountain, and lake extending outward seven times in a square pattern around mount Meru.

Surrounding Iron Mountain:

The last mountain that forms the perimeter of the universe. 

The Gods live above, the nagas below, the humans in between.

“In order to get the supreme Enlightened Bodies and Primordial Wisdom,”

Why do we offer this mandala?

In order to get the supreme enlightened bodies and primordial wisdom. In order to accomplish the two enlightened bodies; the Reality Body (Dharmakaya) and Form Body (Sambogakaya / Nirmanakaya) and two Primordial Wisdoms ( Wisdom of knowing the reality just as it is and the wisdom of knowing all existence.)

“I offer all of this to you Ӧpagmé, Buddha Limitless Light.”

To whom we make this offering to?

Ӧpagmé, Buddha Limitless Light.