A Guide to Shrine Offerings

One of the best methods to increase our faith in the Buddhas and to receive their blessings is to gaze at an image of a Buddha again and again, regarding it as an actual Buddha who is supremely kind to all living beings. By viewing images of Buddhas in this way, it is as if we are opening a window in our mind through which the blessings of the holy beings can enter. This special way of viewing Buddha images is based on wisdom, not ignorance, and functions to increase our faith and receive blessings.”

Geshe Kelsang Gyatso, Eight Steps to Happiness

Making Water Offerings to the Buddhas

The success of our meditation depends upon our making six preparations. Just as we need to prepare carefully for an examination or a dinner party if it is to be a success, so we need to prepare carefully for meditation if we are to experience good results.

– Geshe Kelsang Gyatso, The New Eight Steps to Happiness

One of the six preparatory practices we do daily at KMC Fort Lauderdale is arrange beautiful offerings to the Buddhas. Many Kadampa Buddhists also keep personal shrines at home and make these same offerings each day.


Prostrations

Begin by making three prostrations, and then say the prayers for going for refuge and generating Bodhichitta.

Going for Refuge

I and all sentient beings, until we achieve enlightenment,
Go for refuge to Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha (3x)

Generating Bodhichitta

Through the virtues I collect by giving and other perfections,
May I become a Buddha for the benefit of all. (3x)

Then say:

May the whole ground become completely pure
As level as the palm of my hand and as smooth as lapis lazuli
May all of space be filled with offerings from gods and men
Both set out and imagined like offerings of the all-good one.

Tea for Venerable Geshe-la

Next, make Geshe-la a cup of tea.  His tea is under the sink in the ritual prep room. Venerable Geshe-la once said he liked lapsang souchong, but any delightful tea made with love would please him. He does not take milk.


Water Bowl Offerings

Three Sets of Seven bowls are made daily in front of Je Tsongkhapa, Buddha Shakyamuni, and Dorje Shugden. In general, we make offerings to Buddha not because Buddha needs something from us, but because of the opening and enriching effect offering has on our heart. While physically pouring the water with great care and respect, mentally we imagine we offer much more than water.

1st bowl     we imagine offering nectar for drinking to all the Buddhas
2nd bowl    we offer water to wash their feet
3rd bowl    we offer flowers
4th bowl    we offer incense
5th bowl    we offer countless forms of light – candles, jewels, stars, the sun and moon
6th bowl    we anoint their body with perfume
7th bowl    we offer a great banquet of food and drink

(Note – during our pujas (chanted prayers) we make an eighth offering – music – but this is not normally represented as a water offering.)

1.    Take bucket from ritual prep room, and a designated shrine towel
2.    Empty water currently filling bowls on shrine and wipe bowls of excess water
3.    Empty bucket outside along side door as an offering to the hungry spirits
4.    Fill pitchers with water in kitchen
5.    Before filling bowls make sure they’re lined up straight. There should be a space about the size of a grain of rice.
6.    Pour water into bowls from left to right. The water levels should be even and filled about a finger width from the top of each bowl.
7.    Use shrine cloth to wipe away any spills

Dedication Prayers
With my body, speech and mind, humbly I prostrate,
And make offerings both set out and imagined.
I confess my wrong deeds from all time,
And rejoice in the virtues of all.
Please stay until samsara ceases,
And turn the Wheel of Dharma for us.
I dedicate all virtues to great enlightenment.

Additional Offerings


Additional gifts are prepared and offered on the shrine each month as a request to the Buddhas to bless our minds. You can offer flowers, chocolates, gifts, and anything beautiful! The jewel offerings on our shrine represent light offerings.

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Making Offerings to the Dharma Protector

Substance Offerings to Dorje Shugden

Traditionally five food offerings are made to the Dharma Protector, Dorje Shugden, each day: alcohol, tea, cakes, milk and curd. We also offer the Serkyum, which means “golden nectar”. This is usually in the form of tea and is the taller offering to the far left.


To prepare the offerings, gather the following items:
   Alcohol (in fridge – marked offerings) extra in cabinet opposite fridge
   Tea (in ritual prep room – cupboard below sink)
   Teapot (in ritual prep room)
   Cake/Cookies (in kitchen fridge – shelf marked offerings)
   Milk (in kitchen fridge – shelf marked offerings)
   Curd/yoghurt (in kitchen fridge – shelf marked offerings)

   Fill each glass about a finger width from the top
   To ensure the tea isn’t so hot that it breaks the glassware, fill the two tea offerings about 1/3 of the way with cool water (golden drink and tea)
   Place items in front of Dorje Shugden in this order: Serkyam containing the golden drink – far left, and the five food offerings: alcohol, tea, cakes, milk and curd

Torma Offerings

Tormas

A torma offering is a special offering of cake made in order to gain spiritual attainments. We can offer normal cakes, or if we want them to last longer we can make special cakes in symbolic forms. The tormas on the shrine at KMC Fort Lauderdale will be made of marzipan. We make special torma offerings for other special ritual prayers.

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