The Fire Puja Offerings

Fire Puja offerings are ritual offerings of smoke, smell and flaming made Offering to the Four Guests:-

• First, to all Buddhas and Bodhisattvas throughout the ten directions (ordinate and cardinal directions plus above and below) and the three times (past, present and future) as well as to the Yidam deities of all the Mandalas.
• Secondly, you are offering to the Dharmapalas, the Dharma protectors , wisdom Dakinis, and very high spiritual gods who protect the Dharma.
• The third class of guests includes all sentient beings, particularly local worldly deities and elemental worldly spirits.
• Finally, you are offering to hungry ghosts and to beings with whom you are karmically indebted.

There are three different types of fire-related pujas:-

1. Smoke Offering (Sang)
2. Smell Offering (Sur)
3. Fire Offering (Jinsek)

The major principle of fire Pujas is offering. One casts onto a fire and flame a dry powder of juniper, rhododendron, and other plants, mixed with the three white [milk, yogurt and butter] and the three sweets [honey, molasses and white sugar]. You put the food and whatever ingredients in the fire. As the fire burns it, it is totally consumed and in this way it is offered.

In the "Sang" - You are offering the smoke, in the "Sur" - You are offering the smell or scent. In the "Jinsek" - You are offering fire itself, the flame itself, and burning itself.  If one is making the sang and sur offerings, consistency is important as the guests for whom the offerings are made come to anticipate the ceremony. 

However, the inability to carry out the practice daily or even weekly should not dissuade one from making the offering as often as one is able. Also, it is always possible to make donations to the lamas at the monasteries, temple to carry out the practices on the behalf of yourself or others, including whatever prayers, Puja you wish.

Smoke offerings (Sang) 

Sang is mainly dedicated to what is referred to as “elemental spirits”– the gods of the mountain, the gods of the sky, the gods of the river, and the gods of all aspects– and “local deities.

Though only seen through expansive and refined sense perceptions, we can experience these classes of beings through observing signs in the natural world. including animals, features of the land, and weather patterns.  In addition to these particular guests, we also offer to the aforementioned “four guests”.

Where and when is Sang best offered

Sang is generally practiced in the daylight hours (usually before noon) and offered near one’s dwelling or on the top of a mountain. It can be offered anywhere that one wishes to renew and repair the connection with the elemental constituents of the area. 

The offering and intention create the causes and conditions for harmonious internally among the beings that inhabit the place, as well as externally in the environment itself. In this way, it can be an important step in the process of purifying gross and subtle levels of environmental pollution.  

The offering can also effect change in the experience of the beings that inhabit the place, for example, healing discord in one’s family or pacifying animals and pests.

What is offered

It is very important for the Sang offering to be clean. The offering of the short morning fire Puja can be quite small, a few teaspoons of the “sangdze” (Tibetan word literally means offering substance) is sufficient, though elaborate versions can consist of 10 or more large trays of heaped offerings along with beer and wine.  We then infinitely expand the offerings by visualizing them as billowing clouds that fill the extent of space.

What substance to offer

The offering substance, consists of a mixture of “the three white” and “the three sweet”

The three white substances are  flour, butter, yogurt.

The three sweet substances are  sugar, molasses, and honey.

Other substances are included of incense, 5 colored cloths, medicine, alcohol, and precious stones or jewels. 

What not to offer

No onion, garlic, meat, or eggs. A minor eggs ingredient that has made in some baked goods can be allowed.

Smell or scent offering (Sur)

Is mainly dedicated to the unseen beings and spirits that including the hungry ghosts that with whom you have a karmic debts.

Where and when is Sur best offered

Offered in locations similar to those of Sang.

Typically offered in the afternoon or evening. 

Offerings and prayers are given on behalf of the deceased loved ones throughout the entire 49 days that they may exist in the intermediate Bardo state. It is a common practice among Tibetan Buddhists to make personal offerings for their deceased loved ones to relieve  from attachment to their previous existence and facilitate an auspicious rebirth.  

What is offered

It is ideally consists of all kinds of food and drink that beings desire, including meat and alcohol.  Vegetarian food will be ideally and a better way of offering. In this way one can practice compassion and Bodhichita by abstaining of killing and animals scarified.

As with any practice, the merit generated is multiplied by the number of people who participate in the chanting or donation of offerings.  Everyone is welcome to assist in the preparations of the fire and offerings. This can include procuring the wood as well as purchasing the food.

Fire offering ( Jinsek )

Fire Puja, or fire offering, is a ritual practice of offering into the fire, a ritual of generously burning offerings, using the fire element to accomplish an enlightened action quickly and powerfully. 

According to the secret Vajrayana teachings include the practice of Jinsek. Every item offered in burning Pujas is good for some purpose.

What substance to offer

By offerings grains pacify sickness and to give strength.

By offerings crepe grass to gain healthy long life.

By offerings Kusha grass to purify pollutions.

By offerings butter to gain wealth.

There are various substances that are offered to the deity during the fire Puja. Each mentioned substance has the potential power to affect your life. Like this, all the substances offered are to actualize different potentials and types of success.

There are four Jinseks of fire Pujas are performed to accomplish the enlightened activities. Each Jinsek is performed by a different lama and corresponds with specific colors, directions, times of day and energies.  The benefits of performing Jinseks, or even making a connection with them, are immense, both relatively and ultimately.

The four Jinseks practices 

1) Pacifying (Zhiway Jinsek in the morning)

"Heals imbalances of physical elements that result in sickness; removes negative energy for us personally and the world in general; pacifies karmic defilements of countless lifetimes and liberates us from unwanted circumstances."

2) Wrathful (Drakpo Jinsek in the evening )

"All enemies, obstructed and those who bring harm both to worldly life and the path of enlightenment are eliminated and liberated.

3) Magnetizing (Wang-gi Jinsek in the afternoon)

"Any worldly desirable qualities and glorious qualities of the Dharma path, such as meditative experience, realization and enlightened wisdom qualities are magnetized and brought under one's control."   

4) Enriching (Gyaybay Jinsek in the morning) 

"Longevity, merit, glory, wealth, splendor, powerful influence, fame, good reputation, wisdom and all enlightened qualities are enriched and expanded."

Generally, the burning Puja is offered at the end of great nearing retreats, three-year retreats, or short retreats of the enlightened being deities. These retreats are done with mantra recitation that brings you closer to the deity. 

The fire Puja is offered to restore parts of the practice that were left out, or mantras that have been incorrectly recited or mixed up, performed with unclear concentration. It also generally purifies defilements and negative karma.

*Footnote

For those who had received the empowerment of this Tantric practice, you are reminded not intentionally or unintentionally to disclose the mantra to the public or anyone who may not have the empowerment or permission to practice, and by disclosing the mantra intentionally or unintentionally is a form of breaking your Tantric Samaya vows to the lineage masters and Dharma protectors. 

Please consult your Guru or a qualified lineage master for Vajrayana practice! Should a devotee even want to start studying and contemplating the Vajrayana practice, then it is truly necessary to first have completed the preliminaries and to be certain and sure that Bodhicitta has arisen and developed in one’s mind.

Vajrayana features countless skillful and powerful methods which, if they are practiced in the proper way, can make the process of accumulation and purification incredibly swift and direct. It is absolutely necessary to have the pure motivation and to know that Vajrayana practice is not carried out to increase one’s own ego, power and self-interest.

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Thank you for reading, may you find peace and great bliss. With your support it helps to spread the Buddha’s precious teachings and turning the Dharma wheels in the world.

Aspiration For Bodhichitta

For those in whom the precious Bodhichitta has not arisen

May it arise and not decrease

But increase further and further.

Dedication of Merit

By this merit may we obtain omniscience then.

Having defeated the enemies wrong-doings.

May we liberate migrators from the ocean of existence.

With its stormy waves of birth, old age, sickness and death.

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The Sacred Universe of The Buddhas - Mandala

Mandalas in Tibet, within the tradition of Tantric Buddhism, are sacred geometric figures that represent the Universe according to the Vajrayana Buddhism. Mandalas have complex geometrical shapes and it has become a generic term for any diagram, chart or geometric pattern that represents the cosmos metaphysically. 

The Mandala is also a part of Hindu Tantrism and in other traditions like North American Indians, but this article will only focus on the Buddhist Mandala. 

Mandala comes from Sanskrit meaning "circle." Even though it may be dominated by squares or triangles, a Mandala has a concentric structure. Mandalas are far more than geometrical figures, however. For Tantric Buddhists, they are rich with symbolism and sacred meaning. In fact, the etymology of the word "Mandala" suggests not just a circle, but a "container of essence."

A Mandala becomes a sacred area that serves for deities and a collection point of universal forces. By mentally entering a Mandala and proceeding to its center, a person is symbolically guided through the cosmos to the essence of reality.

In Tibetan Buddhism, contemplation of sacred images is central to religious ritual, and a Mandala is one of the most important of these sacred images. A Tibetan Mandala is usually made with careful placement of colored sand, and accordingly is known in Tibetan as "dul-tson-kyil-khor", or Mandala of the colored powders. 

The symbolism of the Mandala  in the tradition of Vajrayana Buddhism, Mandalas are rich with symbolism that evokes various aspects of Buddhist teaching. This is part of what makes the creation of a Mandala a sacred act, for as they work, the monks are imparting the Buddha's teachings. In the Tibetan Buddhism, Mandalas have been developed into a sand painting. They are also a key part of * Anuttarayoga Tantra meditation practice. 

* Anuttarayoga Tantra or Highest Yoga Tantra is a term used in Tibetan Buddhism.  In accordance with the three lineages of Kagyu, Sakya and Gelug of Tibetan Buddhism, Anuttarayoga Tantra is the highest of four classes and is associated with the route to enlightenment.  

Nyingma tradition and the teachings of Dzongchen or the Great perfection is the Highest Tantra. Nyingma lineage is the oldest of the four major schools of Tibetan Buddhism, and founded by the great Indian master of Guru Rinpoche, Padmasambhava who came to Tibet in the eighth century C.E.

Footnote

The practice of Anuttarayoga Tantra in the Vajrayana tradition of Buddhism is characterized by the requirement of empowerment from a qualified Guru, Lama, use of ritual techniques, and the practice of various meditative and subtle body yogas, to effect personal transformation and to attain enlightenment through the realization of the mind stream as a Meditational Deity, or a Yidam. Mandalas have complex geometrical shapes and are often used for meditation. 
For more teachings of the Tantra, please visit and click here

Construction of the sacred Mandala

The basic form of most Mandala is a square with four gates containing a circle with a center point. Each gate is in the general shape of a "T".  The process of constructing a Mandala is a sacred ritual. It is a meditative, painstaking process that can take days or even weeks to complete. Before a monk may participate in the construction of a Mandala, he must undergo a lengthy period of artistic and philosophical study. 

Commonly , there are four monks are working together to construct a Mandala. The mandala is divided into quadrants with one monk assigned to each. Midway through the process, each monk receives an assistant who helps fill in the colors while the primary monk continues to work on detailed outlines.

Mandalas are constructed from the center outward, beginning with a dot in the center. With the placement of the center dot, the mandala is consecrated to a particular Buddha or Deity. This Buddha or Deity will usually be depicted in an image over the center dot, although some Mandalas are purely geometric.

The symbolizes of the sacred Mandala
Lines are then drawn through the center dot to the four corners, creating triangular geometric patterns. These lines are then used to construct a square "palace" with four gates. The monks usually keep to their own quadrant at this point.

From the inner square, the monks move outward in a series of concentric circles. Here the monks work in tandem, moving all around the mandala. They wait until each section is entirely completed before moving outward together. This ensures that balance is always maintained.

Outside the square temple is several concentric circles. The outermost circle is usually decorated with stylized scroll work resembling a ring of fire. This ring of fire symbolizes the process of transformation humans must undergo before being able to enter the sacred territory within. It both bars the uninitiated and symbolizes the burning of ignorance.

The next circle inward is a ring of thunderbolt or diamond scepters, which stands for indestructibility and illumination. This is followed by a circle of eight graveyards, representing the eight aspects of human consciousness that bind a person to the cycle of rebirth. Finally, the innermost ring is made of lotus leaves, signifying religious rebirth.

The Five Dhyani Buddhas Mandala

The square structure in the middle of a mandala is a palace for the resident deities and a temple containing the essence of the Buddha. The square temple's four elaborate gates symbolize a variety of ideas, including:
- The four boundless thoughts: loving-kindness, compassion, sympathy and equanimity

- The four directions: south, north, east and west

Within the square palace or temple are images of deities, which are usually the * Five Dhyani Buddhas (the Great Buddhas of Wisdom). The iconography of these Buddhas are rich in symbolism in itself. Each of the Five Dyani Buddhas represents a direction (center, south, north, east and west), cosmic element (like form and consciousness), earthly element (ether, air, water, earth and fire), and a particular type of wisdom. 

Each Buddha is empowered to overcome a particular evil, such as ignorance, envy or hatred. The Five Dyani Buddhas are generally identical in appearance, but are each represented iconography with a particular color, mudra (hand gesture), and animal. See the article on the Five Dyani Buddhas for more information.


In the center of the mandala is an image of the chief Buddha or Deity, who is placed over the center dot described above. Because it has no dimensions, the center dot represents the seed or the center of the universe. 

*For more detailed of the Five Dhyani Buddhas, please visit our article as follows:-
http://max-tibetanbuddhism.blogspot.my/search?q=Dhyani+Buddhas+

The Destruction of The San Mandala

Although some Mandalas are painted and serve as an enduring object of contemplation, the traditional Tibetan sand Mandala, when completed, is deliberately destroyed. The destruction of a sand mandala is also highly ceremonial. Even the Deity syllables are removed in a specific order along with the rest of the geometry until at last the mandala has been dismantled. 

The sand is collected in a jar which is then wrapped in silk and transported to a river (or any place with moving water), where it is released back into nature. This symbolizes the ephemerality of life and the world.

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Do you earnestly cherish our devoted work? Assuming this is the case, we are delighted that you are finding our blog useful and valuable. Would you consider making a donation for our Buddhist research and development?  

We need your help to secure the future of scholarly interaction with Buddhism. Since our very first publication of Dharma works and activities in the year 2008, we had been effortlessly providing free distribution of Dharma posts and articles throughout the previous 10 years.  We have exceptionally constrained supports and do not receive subsidized or funding from people in general. 


Please help us and to develop our Dharma activities that will not only benefit you, but to all Dharma readers on the planet. Please consider showing your support. Your generosity will certainly help us to enhance our work and to accomplish for a better and brighter prospect to come. 

Thank you for reading, may you find peace and great bliss. With your support it helps to spread the Buddha’s precious teachings and turning the Dharma wheels in the world.

Aspiration For Bodhichitta
For those in whom the precious Bodhichitta has not arisen
May it arise and not decrease
But increase further and further.

Dedication of Merit
By this merit may we obtain omniscience then.
Having defeated the enemies wrong-doings.
May we liberate migrators from the ocean of existence.
With its stormy waves of birth, old age, sickness and death.

*Note
I do not own or infringe any copyright of the picture(s).
Picture(s) courtesy and credit to the rightful distributors and or studios.
Picture(s) is/are intended for editorial use only.

Auspicious and inauspicious numbers in the Tibetan Culture

Numbers have different meanings in different cultures, especially the Chinese, the number of 3, 6, 8, 9 are always the most favorable numbers and the Chinese had embraced it, adopted it and even applying in their daily lives. The Chinese believed these numbers have the auspicious meanings that can bring favorable results for success, prosperity, wealth and good health.

What about the Tibetan culture and belief? Is there any auspicious or inauspicious numbers that had massively influenced the Tibetan ways of life, culture and religions? Of course, they are. For instance, 13 is a lucky and holy number for Tibetan people.

In Tibetan culture, the odd numbers are always regarded as an auspicious number by local Tibetans. "6" may well be considered as a lucky number as number that multiple of "3". Tibetans would always deal with some important matters or travel to some place far from home on odd days, while even numbers are taboo. All these instances show that the principle of adoring odd numbers and regarding even numbers as taboo is always adhered to during any activities in Tibet.

As for the Tibetan people view odd numbers as lucky ones, herdsmen will choose a date with odd numbers in the first half of every month to assemble, set off on their journeys, and hold all other important events with the hope of safety.  Horse racing and archery have been popular for over a thousand years in Tibet. In the Tibetan horse racing, only thirteen runners in the front will can get a prize.

Losar is the Tibetan new year,  it is customary or commonly practiced by the local would present gifts for their love ones, and in the monasteries, would present gifts to the Rinpoches, Tulkus and lamas. According to the Tibetan culture, If anyone is buying or presenting gifts to the Tibetan people, the gifts will or should not be in an even number, but instead it should be the odd numbers.

Odd Numbers Symbolizes In The Tibetan Culture

Tibetan No. 3   - Symbolize the sun, moon and star. 

            - The universe is divided into the celestial realm, the Human realm and the Hell                            realm. 

            -  Connecting to the three Longevity Amitayus Buddha, Ushnisha Vijaya and White                      Tara.

            -  Body, speech and mind in Tibetan Buddhism.

Local Tibetans would always connect the nice things with "3", such as the 3 Buddhas, 3 monasteries, 3 tribes and 3 sages. They also use "3" to express auspicious or some other lucky symbols. Especially in Tibetan Buddhism culture, a lot of nouns use "3" as their affix. For example, "3" was used to symbolize the sun, moon and star. In Tibetan Buddhism, the universe is divided into 3 parts, the sky, ground and underground. The 3 Buddhas of Longevity refers to Amitayus Buddha, Ushnisha Vijaya and White Tara.

Tibetan No. 9   - Literally means everlasting or endless.

             - Is customary of the Tibetan people would always clink their glasses and drink 9                        glasses of wine once a clinking is proposed. 

                 - Only the silver bowls or dragon bowls can be used as drinking vessels in Tibet. In                     addition, ghee must be dipped on three spots in the bowls for good luck.

The odd number "9" means everything for local Tibetans. "9 rivers" means the place of all the rivers collected together. "9 people" means all living creatures. "9 needs" means all the needs and "9 wishes" means all the wishes. In a word, "9" is always used to express "much" in Tibetan. Actually, the use of "9" in Tibetan is quite similar to the use of "9" among the ancient Han people. In ancient times, Han people would also use "9" to express the meaning of uncertain, much or endless.

We can also find interesting numbers in Tibetan culture from the drinking customs of Tibet. The Tibetan people would always clink their glasses for three times, three glasses of wine should be drunk after each clinking. Hence, they would always drink 9 glasses of wine once a clinking is proposed.

Tibetan No.13  - Is an auspicious and holy number for the Tibetan culture. 

             -13 desireless celestial realms or pure lands to be reborn according to the Gelupa                      lineage of Vajrayana Buddhism. 

            -  Prigrims will perform kola or walk 13 clockwise rounds the Sacred Mountains of                      Tibet for purification and removing of negativity and obstacles.

There is another interesting thing about the Tibetan number culture. In the West, the number 13 is regarded as an unlucky number, but in Tibetan culture 13 is an auspicious number, a holy number. In the ancient Tibetan fairy tales, the heaven is composed of 13 layers. The 13th layer of the heaven is said to be the desireless pure land described by Master Tsongkhapa.

Hence, "13" is really a sacred and lucky number in Tibet. Besides, the devout pilgrims would always make Kora around Mt. Kailash for 13 rounds so as to pray for happiness and clean the guilty.

According to King Gesar, the world's longest epic, when Gesar was born, he held 13 flowers in his hands, walked 13 steps and vowed to become a Buddha at 13. Indeed, when he was 13, he was victorious in a horse race, married and became king of the state of Ling. Also, according to King Gesar, Gesar had 13 concubines and 13 Buddhist guardians, and in the state of Ling under his rule there were 13 snowy mountains, 13 mountain ridges, and 13 lakes.  

Donations for our Buddhist research and development

Do you earnestly cherish our devoted work? Assuming this is the case, we are delighted that you are finding our blog useful and valuable. Would you consider making a donation for our Buddhist research and development?  

We need your help to secure the future of scholarly interaction with Buddhism. Since our very first publication of Dharma works and activities in the year 2008, we had been effortlessly providing free distribution of Dharma posts and articles throughout the previous 13 years.  We have exceptionally constrained supports and do not receive subsidized or funding from people in general. 

Please help us and to develop our Dharma activities that will not only benefit you, but to all Dharma readers on the planet. Please consider showing your support. Your generosity will certainly help us to enhance our work and to accomplish for a better and brighter prospect to come. 

Thank you for reading, may you find peace and great bliss. With your support it helps to spread the Buddha’s precious teachings and turning the Dharma wheels in the world.

Aspiration For Bodhichitta

For those in whom the precious Bodhichitta has not arisen

May it arise and not decrease

But increase further and further.

Dedication of Merit

By this merit may we obtain omniscience then.

Having defeated the enemies wrong-doings.

May we liberate migrators from the ocean of existence.

With its stormy waves of birth, old age, sickness and death.

*Note

I do not own or infringe any copyright of these pictures.

Pictures courtesy and credit to the rightful distributors and or studios.

Pictures are intended for editorial use only.