Sang Pūjā - Smoke Offering Puja Teaching

Sang pūjā is a profound Vajrayāna offering practice.The word Sang in Tibetan has the meaning of remove, take away; purified, cleared, cleansed and awakened. As such Sang pūjā is considered a purification practice and focuses on removing the impurities in the mindstream of the practitioners and all the ‘guests’ (see below). The physical ritual involves the burning of different woods, incense together and many other substances such as ground gemstones and brocades that are described in the practice texts.

Practitioners first invoke the ‘Four Guests’. We begin with the guests of veneration: the Three Jewels (Buddha, Dharma and Sangha) and the awakened manifestations of the Three Roots (Lama, Yidam and Dakini) and the guests of qualities of the Oath bound and wisdom protectors are invited.

Then the guests of compassion, the beings of the six realms and lastly the guests that have a connection of karmic debt. We should visualize that the entire sky above us is filled with all these invited guests.

Practitioners then visualize that from the fragrant smoke appear limitless offerings of every desirable object that pervade space.

PRACTICE

These objects can be anything that uniquely satisfies and cleanses the connection to each of these types of guests. This practice has great power to perfect the accumulation of merit and wisdom and is thus much more than a simple offering of incense or smoke. This practice has been taught by Guru Rinpoche in the treasure teachings. On the occasion of the new year, It is performed in an extensive and colorful two-hour ceremony at Ka-Nying Shedrub Ling monastery to ensure auspiciousness for the coming year.

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