Difference between revisions of "Mandala offering 3"
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
(Created page with "frame|300px|[[His Holiness the Dalai Lama presents a mandala offering to Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche|Kya...") |
|||
| (3 intermediate revisions by 3 users not shown) | |||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
| − | [[Image:Dalai Lama Presents Mandala to Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche.jpg|frame|300px|[[His Holiness the Dalai Lama]] presents a [[mandala offering]] to [[Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche|Kyabje Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche]]] | + | [[Image:Dalai Lama Presents Mandala to Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche.jpg|frame|300px|[[His Holiness the Dalai Lama]] presents a [[mandala offering]] to [[Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche|Kyabje Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche]])] |
| + | |||
| + | |||
| + | |||
| + | |||
| + | |||
| + | |||
| + | |||
[[Mandala offering]] (Tib. {{BigTibetan|མཎྡལ་འབུལ་བ་}}, [[Wyl.]] ''maṇḍal 'bul ba'') — a [[ngöndro|preliminary practice]] for accumulating [[merit]], in which one [[symbolically]] offers the entire [[universe]] to the [[field of merit]]. | [[Mandala offering]] (Tib. {{BigTibetan|མཎྡལ་འབུལ་བ་}}, [[Wyl.]] ''maṇḍal 'bul ba'') — a [[ngöndro|preliminary practice]] for accumulating [[merit]], in which one [[symbolically]] offers the entire [[universe]] to the [[field of merit]]. | ||
| Line 8: | Line 15: | ||
:The entire billionfold [[universe]], | :The entire billionfold [[universe]], | ||
:Adorned with all kinds of desirable gifts, | :Adorned with all kinds of desirable gifts, | ||
| − | :The [[wisdom]] of [[buddhahood]] is perfected.<ref>[[Lobpön Thekchok Yeshe Dorje]], {{BigTibetan|རྫོགས་པ་ཆེན་པོ་ཀློང་ཆེན་སྙིང་ཐིག་གི་སྔོན་འགྲོའི་རྣམ་བཤད་མཚུངས་མེད་བླ་མའི་བྱིན་རླབས་ཆར་རྒྱུན་}}, ''[[rdzogs pa chen po]] [[klong chen snying thig]] gi sngon 'gro'i [[rnam]] bshad mtshungs med bla ma'i [[byin rlabs]] char rgyun'', pp.101-2</ref> | + | :The [[wisdom]] of [[buddhahood]] is perfected.<ref>[[Lobpön Thekchok Yeshe Dorje]], {{BigTibetan|རྫོགས་པ་ཆེན་པོ་ཀློང་ཆེན་སྙིང་ཐིག་གི་སྔོན་འགྲོའི་རྣམ་བཤད་མཚུངས་མེད་བླ་མའི་བྱིན་རླབས་ཆར་རྒྱུན་}}, ''[[rdzogs pa chen po]] [[klong chen snying thig]] gi sngon 'gro'i [[rnam]] bshad mtshungs med bla ma'i [[byin rlabs]] char [[rgyun]]'', pp.101-2</ref> |
=={{Wiki|Etymology}}== | =={{Wiki|Etymology}}== | ||
| Line 18: | Line 25: | ||
In the [[Longchen Nyingtik Ngöndro]] practice, the [[mandala offering]] is known as the [[trikaya]] [[mandala offering]]. As [[Yukhok Chatralwa Chöying Rangdrol]] explains: | In the [[Longchen Nyingtik Ngöndro]] practice, the [[mandala offering]] is known as the [[trikaya]] [[mandala offering]]. As [[Yukhok Chatralwa Chöying Rangdrol]] explains: | ||
| − | :...the '''ordinary [[nirmanakaya]] [[mandala]]''' consists of one hundred times ten million [[worlds]] each of which has [[four continents]], [[Mount Meru]], and the [[realms]] of the [[gods]]. This great [[buddha field]] is filled with all the abundant riches of [[gods]] and men, including the [[seven precious emblems of royalty]] and so on. Offer especially your own [[body]], possessions and [[virtues]], in their entirety and without hesitation. And think to yourself: "May I obtain [[nirmanakaya]] {{Wiki|sovereignty}}, and, through [[turning the wheel of Dharma]], lead [[beings]] along the [[path]] to [[liberation]] and [[omniscience]]." | + | :...the '''ordinary [[nirmanakaya]] [[mandala]]''' consists of one hundred times ten million [[worlds]] each of which has [[four continents]], [[Mount Meru]], and the [[realms]] of the [[gods]]. This great [[buddha field]] is filled with all the [[abundant]] riches of [[gods]] and men, [[including]] the [[seven precious emblems of royalty]] and so on. Offer especially your [[own]] [[body]], possessions and [[virtues]], in their entirety and without hesitation. And think to yourself: "May I obtain [[nirmanakaya]] {{Wiki|sovereignty}}, and, through [[turning the wheel of Dharma]], lead [[beings]] along the [[path]] to [[liberation]] and [[omniscience]]." |
| − | :Then for the '''[[extraordinary]] [[sambhogakaya]] [[mandala]]''', in the [[space]] above, consider that the piles represent the [[five buddha families]], complete with the [[five certainties]], in the blissful [[paradise]] of Akanishtha-Ghanavyuha, where countless [[goddesses]], such as the [[goddess of beauty]] and the rest, offer vast unimaginable clouds of [[offerings]] to stimulate the [[senses]]. Think: "Through this vast and [[boundless]] [[offering]], may we [[experience]] the [[sambhogakaya]] [[realms]]!" | + | :Then for the '''[[extraordinary]] [[sambhogakaya]] [[mandala]]''', in the [[space]] above, consider that the piles represent the [[five buddha families]], complete with the [[five certainties]], in the [[blissful]] [[paradise]] of Akanishtha-Ghanavyuha, where countless [[goddesses]], such as the [[goddess of beauty]] and the rest, offer vast unimaginable clouds of [[offerings]] to stimulate the [[senses]]. Think: "Through this vast and [[boundless]] [[offering]], may we [[experience]] the [[sambhogakaya]] [[realms]]!" |
| − | :In the [[sphere]] above is the '''special [[dharmakaya]] [[mandala]]'''. The naturally [[arising]] [[wisdom]] of the way things are has always been present as [[mind's]] very [[nature]] as the '[[youthful vase body]]'. Upon the ground of this [[youthful vase body]], the utter [[purity]] of all that appears and [[exists]], arrange piles to represent the [[appearances]] of [[pure realms]], [[deities]] and {{Wiki|palaces}}, [[purified]] entirely of any [[clinging]] to [[kayas]] and [[tiklés]], and [[arising]] as ornaments of the display of [[reality]] itself, unceasing [[compassionate energy]] and the [[manifestation]] of [[clear light]]. Think: "Through this [[offering]], may we enjoy the [[realm]] of the [[dharmakaya]] [[Samantabhadra]]!"<ref>{{LH|topics/ngöndro/yukhok-chatralwa/mandala-offering|''Mandala Offering'', by Yukhok Chatralwa Chöying Rangdrol}}</ref> | + | :In the [[sphere]] above is the '''special [[dharmakaya]] [[mandala]]'''. The naturally [[arising]] [[wisdom]] of the way things are has always been {{Wiki|present}} as [[mind's]] very [[nature]] as the '[[youthful vase body]]'. Upon the ground of this [[youthful vase body]], the utter [[purity]] of all that appears and [[exists]], arrange piles to represent the [[appearances]] of [[pure realms]], [[deities]] and {{Wiki|palaces}}, [[purified]] entirely of any [[clinging]] to [[kayas]] and [[tiklés]], and [[arising]] as ornaments of the display of [[reality]] itself, unceasing [[compassionate energy]] and the [[manifestation]] of [[clear light]]. Think: "Through this [[offering]], may we enjoy the [[realm]] of the [[dharmakaya]] [[Samantabhadra]]!"<ref>{{LH|topics/ngöndro/yukhok-chatralwa/mandala-offering|''Mandala Offering'', by Yukhok Chatralwa Chöying Rangdrol}}</ref> |
===Other [[Forms]] of [[Mandala Offering]]=== | ===Other [[Forms]] of [[Mandala Offering]]=== | ||
*The '[[Thirty-seven Point Mandala Offering]]' composed by [[Chögyal Pakpa]], the [[Sakyapa]] [[Protector]] of [[Beings]], is well known. | *The '[[Thirty-seven Point Mandala Offering]]' composed by [[Chögyal Pakpa]], the [[Sakyapa]] [[Protector]] of [[Beings]], is well known. | ||
| − | *The [[master]] [[Buddhaguhya]] taught a '''thirteen point [[mandala]]''' [[offering]] according to the [[tradition]] of [[yoga tantra]], which consists of [[Mount Meru]], the [[four continents]] and the [eight] subcontinents, but without the {{Wiki|sun}} and [[moon]]. | + | *The [[master]] [[Buddhaguhya]] [[taught]] a '''thirteen point [[mandala]]''' [[offering]] according to the [[tradition]] of [[yoga tantra]], which consists of [[Mount Meru]], the [[four continents]] and the [eight] subcontinents, but without the {{Wiki|sun}} and [[moon]]. |
*The [[master]] [[Jetari]] described a '''seventeen point [[offering]]''', in which the {{Wiki|sun}} and [[moon]], and the [[parasol]] and [[victory banner]] are added to the [[four continents]], [[eight subcontinents]] and [[Mount Meru]]. | *The [[master]] [[Jetari]] described a '''seventeen point [[offering]]''', in which the {{Wiki|sun}} and [[moon]], and the [[parasol]] and [[victory banner]] are added to the [[four continents]], [[eight subcontinents]] and [[Mount Meru]]. | ||
| − | *The [[master]] [[Manjushrikirti]] spoke of a '''twenty-three point [[offering]]''', in which the seven {{Wiki|emblems}} of royalty, the vase of [[treasure]] and the {{Wiki|sun}} and [[moon]] are [[offered]] in addition to [[Mount Meru]] and the continents and subcontinents. | + | *The [[master]] [[Manjushrikirti]] spoke of a '''twenty-three point [[offering]]''', in which the seven {{Wiki|emblems}} of royalty, the [[vase]] of [[treasure]] and the {{Wiki|sun}} and [[moon]] are [[offered]] in addition to [[Mount Meru]] and the continents and subcontinents. |
*The [[tradition]] of the [[Kalachakra Tantra]] includes a '''twenty-five point [[mandala]]''' which, in addition to these twenty-three, features [the {{Wiki|planets}}] [[Rahu]] and [[Wikipedia:Ketu (mythology)|Ketu]].<ref>{{LH|topics/ngöndro/yukhok-chatralwa/mandala-offering|''Mandala Offering'', by Yukhok Chatralwa Chöying Rangdrol}}</ref> | *The [[tradition]] of the [[Kalachakra Tantra]] includes a '''twenty-five point [[mandala]]''' which, in addition to these twenty-three, features [the {{Wiki|planets}}] [[Rahu]] and [[Wikipedia:Ketu (mythology)|Ketu]].<ref>{{LH|topics/ngöndro/yukhok-chatralwa/mandala-offering|''Mandala Offering'', by Yukhok Chatralwa Chöying Rangdrol}}</ref> | ||
==Benefits== | ==Benefits== | ||
| − | As for the benefits of [[mandala offering]], it is said that it will help to perfect entirely the [[six transcendent perfections]], which are the foundation or support for all the qualities of the [[five paths|paths]] and [[ten bhumis|bhumis]]. The ''[[Mandala]] [[Sutra]]'' says: | + | As for the benefits of [[mandala offering]], it is said that it will help to {{Wiki|perfect}} entirely the [[six transcendent perfections]], which are the foundation or support for all the qualities of the [[five paths|paths]] and [[ten bhumis|bhumis]]. The ''[[Mandala]] [[Sutra]]'' says: |
:[[Offering]] the [[mandala]], together with ''[[bajung]]'', is [[generosity]]. | :[[Offering]] the [[mandala]], together with ''[[bajung]]'', is [[generosity]]. | ||
| Line 38: | Line 45: | ||
:Removing any tiny [[forms]] of [[life]] is [[patience]]. | :Removing any tiny [[forms]] of [[life]] is [[patience]]. | ||
:Practising with [[enthusiasm]] is [[diligence]]. | :Practising with [[enthusiasm]] is [[diligence]]. | ||
| − | :[[Meditation]] is focusing the [[mind]] in that moment. | + | :[[Meditation]] is focusing the [[mind]] in that [[moment]]. |
:[[Wisdom]] is properly drawing the [[mandala]] design.<ref>ibid, p.103. Also quoted in [[Jamyang Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö]]'s ''[[Yeshe Saldrön]]''</ref> | :[[Wisdom]] is properly drawing the [[mandala]] design.<ref>ibid, p.103. Also quoted in [[Jamyang Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö]]'s ''[[Yeshe Saldrön]]''</ref> | ||
</poem> | </poem> | ||
| + | {{reflist}} | ||
{{R}} | {{R}} | ||
[http://www.rigpawiki.org/index.php?title=Mandala_offering www.rigpawiki.org] | [http://www.rigpawiki.org/index.php?title=Mandala_offering www.rigpawiki.org] | ||
[[Category:Mandala Offering]] | [[Category:Mandala Offering]] | ||
Latest revision as of 16:58, 16 January 2024
[[Image:Dalai Lama Presents Mandala to Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche.jpg|frame|300px|His Holiness the Dalai Lama presents a mandala offering to Kyabje Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche)]
Mandala offering (Tib. མཎྡལ་འབུལ་བ་, Wyl. maṇḍal 'bul ba) — a preliminary practice for accumulating merit, in which one symbolically offers the entire universe to the field of merit.
Essence
In essence, mandala offering is described as offering the universe. As it says in a tantra:
- Through offering to all the buddhas in their pure realms
- The entire billionfold universe,
- Adorned with all kinds of desirable gifts,
- The wisdom of buddhahood is perfected.[1]
Etymology
The word maṇḍala can be broken into two parts: maṇḍa means the 'essence' or 'centre and circumference' and la means 'taking hold of'. Therefore we can say that mandala means to take hold of the basis or essence for accomplishing all the glorious qualities of the higher realms and the kingdom of Dharma, the sacred truths of cessation and the path. [2]
Subdivisions
Trikaya Mandala Offering
[[Image:Mount Meru Continents.jpg|thumb|Mount Meru surrounded by the continents and subcontinents, with the gods of the Desire and Form Realms above]] In the Longchen Nyingtik Ngöndro practice, the mandala offering is known as the trikaya mandala offering. As Yukhok Chatralwa Chöying Rangdrol explains:
- ...the ordinary nirmanakaya mandala consists of one hundred times ten million worlds each of which has four continents, Mount Meru, and the realms of the gods. This great buddha field is filled with all the abundant riches of gods and men, including the seven precious emblems of royalty and so on. Offer especially your own body, possessions and virtues, in their entirety and without hesitation. And think to yourself: "May I obtain nirmanakaya sovereignty, and, through turning the wheel of Dharma, lead beings along the path to liberation and omniscience."
- Then for the extraordinary sambhogakaya mandala, in the space above, consider that the piles represent the five buddha families, complete with the five certainties, in the blissful paradise of Akanishtha-Ghanavyuha, where countless goddesses, such as the goddess of beauty and the rest, offer vast unimaginable clouds of offerings to stimulate the senses. Think: "Through this vast and boundless offering, may we experience the sambhogakaya realms!"
- In the sphere above is the special dharmakaya mandala. The naturally arising wisdom of the way things are has always been present as mind's very nature as the 'youthful vase body'. Upon the ground of this youthful vase body, the utter purity of all that appears and exists, arrange piles to represent the appearances of pure realms, deities and palaces, purified entirely of any clinging to kayas and tiklés, and arising as ornaments of the display of reality itself, unceasing compassionate energy and the manifestation of clear light. Think: "Through this offering, may we enjoy the realm of the dharmakaya Samantabhadra!"[3]
Other Forms of Mandala Offering
- The 'Thirty-seven Point Mandala Offering' composed by Chögyal Pakpa, the Sakyapa Protector of Beings, is well known.
- The master Buddhaguhya taught a thirteen point mandala offering according to the tradition of yoga tantra, which consists of Mount Meru, the four continents and the [eight] subcontinents, but without the sun and moon.
- The master Jetari described a seventeen point offering, in which the sun and moon, and the parasol and victory banner are added to the four continents, eight subcontinents and Mount Meru.
- The master Manjushrikirti spoke of a twenty-three point offering, in which the seven emblems of royalty, the vase of treasure and the sun and moon are offered in addition to Mount Meru and the continents and subcontinents.
- The tradition of the Kalachakra Tantra includes a twenty-five point mandala which, in addition to these twenty-three, features [the planets] Rahu and Ketu.[4]
Benefits
As for the benefits of mandala offering, it is said that it will help to perfect entirely the six transcendent perfections, which are the foundation or support for all the qualities of the paths and bhumis. The Mandala Sutra says:
- Offering the mandala, together with bajung, is generosity.
- Cleaning it thoroughly is discipline.
- Removing any tiny forms of life is patience.
- Practising with enthusiasm is diligence.
- Meditation is focusing the mind in that moment.
- Wisdom is properly drawing the mandala design.[5]
</poem>
Footnotes
- ↑ Lobpön Thekchok Yeshe Dorje, རྫོགས་པ་ཆེན་པོ་ཀློང་ཆེན་སྙིང་ཐིག་གི་སྔོན་འགྲོའི་རྣམ་བཤད་མཚུངས་མེད་བླ་མའི་བྱིན་རླབས་ཆར་རྒྱུན་, rdzogs pa chen po klong chen snying thig gi sngon 'gro'i rnam bshad mtshungs med bla ma'i byin rlabs char rgyun, pp.101-2
- ↑ ibid, p.102
- ↑ Mandala Offering, by Yukhok Chatralwa Chöying Rangdrol
- ↑ Mandala Offering, by Yukhok Chatralwa Chöying Rangdrol
- ↑ ibid, p.103. Also quoted in Jamyang Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö's Yeshe Saldrön
