Difference between revisions of "Lamp offerings"
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<poem> | <poem> | ||
| − | Offerings with Special Intentions | + | [[Offerings with Special Intentions]] |
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| + | Because of the association with great [[good fortune]], [[lamp offerings]] are made for any {{Wiki|individual}} or [[family]] [[life]] event that is celebrated, such as the [[birth]] of a child, the [[marriage]] of a couple, the graduation of a son or daughter, the [[birthday]] of a [[friend]], and the anniversary of one's [[parents]]. | ||
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| + | [[Lamp offerings]] may also be made in difficult times or uncertain [[transitions]]. | ||
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| + | The [[gift]] of {{Wiki|light}} and the accompanying [[prayers]] help to bring about less [[suffering]] and greater [[happiness]] in times of {{Wiki|illness}}, loss, uncertainty, and [[death]]. | ||
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| + | Lamps may be [[offered]] for a [[parent]] who is facing an operation, for a [[friend]] changing careers, for a [[student]] facing a difficult exam, and for a [[family]] member experiencing extreme [[stress]]. | ||
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| + | At the time of someone's [[death]], it is [[traditional]] to offer a [[bardo]] [[lamp]] for 49 days. | ||
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| + | When concluding the story of the [[butter lamp offering]] from the {{Wiki|beggar}} woman [[Nanda]] in the [[Sutra of the Wise and the Foolish]], our [[precious]] [[Master]] advised us in all earnest: “Please do remember the importance of [[light offerings]]. | ||
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| + | The [[Three Brothers of Kadampa]] had in their possessions images of many [[enlightened beings]], but in their [[shrine]] room they only displayed the [[image of Buddha]] [[Shakyamuni]], a [[stupa]], and the [[scripture]]; and they never ceased to offer [[water]] and [[butter lamps]]. | ||
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| + | The great [[Tibetan master]] [[Tsankyipa]] [[offered]] [[butter lamps]] to the [[Buddha]] all his [[life]], and [[Thubten Choepel Rinpoche]] made [[light offerings]] his main [[offering]] to the [[Three Jewels]]….” | ||
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| + | [[Rinpoche’s]] [[teaching]] struck a chord with me. In the [[Sutra]] of the [[Merits of Lamp Offering]] it says: | ||
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| + | “By the [[merit]] of [[offering bright lamps to the Buddhas]], one will live a secure, [[abundant]], and [[fearless]] [[life]], possessing easily great [[wealth]], power, exquisite [[jewels]], and lovely [[gardens]]. | ||
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| + | By lighting lamps and [[offering]] them to the [[Buddhas]], one will behold in [[person]] the [[Lord Buddha]] and instantly arouse deep [[faith]] and [[devotion]]. | ||
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| + | Making [[offerings]] to the [[Buddhas]] with immense [[joy]], one forsakes his {{Wiki|kingdom}} to become an [[ascetic]] [[monk]]. | ||
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| + | [[Buddha’s wisdom]] is unfathomable and {{Wiki|limitless}}; with his incomparable qualities he leads [[beings]] to [[liberation]]. | ||
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| + | To the [[stupa]] one makes [[light offerings]]; one’s [[body]] will shine as brilliantly as a [[lamp]]. | ||
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| + | Lord [[Buddha’s]] [[eyes]] are as clear as the {{Wiki|royal}} bull’s. | ||
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| + | He has [[offered]] {{Wiki|excellent}} lamps to [[illuminate]] [[stupas]] and [[realized]] the untainted [[supreme Truth]]. | ||
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| + | His {{Wiki|luminous}} [[body]] shines throughout the [[ten directions]]. | ||
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| + | He has [[realized]] the [[Four Noble Truths]] and [[attained]] [[Ten Powers]]; he has accomplished perfectly the supreme [[realization]] and becomes the [[Sugata]] with all-pervading [[eyes]]. | ||
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| + | All these accomplishments come from having made [[light offerings]].” | ||
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| + | Therefore, by making [[light offerings]] to the [[Buddha]], a [[boundless]] store of [[merit]], both [[worldly]] and supreme, is amassed. | ||
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| − | + | These are {{Wiki|excellent}} examples set by [[Dharma]] luminaries of the {{Wiki|past}} for us to follow. | |
| − | + | By making [[light offerings]], in all our [[lives]] we will be able to dispel [[ignorance]], [[illuminate]] [[beings]]’ [[minds]] darkened by [[bewilderment]], remove the confusing mist on the [[path of liberation]], and make apparent the vastness of the [[absolute space]]. | |
| − | + | Any other attempts to find a new path—such as trying to [[accumulate]] [[merit]] or {{Wiki|purify}} [[defilement]] through the eight [[worldly]] ways—will not work. | |
| − | + | I sincerely {{Wiki|hope}} all of us in our lifetimes, as long as our means allow, will make [[light offerings]] with a [[pure]] [[heart]] every day, down to just one [[butter lamp]] or a lotus-shaped electric [[lamp]]. | |
| − | + | It will accrue vast [[merit]]. | |
| − | + | If this is really beyond our means, then we should at least offer one [[lamp]] on [[auspicious]] days such as the 15th or 30th of the [[lunar months]], as a gesture of our [[faith]] and [[devotion]] to the [[Three Jewels]]. | |
| − | By offering these tranquil and beautiful lamps | + | By [[offering]] these [[tranquil]] and beautiful lamps |
| − | In the presence of the perfect Buddha, the King of Illumination; | + | In the presence of the {{Wiki|perfect}} [[Buddha]], the [[King]] of [[Illumination]]; |
| − | The Gyalwa Karmapa, the Lord of the World; | + | The [[Gyalwa Karmapa]], the [[Lord of the World]]; |
| − | And all the Buddhas with their children, | + | And all the [[Buddhas]] with their children, |
| − | May the poison of malicious enmity | + | May the [[poison]] of malicious [[enmity]] |
| − | Never arise in the mind of any one of us. | + | Never arise in the [[mind]] of any one of us. |
| − | With loving minds, like the meeting of mother and child, | + | With [[loving]] [[minds]], like the meeting of mother and child, |
| − | May all the world be filled with peace and happiness. | + | May all the [[world]] be filled with [[peace]] and [[happiness]]. |
</poem> | </poem> | ||
{{R}} | {{R}} | ||
Latest revision as of 04:33, 20 February 2024
Offerings with Special Intentions
Because of the association with great good fortune, lamp offerings are made for any individual or family life event that is celebrated, such as the birth of a child, the marriage of a couple, the graduation of a son or daughter, the birthday of a friend, and the anniversary of one's parents.
Lamp offerings may also be made in difficult times or uncertain transitions.
The gift of light and the accompanying prayers help to bring about less suffering and greater happiness in times of illness, loss, uncertainty, and death.
Lamps may be offered for a parent who is facing an operation, for a friend changing careers, for a student facing a difficult exam, and for a family member experiencing extreme stress.
At the time of someone's death, it is traditional to offer a bardo lamp for 49 days.
When concluding the story of the butter lamp offering from the beggar woman Nanda in the Sutra of the Wise and the Foolish, our precious Master advised us in all earnest: “Please do remember the importance of light offerings.
The Three Brothers of Kadampa had in their possessions images of many enlightened beings, but in their shrine room they only displayed the image of Buddha Shakyamuni, a stupa, and the scripture; and they never ceased to offer water and butter lamps.
The great Tibetan master Tsankyipa offered butter lamps to the Buddha all his life, and Thubten Choepel Rinpoche made light offerings his main offering to the Three Jewels….”
Rinpoche’s teaching struck a chord with me. In the Sutra of the Merits of Lamp Offering it says:
“By the merit of offering bright lamps to the Buddhas, one will live a secure, abundant, and fearless life, possessing easily great wealth, power, exquisite jewels, and lovely gardens.
By lighting lamps and offering them to the Buddhas, one will behold in person the Lord Buddha and instantly arouse deep faith and devotion.
Making offerings to the Buddhas with immense joy, one forsakes his kingdom to become an ascetic monk.
Buddha’s wisdom is unfathomable and limitless; with his incomparable qualities he leads beings to liberation.
To the stupa one makes light offerings; one’s body will shine as brilliantly as a lamp.
Lord Buddha’s eyes are as clear as the royal bull’s.
He has offered excellent lamps to illuminate stupas and realized the untainted supreme Truth.
His luminous body shines throughout the ten directions.
He has realized the Four Noble Truths and attained Ten Powers; he has accomplished perfectly the supreme realization and becomes the Sugata with all-pervading eyes.
All these accomplishments come from having made light offerings.”
Therefore, by making light offerings to the Buddha, a boundless store of merit, both worldly and supreme, is amassed.
These are excellent examples set by Dharma luminaries of the past for us to follow.
By making light offerings, in all our lives we will be able to dispel ignorance, illuminate beings’ minds darkened by bewilderment, remove the confusing mist on the path of liberation, and make apparent the vastness of the absolute space.
Any other attempts to find a new path—such as trying to accumulate merit or purify defilement through the eight worldly ways—will not work.
I sincerely hope all of us in our lifetimes, as long as our means allow, will make light offerings with a pure heart every day, down to just one butter lamp or a lotus-shaped electric lamp.
It will accrue vast merit.
If this is really beyond our means, then we should at least offer one lamp on auspicious days such as the 15th or 30th of the lunar months, as a gesture of our faith and devotion to the Three Jewels.
By offering these tranquil and beautiful lamps
In the presence of the perfect Buddha, the King of Illumination;
The Gyalwa Karmapa, the Lord of the World;
And all the Buddhas with their children,
May the poison of malicious enmity
Never arise in the mind of any one of us.
With loving minds, like the meeting of mother and child,
May all the world be filled with peace and happiness.
