Difference between revisions of "Setting Up and Maintaining a Basic Tibetan Altar"
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[[File:2010-06.jpg|thumb|250px|]] | [[File:2010-06.jpg|thumb|250px|]] | ||
<poem> | <poem> | ||
− | From a Palyul Magazine, Summer 2007 | + | From a [[Palyul]] Magazine, Summer 2007 |
− | Editor: This comes from the Palyul Clear Light. It's a magazine from the Nyingma tradition. The introduction and first article in the newsletter are by Khenpo Tsewang Gyatso, someone whom I have been fortunate to receive teachings from several times. In the back of the issue I found this elegant and simple explanation of a basic Tibetan Altar. | + | Editor: This comes from the [[Palyul]] [[Clear Light]]. It's a magazine from the [[Nyingma tradition]]. The introduction and first article in the newsletter are by [[Khenpo Tsewang Gyatso]], someone whom I have been [[fortunate]] to receive teachings from several times. In the back of the issue I found this elegant and simple explanation of a basic [[Tibetan]] [[Altar]]. |
− | The most basic shrine consists of a statue or picture of a deity or lama elevated above a set of seven offering bowls and one butter lamp. The offering bowls are placed in a straight line along the front of the shrine table, and are spaced apart no more than the length of a grain of rice. Do take care also that the bowls are not too close together or touching; a neat and regular order and spacing is auspicious. A butter lamp, tea light, or decorative electric candle or light is set in the middle of the row of bowls between the fourth and fifth bowl, as the sequence of the offerings represented by the bowls and light are, from left to right: argham, fresh water for drinking; padyam, perfumed water for bathing; pushpe, flowers; dhupe, incense; aloke, light; gendhe, perfume; nevidya, celestial food; and shapda, music. | + | The most basic [[shrine]] consists of a statue or picture of a [[deity]] or [[lama]] elevated above a set of seven [[offering]] [[bowls]] and one [[butter lamp]]. The [[offering]] [[bowls]] are placed in a straight line along the front of the [[shrine]] table, and are spaced apart no more than the length of a grain of {{Wiki|rice}}. Do take care also that the [[bowls]] are not too close together or {{Wiki|touching}}; a neat and regular order and spacing is [[auspicious]]. A [[butter lamp]], tea [[light]], or decorative electric candle or [[light]] is set in the middle of the row of [[bowls]] between the fourth and fifth [[bowl]], as the sequence of the [[offerings]] represented by the [[bowls]] and [[light]] are, from left to right: [[argham]], fresh [[water]] for drinking; padyam, perfumed [[water]] for [[bathing]]; [[pushpe]], [[flowers]]; dhupe, [[incense]]; [[aloke]], [[light]]; [[gendhe]], perfume; nevidya, [[celestial]] [[food]]; and shapda, {{Wiki|music}}. |
− | You may offer fresh water daily in all seven of the bowls, along with a fresh light, or you may have physical representations of some of the offerings that would remain on the shrine from day to day. In that case, you would offer water in the first two bowls (argham, padyam); then place fresh, silk or dried flowers in the third (pushpe); sticks of incense in the fourth (dhupe); then your lamp (aloke); then fresh water in the fifth bowl (gendhe); a torma or piece of fruit or candy in the sixth (nevidya); and finally a shell to represent sound or music in the seventh bowl. The permanent offerings should be placed on a bed of rice or semi-precious stones in their respective bowls. | + | You may offer fresh [[water]] daily in all seven of the [[bowls]], along with a fresh [[light]], or you may have [[physical]] {{Wiki|representations}} of some of the [[offerings]] that would remain on the [[shrine]] from day to day. In that case, you would offer [[water]] in the first two [[bowls]] ([[argham]], padyam); then place fresh, {{Wiki|silk}} or dried [[flowers]] in the third ([[pushpe]]); sticks of [[incense]] in the fourth (dhupe); then your [[lamp]] ([[aloke]]); then fresh [[water]] in the fifth [[bowl]] ([[gendhe]]); a [[torma]] or piece of fruit or candy in the sixth (nevidya); and finally a shell to represent [[sound]] or {{Wiki|music}} in the seventh [[bowl]]. The [[permanent]] [[offerings]] should be placed on a bed of {{Wiki|rice}} or semi-precious stones in their respective [[bowls]]. |
[[File:Altar002.JPG|thumb|250px|]] | [[File:Altar002.JPG|thumb|250px|]] | ||
− | When opening the shrine in the morning, with the intention that all beings may benefit from your generosity and with the view that all the Buddhas and holy beings are indeed present, fill the bowls from left to right with fresh water. Try to fill them evenly, neither too full, at different levels, nor too empty. Pour the water in an even stream while reciting the dedication prayer shown below. Mentally make your offerings as vast, pure, perfect, and delightful as you can. After filling the bowls, you offer a butter lamp or tea light and a stick of incense. | + | When opening the [[shrine]] in the morning, with the [[intention]] that all [[beings]] may [[benefit]] from your [[generosity]] and with the [[view]] that all the [[Buddhas]] and {{Wiki|holy}} [[beings]] are indeed present, fill the [[bowls]] from left to right with fresh [[water]]. Try to fill them evenly, neither too full, at different levels, nor too [[empty]]. Pour the [[water]] in an even stream while reciting the [[dedication]] [[prayer]] shown below. [[Mentally]] make your [[offerings]] as vast, [[pure]], perfect, and delightful as you can. After filling the [[bowls]], you offer a [[butter lamp]] or tea [[light]] and a stick of [[incense]]. |
− | The shrine should be closed every evening. Close the shrine by emptying the bowls from right to left. No verse is necessary here. Water from the bowls should not be poured down the drain or dumped out where people walk. It may be used to water plants or simply poured out on clean ground. Then the bowls are dried with a clean cloth kept for that purpose and placed upside down in their places on the shrine. | + | The [[shrine]] should be closed every evening. Close the [[shrine]] by emptying the [[bowls]] from right to left. No [[verse]] is necessary here. [[Water]] from the [[bowls]] should not be poured down the drain or dumped out where [[people]] walk. It may be used to [[water]] [[plants]] or simply poured out on clean ground. Then the [[bowls]] are dried with a clean cloth kept for that purpose and placed upside down in their places on the [[shrine]]. |
− | Your shrine may be much more elaborate than this, with vajra and bell placed on the same level as the statues, and with tormas and other ritual objects. Ask a lama for help in properly organizing your shrine and try to make it as clean and beautiful as your means allow. | + | Your [[shrine]] may be much more elaborate than this, with [[vajra]] and [[bell]] placed on the same level as the [[statues]], and with [[tormas]] and other [[ritual]] [[objects]]. Ask a [[lama]] for help in properly organizing your [[shrine]] and try to make it as clean and beautiful as your means allow. |
− | Dedication Prayer | + | [[Dedication]] [[Prayer]] |
'''CHAG TSAL WA DANG CHOD CHING SHAG PA DANG''' | '''CHAG TSAL WA DANG CHOD CHING SHAG PA DANG''' | ||
− | By paying homage, making offerings, confession and | + | By [[paying homage]], making [[offerings]], {{Wiki|confession}} and |
'''JE SU YI RANG KUL SHING SOL WA YI''' | '''JE SU YI RANG KUL SHING SOL WA YI''' | ||
− | Rejoicing, requesting and beseeching, | + | [[Rejoicing]], requesting and beseeching, |
'''GE WA CHING SED DAG GI CHI SAG PA''' | '''GE WA CHING SED DAG GI CHI SAG PA''' | ||
− | Whatever virtue I have gained through these efforts, | + | Whatever [[virtue]] I have gained through these efforts, |
'''THAM CHED DAG GI JYANG CHUB CHIR NGO'O''' | '''THAM CHED DAG GI JYANG CHUB CHIR NGO'O''' | ||
− | I dedicate it all to the enlightenment of all beings! | + | I dedicate it all to the [[enlightenment]] of all [[beings]]! |
</poem> | </poem> | ||
{{R}} | {{R}} | ||
[http://www.reversespins.com/Tibetan_Altar.html www.reversespins.com] | [http://www.reversespins.com/Tibetan_Altar.html www.reversespins.com] | ||
[[Category:Altar]] | [[Category:Altar]] |
Revision as of 08:10, 21 November 2013
From a Palyul Magazine, Summer 2007
Editor: This comes from the Palyul Clear Light. It's a magazine from the Nyingma tradition. The introduction and first article in the newsletter are by Khenpo Tsewang Gyatso, someone whom I have been fortunate to receive teachings from several times. In the back of the issue I found this elegant and simple explanation of a basic Tibetan Altar.
The most basic shrine consists of a statue or picture of a deity or lama elevated above a set of seven offering bowls and one butter lamp. The offering bowls are placed in a straight line along the front of the shrine table, and are spaced apart no more than the length of a grain of rice. Do take care also that the bowls are not too close together or touching; a neat and regular order and spacing is auspicious. A butter lamp, tea light, or decorative electric candle or light is set in the middle of the row of bowls between the fourth and fifth bowl, as the sequence of the offerings represented by the bowls and light are, from left to right: argham, fresh water for drinking; padyam, perfumed water for bathing; pushpe, flowers; dhupe, incense; aloke, light; gendhe, perfume; nevidya, celestial food; and shapda, music.
You may offer fresh water daily in all seven of the bowls, along with a fresh light, or you may have physical representations of some of the offerings that would remain on the shrine from day to day. In that case, you would offer water in the first two bowls (argham, padyam); then place fresh, silk or dried flowers in the third (pushpe); sticks of incense in the fourth (dhupe); then your lamp (aloke); then fresh water in the fifth bowl (gendhe); a torma or piece of fruit or candy in the sixth (nevidya); and finally a shell to represent sound or music in the seventh bowl. The permanent offerings should be placed on a bed of rice or semi-precious stones in their respective bowls.
When opening the shrine in the morning, with the intention that all beings may benefit from your generosity and with the view that all the Buddhas and holy beings are indeed present, fill the bowls from left to right with fresh water. Try to fill them evenly, neither too full, at different levels, nor too empty. Pour the water in an even stream while reciting the dedication prayer shown below. Mentally make your offerings as vast, pure, perfect, and delightful as you can. After filling the bowls, you offer a butter lamp or tea light and a stick of incense.
The shrine should be closed every evening. Close the shrine by emptying the bowls from right to left. No verse is necessary here. Water from the bowls should not be poured down the drain or dumped out where people walk. It may be used to water plants or simply poured out on clean ground. Then the bowls are dried with a clean cloth kept for that purpose and placed upside down in their places on the shrine.
Your shrine may be much more elaborate than this, with vajra and bell placed on the same level as the statues, and with tormas and other ritual objects. Ask a lama for help in properly organizing your shrine and try to make it as clean and beautiful as your means allow.
Dedication Prayer
CHAG TSAL WA DANG CHOD CHING SHAG PA DANG
By paying homage, making offerings, confession and
JE SU YI RANG KUL SHING SOL WA YI
Rejoicing, requesting and beseeching,
GE WA CHING SED DAG GI CHI SAG PA
Whatever virtue I have gained through these efforts,
THAM CHED DAG GI JYANG CHUB CHIR NGO'O
I dedicate it all to the enlightenment of all beings!