Difference between revisions of "The Benefits Of Making Light Offerings"
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| − | It is said in The | + | It is said in The [[Ten Wheel Sutra of the Essence of Earth]] (Lord [[Ksitigarbha]]), “All {{Wiki|comfort}}, [[happiness]] and [[peace]] in this [[world]] come from making [[offerings]] to the [[Rare Sublime Ones]] (the [[Triple Gem]]). |
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| + | Therefore, those who want {{Wiki|comfort}}, [[happiness]] and [[peace]] should always try to make [[offerings]] to the Rare [[Sublime]] Ones.” | ||
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| + | In general, all [[goodness]] in [[samsara and nirvana]] comes from making [[offerings]] to the [[Triple Gem]], but specifically, different kinds of [[offerings]] bring you different benefits. | ||
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| + | [[Guru]] [[Shakyamuni Buddha]], the forth of the thousand [[buddhas]] of this [[fortunate]] [[eons]], whose {{Wiki|holy}} [[mind]] was enriched with the [[ten powers]], announced in the Tune of [[Brahma Sutra]] Clarifying [[Karma]] that making {{Wiki|light}} [[offerings]] bring you [[ten benefits]]: | ||
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1. You become like a {{Wiki|light}} in the [[world]] | 1. You become like a {{Wiki|light}} in the [[world]] | ||
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[[Devas]] or [[human beings]] who [[accumulate]] the [[merit]] of making one {{Wiki|light}} [[offering]] – will see the [[fully enlightened Buddha]], [[Maitreya]]. | [[Devas]] or [[human beings]] who [[accumulate]] the [[merit]] of making one {{Wiki|light}} [[offering]] – will see the [[fully enlightened Buddha]], [[Maitreya]]. | ||
| − | The [[Sutra]] of [[Arya]] [[Maitreya]] says, “Those who offer a thousand lights or a thousand blue utpali [[flowers]] or make the pinnacle of a [[stupa]] or a {{Wiki|holy}} [[form]] will be [[reborn]] when [[Maitreya Buddha]] shows the [[deed]] of gaining [[ | + | The [[Sutra]] of [[Arya]] [[Maitreya]] says, “Those who offer a thousand lights or a thousand blue [[utpali]] [[flowers]] or make the pinnacle of a [[stupa]] or a {{Wiki|holy}} [[form]] will be [[reborn]] when [[Maitreya Buddha]] shows the [[deed]] of gaining [[enlightenment]] and will receive his [[first Dharma teaching]].” |
| − | It is also said that those who offer even one [[flower]] or rejoice in the [[merit]] of others who offer will achieve [[buddhahood]]. This means that even if you don’t get [[enlightened]] during the time of [[Guru]] [[Shakyamuni Buddha’s]] [[teaching]], | + | It is also said that those who offer even one [[flower]] or rejoice in the [[merit]] of others who offer will achieve [[buddhahood]]. This means that even if you don’t get [[enlightened]] during the time of [[Guru]] [[Shakyamuni Buddha’s]] [[teaching]], during [[Maitreya Buddha’s]] [[teaching]] your [[mind]] will ripen and you will gain [[liberation]]. |
| − | [[Offering]] {{Wiki|light}}, in particular, is a special door of [[dependent arising]] for quickly completing the [[accumulation of merit]] and receiving great [[blessings]]. It is said in the second [[chapter]] of the [[root tantra | + | [[Offering]] {{Wiki|light}}, in particular, is a special door of [[dependent arising]] for quickly completing the [[accumulation of merit]] and receiving great [[blessings]]. It is said in the second [[chapter]] of the [[root tantra of Chakrasamvara]], who is a [[manifestation]] of [[Shakyamuni Buddha]], “If you want [[sublime]] realizations, offer hundreds of lights.” |
| − | If you want to know the detailed results of making [[offerings]] to {{Wiki|holy}} [[objects]] or of [[offering service]] to the [[buddha]] or other {{Wiki|holy}} [[objects]], you should study The [[Sutra]] of the One Who Looks with a | + | If you want to know the detailed results of making [[offerings]] to {{Wiki|holy}} [[objects]] or of [[offering service]] to the [[buddha]] or other {{Wiki|holy}} [[objects]], you should study The [[Sutra]] of the [[One Who Looks with a Compassionate Eye]] ([[Avalokiteshvara]]), the [[Sutra of Sogyal]], where [[Buddha]] gave instruction to [[King]] [[Sogyal]], or the [[Könchog Tala]]. |
The text, [[Immortal]] [[Drum]] [[Sound]] [[Mantra]], says, “If you devote yourself to the [[Inconceivable]] One, the results will similarly be [[inconceivable]].” In the same way, The [[Sutra]] of the One Who Looks with a [[Compassionate]] [[Eye]] says, “Since the [[dharmas]] (i.e., the qualities) of the [[buddha]] gone thus ([[tathagata]]) are {{Wiki|limitless}}, making [[offering]] to the [[tathagata]] brings {{Wiki|limitless}}, [[infinite]], [[inconceivable]], in- comparable, unimaginable, numberless benefits.” | The text, [[Immortal]] [[Drum]] [[Sound]] [[Mantra]], says, “If you devote yourself to the [[Inconceivable]] One, the results will similarly be [[inconceivable]].” In the same way, The [[Sutra]] of the One Who Looks with a [[Compassionate]] [[Eye]] says, “Since the [[dharmas]] (i.e., the qualities) of the [[buddha]] gone thus ([[tathagata]]) are {{Wiki|limitless}}, making [[offering]] to the [[tathagata]] brings {{Wiki|limitless}}, [[infinite]], [[inconceivable]], in- comparable, unimaginable, numberless benefits.” | ||
| − | The Small Quotation (Lungtentseg) [[sutra]] says, “It is possible for the [[moon]] and {{Wiki|stars}} to fall to [[earth]], for [[mountains]] and forests to rise up into the sky and for the [[water]] of the great oceans to completely dry up, but it is not possible for the great [[Wikipedia:Sage (sophos|sage]] (the [[buddha]]) to tell a lie. Keep this in [[mind]] and generate strong [[devotion]] to and [[faith]] in the [[root]] of all [[happiness]] and [[goodness]] – [[actions]] and their results ([[karma]]) and the [[blessings]] of the | + | The Small Quotation (Lungtentseg) [[sutra]] says, “It is possible for the [[moon]] and {{Wiki|stars}} to fall to [[earth]], for [[mountains]] and forests to rise up into the sky and for the [[water]] of the great oceans to completely dry up, but it is not possible for the great [[Wikipedia:Sage (sophos|sage]] (the [[buddha]]) to tell a lie. |
| + | |||
| + | Keep this in [[mind]] and generate strong [[devotion]] to and [[faith]] in the [[root]] of all [[happiness]] and [[goodness]] – [[actions]] and their results ([[karma]]) and the [[blessings]] of the [[Three Precious Rare Sublime Ones]]. | ||
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| + | While you have this [[body]] and possessions – which are as if borrowed for a year, a month or a few days, night and day, all the time, attend to the practice of taking the [[essence]] of this [[Wikipedia:Human life|human life]], whose short duration is like a flash of {{Wiki|lightning}}, by planting as many [[seeds]] as possible in the special [[field of merit]].” | ||
{{R}} | {{R}} | ||
[http://buddhasai.com/the-benefits-of-making-light-offerings buddhasai.com] | [http://buddhasai.com/the-benefits-of-making-light-offerings buddhasai.com] | ||
Revision as of 07:06, 5 January 2016
It is said in The Ten Wheel Sutra of the Essence of Earth (Lord Ksitigarbha), “All comfort, happiness and peace in this world come from making offerings to the Rare Sublime Ones (the Triple Gem).
Therefore, those who want comfort, happiness and peace should always try to make offerings to the Rare Sublime Ones.”
In general, all goodness in samsara and nirvana comes from making offerings to the Triple Gem, but specifically, different kinds of offerings bring you different benefits.
Guru Shakyamuni Buddha, the forth of the thousand buddhas of this fortunate eons, whose holy mind was enriched with the ten powers, announced in the Tune of Brahma Sutra Clarifying Karma that making light offerings bring you ten benefits:
1. You become like a light in the world
2. You achieve (when born human) the clairvoyance of the pure flesh eye.
3. You achieve the devas’ eye.
4. You receive the wisdom of knowing what is virtue and what is non-virtue.
5. You are able to eliminate darkness of ignorance, the concept of inherent existence.
6. You receive the illumination of wisdom; even in samsara you never experience darkness.
7. You receive much wealth and enjoyment.
8. You are reborn in the deva or human realm.
9. You quickly become liberated.
10. You quickly attain enlightenment.
Devas or human beings who accumulate the merit of making one light offering – will see the fully enlightened Buddha, Maitreya.
The Sutra of Arya Maitreya says, “Those who offer a thousand lights or a thousand blue utpali flowers or make the pinnacle of a stupa or a holy form will be reborn when Maitreya Buddha shows the deed of gaining enlightenment and will receive his first Dharma teaching.”
It is also said that those who offer even one flower or rejoice in the merit of others who offer will achieve buddhahood. This means that even if you don’t get enlightened during the time of Guru Shakyamuni Buddha’s teaching, during Maitreya Buddha’s teaching your mind will ripen and you will gain liberation.
Offering light, in particular, is a special door of dependent arising for quickly completing the accumulation of merit and receiving great blessings. It is said in the second chapter of the root tantra of Chakrasamvara, who is a manifestation of Shakyamuni Buddha, “If you want sublime realizations, offer hundreds of lights.”
If you want to know the detailed results of making offerings to holy objects or of offering service to the buddha or other holy objects, you should study The Sutra of the One Who Looks with a Compassionate Eye (Avalokiteshvara), the Sutra of Sogyal, where Buddha gave instruction to King Sogyal, or the Könchog Tala.
The text, Immortal Drum Sound Mantra, says, “If you devote yourself to the Inconceivable One, the results will similarly be inconceivable.” In the same way, The Sutra of the One Who Looks with a Compassionate Eye says, “Since the dharmas (i.e., the qualities) of the buddha gone thus (tathagata) are limitless, making offering to the tathagata brings limitless, infinite, inconceivable, in- comparable, unimaginable, numberless benefits.”
The Small Quotation (Lungtentseg) sutra says, “It is possible for the moon and stars to fall to earth, for mountains and forests to rise up into the sky and for the water of the great oceans to completely dry up, but it is not possible for the great sage (the buddha) to tell a lie.
Keep this in mind and generate strong devotion to and faith in the root of all happiness and goodness – actions and their results (karma) and the blessings of the Three Precious Rare Sublime Ones.
While you have this body and possessions – which are as if borrowed for a year, a month or a few days, night and day, all the time, attend to the practice of taking the essence of this human life, whose short duration is like a flash of lightning, by planting as many seeds as possible in the special field of merit.”
