It is said, in the second chapter of the Root Tantra of Chakrasamvara:
“If you wish for sublime realization, offer hundreds of lights”
~ Root Institute quoting Lama Thubten Zopa
Shakyamuni Buddha mentioned the 10 benefits of light offerings in Tune of Brahma:
- One becomes like the light of the world
- One achieves clairvoyance of the pure eye as a human
- One achieves the Deva’s eye
- One receives the wisdom to discriminate virtue from non-virtue
- One is able to eliminate the concept of inherent existence
- One receives the illumination of wisdom
- One is reborn as a human or deva
- One receives great enjoyment wealth
- One quickly becomes liberated
- One quickly attains Enlightenment
Kyabje Kalu Rinpoche (d.1989) said that offerings are of three kinds in four levels:
Material ones such as butter lamps, imaginary ones that proceed from our minds, and things which are primordially extant. Light is certainly one of the latter; butter one of the first.
When you think that along with the flame you are offering your consciousness and/or your energy then the lamp stands for all three.
