I take refuge until I am enlightened in the Buddhas, the Dharma and the Sangha.
By the positive potential I create by practising generosity and the other far-reaching attitudes,
may I attain Buddhahood in order to benefit all sentient beings.

The Four Immeasureables

May all sentient beings have happiness and its causes,
May all sentient beings be free of suffering and its causes,
May all sentient beings never be separated from sorrowless bliss,
May all sentient beings abide in equanimity, free of bias, attachment and anger.

OM SVABHAVA SHUDDHA SARVA DHARMA SVABHAVA SHUDDHO HUM
(dissolving into emptiness)

Out of Emptiness from the syllable HUM comes a protection wheel, at the centre of which from the syllable PAM comes a lotus, from AH comes a moon disc, in the centre of which is one’s own consciousness in the form of a yellow syllable DZA, which emanates rays of light, making offerings to all Arya beings. The light that comes from the DZA pacifies the sufferings of the poverty of all living beings, causing rays of treasures to fall.

Light collects back into the syllable DZA, and one takes the form of Arya Dzambala with golden colour, one face and two arms, with the right hand in the gesture of supreme giving, holding the bijapura fruit and the left holding a mongoose from whose mouth a great treasure of jewels is constantly being emitted.

Arya Dzambala is peaceful and elegant, slightly corpulent and appearing very gentle, in a completely happy and pleasant state of mind. With his eyes wide open and his black hair tied in a top knot, he is adorned with a jewelled head ornament. The right foot is slightly outstretched in the royal posture, and both feet are placed on treasures such as the eye of conch shell and head of the lotus. Wearing multi-coloured silken clothing and jewelled ornaments, he is adorned with garlands of blue utpala flowers. His body is luminous and radiant. From one’s heart centre (as Arya Dzambala) emanate rays of light, inviting wisdom beings in the form of Arya Dzambala along with his entourage.

BENZA SAMADZA
(inviting the wisdom beings)

DZA HUM BAM HO
(The wisdom beings are absorbed)

At the forehead is the syllable OM, at the throat an AH and at the heart a HUM. Again from the heart centre emanate rays of light, inviting the five initiating deities and entourage.

“Please bestow blessings and confer the initiation.”
(thus requesting)

OM BENZA BHAVA ABHISINTSA HUM
(saying this the initiation is conferred)

The body is filled, purifying all stains. An excess of water comes out from the crown of the head, transforming into Ratnasambhava.

The Way to Bless the Sensory Offerings

(offerings should be blessed according to the lower tantras)

OM BENZA AMRITA KUNDALI HANA HANA HUM PHET

OM SVABHAVA SHUDDHA SARVA DHARMA SVABHAVA SHUDDHO HUM

Everything is Emptiness.

Out of emptiness in front of oneself appears the syllable OM which transforms into eight spacious jewelled vessels. In each of those vessels appears the syllable OM, which transforms into godly substances: water for the mouth, water for the feet, flowers, incense, and so forth, clear, unobstructed, and as extensive as space.

OM ARGHAM AH HUM (water)
OM PADYAM AH HUM (water)
OM PUPEY AH HUM (flower)
OM DHUPE AH HUM (incense)
OM ALOKE AH HUM (light)
OM GANDHE AH HUM (perfume)
OM NAWIDYE AH HUM (food)
OM SHABDA AH HUM (music)

8 Sensory Offerings

OM ARYA DZAMBALA SAPARIWARA ARGHAM PRATITSA SOHA
OM ARYA DZAMBALA SAPARIWARA PADYAM PRATITSA SOHA
OM ARYA DZAMBALA SAPARIWARA PUPEY PRATITSA SOHA
OM ARYA DZAMBALA SAPARIWARA DHUPE PRATITSA SOHA
OM ARYA DZAMBALA SAPARIWARA ALOKE PRATITSA SOHA
OM ARYA DZAMBALA SAPARIWARA GANDHE PRATITSA SOHA
OM ARYA DZAMBALA SAPARIWARA NAWIDYE PRATITSA SOHA
OM ARYA DZAMBALA SAPARIWARA SHABDA PRATITSA SOHA

Praises

O Lord of Wealth, Holder of the Treasure of Jewels
And Lord of the numerous wealth-holding yakshas,
Great Lord and Protector of the North, Bestower of Supreme Attainments,
I prostrate to You.  (3x)

Mantra Recitation

(With visualisation, do the recitation any number of times)

OM DZAMBALA DZALENDRAYE SOHA

Dedication

By the virtues collected through this practice
May I quickly attain the state of Arya Dzambala
And lead all beings, without exception,
To the state of Enlightenment.

(If one wishes to make the offering of water to Arya Dzambala, one may do so in this way:)

Visualisation

In the centre of a copper vessel, out of Emptiness appears Arya Dzambala in golden colour, one face and two arms, with the right hand in the gesture of supreme giving, holding the bijapura fruit and the left holding a mongoose which is constantly emitting from its mouth a great treasure of jewels.

Arya Dzambala is peaceful and elegant, slightly corpulent and appearing very gentle and in a completely happy and pleasant state of mind. With his eyes wide open and his black hair tied in a top knot, he is adorned with a jewelled head ornament.

The right foot is slightly outstretched in the royal posture, and both feet are placed on treasures such as the eye of conch shell and head of the lotus. Wearing multi-coloured silken clothing and jewelled ornaments, he is adorned with garlands of blue utpala flowers.  His body is luminous and radiant.

At the palm of the right hand on a moon disc the syllables OM HUM TRAM HRI AH emanate rays of light, inviting the blessings of all Buddhas in the form of nectar, which enter into the five syllables.

OM AH HUM (3x)
(reciting thus, blessing the water)

Now recite the essence mantra “OM DZAMBALA DZALENDRAYE SOHA” 108 times and either pour the water 108 times or pour the water from the vase in a continuous stream, thus visualising that one is offering this water to Arya Dzambala. Finally, the torma which has been prepared for Dzambala should be blessed and also put into the water and offered.

The Way to Bless the Torma

OM BENZA AMRITA KUNDALI HANA HANA HUM PHET
OM SVABHAVA SHUDDHA SARVA DHARMA SVABHAVA SHUDDHO HAM

Out of Emptiness from the syllable YAM comes a wind manda la, on top of which from RAM comes a fire mandala. From the syllable AH comes a skullcup, white on the outside and red inside, huge and spacious, containing the five meats and five nectars, which are purified, transformed and multiplied by the recitation of the three syllables OM AH HUM. The substances become an undefiled ocean of wisdom nectar.

Torma Offering

OM ARYA DZAMBALA SAPARIWARA IDAM BALIMTA KHA KHA KHAHI KHAHI

(Then make Offerings and Praises:)

8 Sensory Offerings

OM ARYA DZAMBALA SAPARIWARA ARGHAM PRATITSA SOHA
OM ARYA DZAMBALA SAPARIWARA PADYAM PRATITSA SOHA
OM ARYA DZAMBALA SAPARIWARA PUPEY PRATITSA SOHA
OM ARYA DZAMBALA SAPARIWARA DHUPE PRATITSA SOHA
OM ARYA DZAMBALA SAPARIWARA ALOKE PRATITSA SOHA
OM ARYA DZAMBALA SAPARIWARA GANDHE PRATITSA SOHA
OM ARYA DZAMBALA SAPARIWARA NAWIDYE PRATITSA SOHA
OM ARYA DZAMBALA SAPARIWARA SHABDA PRATITSA SOHA

Praises

O Lord of Wealth, Holder of the Treasure of Jewels,
And Lord of the numerous wealth-holding yakshas,
Great Lord and Protector of the North, Bestower of Supreme Attainments, I prostrate to You.

I and all living beings, who are under the sufferings of the five actions motivated by stinginess,
in all rebirths we take refuge in You.
With your treasure of jewels and the stream of nectar
please pacify the sufferings of poverty of all beings. (3x)

(Then visualise that Arya Dzambala is extremely delighted and gives you presents of wish-fulfilling gems and attainments of nectar.  Also, take some of the torma water and share it with others.)

• Candles
• Incense
• The actual land owner offerings – biscuits, milk, tea, cakes, flowers, drinks, breads, etc are ok. DO NOT offer anything containing meat or alcohol.

Procedure

Recite in the following order:

1. Going for Refuge and Generating Bodhicitta

2. The Four Immeasurables

3. Gaden Lhagyama (Je Tsongkhapa’s Guru Yoga)

4. Setrap’s Prayer, Black Tea and Mantra

5. Offering to the Land Owners

Light candles and incense before starting the land owner offering

OM BENZA AMRITA KUNDALI HANA HANA HUM PHAT!

OM SVABHAVA SHUDDHA SARVA DHARMA SVABHAVA SHUDDHO HAM!

All becomes empty. From within Emptiness, from DRUNG, comes a broad, vast Jeweled vessel, inside of which, from OM melting into light, there arises a torma of a Great ocean of undefiled nectar of wisdom.

OM AH HUM [3x]

NAMA SARVA TATHAGATA AWALOKITE OM SAMBARA SAMBARA HUM! [3x]

I prostrate to the Bhagawan, the Tathagata Many Jeweled One (Shakyamuni)
I prostrate to the Tathagata Supreme Beautiful Form (Avalokiteshvara)
I prostrate to the Tathagata Infinite Bodied One (Manjushri)
I prostrate to the Tathagata Free From All Fear (Vajrapani)

This torma, an ocean of nectar
Endowed with the five perfect sensual objects,
I offer to Tema, goddess of the earth,
And all land owners of the three thousand worlds,

To the five sister goddesses of long life,
And all protectors of stability who reside in Tibet,
And especially to the devas, nagas,
And land owners dwelling in this very region.

Having accepted, I request you to gather, as we wish
All harmonious conditions for whatever actions
We and the sponsors perform,
Without showing anger or jealousy

By the power of my thoughts,
By the power of the blessings of the Tathagatas,
And by the power of the sphere of reality,
May any purpose we desire,
All whatever,
Be realized without obstruction!

Upon completing the land owner offering, talk to the land gods. Request them to continue to guard this area, let them know you are staying here on a temporary basis and will make regular offerings to them, as advised by your lama, H.E. Tsem Rinpoche

8. Dedication
 

Prostration

JHO!
PAL-DAN LHA-MO PAG-PAR KA-WA KYO
TAB-KYI CHO-TRUL NAM-KA TA-LA CHO
JANG-CHUB SEM-PA TRUL KYO-NYI-LA
LU NGAG-YI-SUM GU-PA CHAG-TSAL-LO

JHO!
Palden Lhamo, hard to measure, who
Performs the magic of Method to the ends of space
O Bodhisattva’s emanation, to you
I prostrate in devotion with body, speech and mind.

Offering

KYO-NI DAG-NI CHO-PA MA-DRIB-KYANG
PAL-DAN NGO-DRUB DAM-PA TOB-JA-CHIR
DO-PA YON-TAN KA-LA CHAR-PAB-NA
CHO-PA TSOG-DI WANG-PO GYA-GYUR CHIG

Although you have no lack of offerings
To gain the glorious, holy realizations
I rain from the sky all objects of desire
May this mass of offerings fill your senses.

Confession

PAL-DAN KYO-NI GE-DIG PANG-PO-TE
DAG-GI LU-NGAG YI-KYI NYE-PA TSOG
KYO-KYI TA-DU GYO-PA RAB-SHAG-NA
TUG-JE SHUG-KYI DRIB-PA JANG-WAR-DZO!

Palden, you are the witness of sins and virtues.
If I confess my whole collection of faults
Of body, speech and mind, with regret, before you,
By your power of Compassion, cleanse my obscurations!

Rejoicing

KYO-KYI KYA-PAR YONG-SU PAG-PA-NI
DRO-WA DON-DZA DAG-DON PUN-SUM-TSOG
GA-TUN TRAG-DOG ME-PA TRO-WA-NI
JE-SU YI-RANG KYO-KYI GYU-LA BUL

In your utterly noble qualities
Which benefit beings and with perfect help to me
Delight me, with a joy without jealousy
I rejoice, and offer it to your mindstream.

Requesting Teachings

YANG-DAG YON-TAN DAN-PA KU-CHOG-NI
NAG-DANG ZANG-MO JIG-PA CHA-JA CHAN
CHO-CHU DU-SUM KUN-TU DRO-DON-LA
GYU-TRUL DRA-WA TSUL-TON TAN-DU SOL!

Your Supreme Body, with perfect qualities
Is black, noble, female, in terrifying garb
For the good of beings in all three times and ten directions
By means of your magical net, please teach the Doctrine!

Requesting Her To Remain

DE-TAR YANG-DAG DAN-PA KU-CHOG-NI
DRO-WA DON-DANG TAN-PA SUNG-JA CHIR
NAM-KA ZA-PA MA-GYUR BAD-DU-YANG
NYA-NGAN MI-DA TAG-PAR ZHUG-SU-SOL!

You whose supreme body has such perfection
For the good of beings, and to protect the Doctrine
As long as space has not come to an end
Please stay forever, not passing beyond sorrow!

Dedication

DE-TAR CHAG-TSAL CHO-CHING SHAG-PA-DANG
JE-SU YI-RANG KUL-ZHING SOL-WA-YI
GE-WA DI-YI NGAN-SONG TONG-GYUR-NA
TAM-CHA DAG-GI JANG-CHUB CHIR-NGO-O

Thus I have prostrated, offered, and confessed
Rejoiced, exhorted and requested you
When by these merits the lower realms are emptied
I dedicate them all to Enlightenment.

Requesting The Four Activities

1.
JHO! The four various actions are mind itself, they do not exist apart from mind and mind does not exist. Ultimately, there are no distinctions and neither do colour and form exist. They are miraculously shown as mere illusions by the Glorious Goddess of Peace, in accordance with our disposition. Principal Lady amidst an assembly of pacifiers, distinguished by a very brilliant white body, you have pacified, will pacify and are in a pacifying mood. I prostrate to the Mother who always pacifies. Please pacify my illnesses, evil spirits and interferences.

2.
JHO! The four various actions are mind itself, they do not exist apart from mind and mind does not exist. Ultimately, there are no distinctions and neither do colour and form exist. They are miraculously shown as mere illusions by the Glorious Goddess of Development, in accordance with our disposition. Principal Lady amidst an assembly of developers, distinguished by a very magnificent Yellow Body, you have developed, will develop and are in a developing mood. I prostrate to the Mother who always develops. Please increase my life span and develop my merits!

3.
JHO! The four various actions are mind itself, they do not exist apart from mind and mind does not exist. Ultimately, there are no distinctions and neither do colour and form exist. They are miraculously shown as mere illusions by the Glorious Goddess of Conquest, in accordance with our disposition. Principal Lady amidst an assembly of conquerors, distinguished by a very sensual red body, you have conquered, will conquer and are in a conquering mood. I prostrate to the Mother who always conquers. Please conquer all beings of the three worlds.

4.
JHO! The four various actions are mind itself, they do not exist apart from mind and mind does not exist. Ultimately, there are no distinctions and neither do colour and form exist. They are miraculously shown as mere illusions by the Glorious Goddess of Wrath, in accordance with our disposition. Principal Lady amidst an assembly of terrifyers, distinguished by a very fierce black mood, I prostrate to the Mother who always terrifies. Please, with your wrath, eliminate my sicknesses, evil spirits, enemies and misfortunes.

5.
JHO! Although your nature, appearing with such varied characteristics, has no concrete existence, you still benefit migrators with your four actions. By thoroughly praising you with full attention, may I also effortlessly achieve the state of the four actions and, like you, strive to benefit migrating beings.

Mantra of the Protectoress Palden Lhamo:

JO RAMO JO RAMO JO JO RAMO TUNJO KALA RACHENMO RAMO AJA DAJA TUNJO RULU RULU HUNG JO HUNG

KYAI

From mansion of wisdom and perfect power
May the fierce foe-conquering devas be exalted!

Like the sun rising in mid-heaven
May the fierce foe-conquering devas be exalted!

Like the sun and moon overcome darkness
May the fierce foe-conquering devas be exalted!

Root and lineage gurus, please bestow blessings!
Meditational Deities, grant your support!
Dharma Protector guardians, conquer all foes!

Propitiating the fierce foe-conquering devas,
Like sun and moon go with sky
Foe-conquering devas leave us not!

Like shadows go with bodies
Foe-conquering devas leave us not!

Like snow goes with lions
Foe-conquering devas leave us not!

Like wings go with garudas
Foe-conquering devas leave us not!

Like thunder goes with dragons
Foe-conquering devas leave us not!

Like forests go with tigers
Foe-conquering devas leave us not!

Like fish go with water
Foe-conquering devas leave us not!

At home, abroad, or on the way,
Wherever we go and wherever we stay,
Fierce foe-conquering devas, grant your help!

Act as friendly forces with kind support!

Ki Ki So So Che-oh Lha Gyel Lo!

(Victory to the Devas!)

May the light of the lamp be equal to the great three thousand worlds and their environments,
May the wick of the lamp be equal to the king of mountains – Mount Meru.
May the butter be equal to the infinite ocean.
May there be billions of trillions of lamps in the presence of each and every Buddha.

May the light illuminate the darkness of ignorance of all sentient beings
From the peak of samsara down to the most torturous hell,
Whereby they can see directly and clearly all the
Ten directions’ Buddhas and Bodhisattvas and their pure lands.

OM VAJRA ALOKE AH HUM
E MA HO

I offer these beautifully exalted clear and luminous lights
To the thousand Buddhas of the fortunate eon,
To all the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas of the infinite pure lands and of the ten directions,
To all the Gurus, Yidams, dakas, dakinis, Dharma Protectors, and the assembly of deities of all mandalas.

Due to this, may my father, mother, and all sentient beings in this life and in all their future lives,
Be able to see directly the actual pure lands of the complete and perfect Buddhas,
May they unify with Buddha Amitabha in inseparable oneness,
Please bless me and may my prayers be actualised as soon as possible,
Due to the power of the truth of the Three Jewels and the assembly of deities of the three roots.

TAYATHA OM PÄNCHA GRIYA AVA BODHANI SO HA (7x)

VISUALISATION

The light transforms into single brilliant five-colour wisdom.
On a lotus and moon-disc the syllables OM and DHI appear.

From there, one hundred and eight beautiful goddesses of light, Marmema, appear, wearing beautiful garments and precious garlands.
Every goddess holds lights in her hands and from them emanate billions of trillions of infinite replicas of light-offering goddesses.

All of them make light offerings uninterruptedly to all the Buddhas in the Buddha-fields throughout all of space and to the peaceful and wrathful deities.

SA ZHI PO KYI JUG SHING ME TOG TRAM
RI RAB LING ZHI NYI DAY GYAN PA DI
SANG GYE ZHING DU MIG TAY UL WAR GYI
DRO KUN NAM DAG ZHING LA CHO PAR SHOG

This ground, anointed with perfume, flowers strewn,
Mount Meru, four lands, sun and moon,
imagined as Buddha-land and offered to you.
May all beings enjoy this pure land.

IDAM GURU RATNA MANDALAKAM NIRAYATAYAMI

Long Mandala Offering

OM VAJRA ground AH HUM, mighty golden ground.

OM VAJRA fence AH HUM, the iron fence around the edge; in the centre is Mount Meru, the king of mountains.

In the east the continent Lupagpo; in the south, the continent Dzambuling; in the west, the continent Balangcho; in the north, the continent Draminyan.

In the east are the sub-continents Lu and Lupag; in the south Ngayab and Ngayabzhan; the west Yodan and Lamchogdro; in the north Draminyan and Draminyan Gyida.

In the east, the treasure mountain, in the south the wish-granting tree, in the west the wish-granting cow, in the north the uncultivated crops.

Here are the precious wheel, the precious jewel, the precious queen, the precious minister, the precious elephant, the precious horse, the precious general, the great treasure vase.

Here are the goddess of beauty, the goddess of garlands, the goddess of song, the goddess of dance, the goddess of flowers, the goddess of incense, the goddess of light and the goddess of perfume.

Here are the sun, the moon, the precious parasol, the banner of victory in all directions and in the center are the most perfect riches of gods and humans, with nothing missing, pure and delightful.

To my glorious, holy and most kind root Guru, the lineage Gurus, and in particular to the great Lama Tsongkhapa, Buddha who is the King of Sages, Vajradhara, and the entire assembly of deities, I offer these as a Buddha-field.

Please accept them with compassion, for the sake of migrating beings. Having accepted them, please bestow on me and on mother sentient beings abiding as far as the limits of space, your inspiration with loving compassion.

IDAM GURU RATNA MANDALAKAM NIRAYATAYAMI

LAMA TON PA CHON DEN DAY DAY SHIN SHEG PA
DRA CHOM PA YANG DAG PA DZOG PAY SANG GYE
PAL GYAL WA SHAKYA TU PA LA
CHAG TSAL CHING KYAB SU CHI WO CHO DO JIN GYI LAP TU SOL

To the Guru and founder, the endowed transcendent destroyer,
the one gone beyond, the foe destroyer, the completely perfected, fully awakened,
the glorious conqueror, the subduer for the Shakya clan,
I prostrate, go for refuge and make offerings. Please inspire me.

Mantra: TAYATHA OM MUNI MUNI MAHA MUNI SHAKYAMUNI YE SOHA(7x)

OFFERING PRAISE

TAM CHE DU NI SA ZHI DAG
SEG MA LA SOG MAY PA DANG
LAG TIL TAR NYAM BAR DU YE
RANG ZHIN JAM POR NAY GYUR CHIG

Everywhere may the ground be pure,
free of the roughness of pebbles and so forth.
May it be the nature of lapis
and as smooth as the palm of one’s hand.

OFFERING PRAYER

LHA DANG MI YI SHO PAY DZAY
NGO SU SHAM DANG YI KYI TRUL
KUN ZANG CHO DRIN LA NA MAY
NAM KAY KAM KUYN KYAB GYUR CHIG

May the offering substances both human and divine,
those actual and those which are emanated,
unsurpassed Samantabhadra clouds of offerings,
fill the entire space.

OFFERING CLOUD DHARINI

It is taught in the sutras that this brings infinite benefits such as raining a great rain of offerings in front of the conquerors and their children.

OM NAMO RATRANAYAYA NAMO BHAGAWATE BENZA SARA PRAMADINYE TATHAGATAYA ARHATE SAMYAK SAM BUDDHAYA TAYATA OM BENZE BENZE MAHA BENZE MAHA TESHA BENZE MAHA VIDDHYA BENZE MAHA BODHICHITTA BENZE MAHA BODHI MANDROPA SAM KRAMANA BENZE SARVA KARMA VARONA BHIKSHU DANA BENZE SOHA

HEART OF DEPENDENT ARISING

OM YE DHARMA HETU PRABHAVA HAYTUNTE SHAN TATAGATO HAYWADAT TESHAN TSAYO NIRODHA EWAM WADI MAHA SHRAMANAYE SOHA

CONDENSED HEART SUTRA

MASAM CHOME SHERAB PAROL CHIN
MASHE MAGA NAMKEY NGO WO NYI
SOSOR RANGRIG YESHE CHOYUL WA
DUDUN GYELWAY YUM-LA CHAG TSAL LO

Mantra: TAYATHA OM GATEY GATEY PARAGATEY PARASAMGATEY BODHI SOHA (7x)

REQUEST TO TURN THE WHEEL OF DHARMA

JE-TSUN LA-MA DAM-PA CHEY-NAM KYI
CHO-KU KA-LA CHEN-TI TIN-TIK NEY
JI-TAR TSAM-PI DUL-SHIH DZIN-MA LA
ZAB-JI CHO-KYI CHAR-PA WHAP-TU SOL

All you holy Gurus, unerring in conduct, may you precipitate a rain of realisation of Bodhicitta and Shunyata from the clouds of all-knowing compassion which fills the Dharmakaya sky, providing for the field of disciples precisely what is needed.

INVOCATION

MA LU SEM CHEN KUN GYI GON GYUR CHING
DU TE PUNG CHAY MI ZAY JOM DZAY LHA
NGO NAM MA LU YANG DA KYEN GYUR PAY
CHOM DEN KOR CHAY NAY DIR SHEG SU SOL

Protector of all beings without exception, divine subduer of innumerable negative forces, deity, perfect knower of all things, Bhagawan and attendants, please come here.

With sincere intentions, one can offer jewellery on Buddha images, thereby creating the causes mentioned, a body beautiful to look at, and charisma to inspire others positively in future lives and in this life.

It is also a wish to achieve the Buddha body that is healthy and strong, and thrives on benefiting others. Last of all, making offerings towards a particular Buddha creates connection of blessings and protection with a specific Buddha.

In Buddhist practice, there are various specific methods to accumulate merits, which is the fuel for the actual inner practice of spiritual transformation.

The five great preliminary practices are well-known to do just that. They are water offerings, prostrations, Vajrasattva practice, Guru Yoga and mandala offerings.

Mandala offering is a complete meditation of visualising a universe in the form of a mandala that is purified and offered up to the Buddha or one’s lama who is inseparable from the Buddha.

The complete mandala offering requires one to have a mandala set along with precious jewels or grains of any sort to represent it. There are specific ritual verses and meditations to go along upon making the offering. When not in use, it should be covered in silk or any piece of clean cloth and stowed away respectfully.

Mandala offerings generate a lot of merit for the practitioner to gain spiritual insight and understanding into the teachings and also to gain the ability to see Buddhas directly.

Lama Tsongkhapa is renowned to have performed 1.8 million mandala offerings in a closed retreat to gain a clearer understanding of the most profound Buddhist teachings of Madhyamika and Guhyasamaja. Upon completion of his retreat, he gained the insight and a vision of Maitreya.

Therefore, the Dharma Protectors we propitiate are emanations of enlightened Buddhas and not samsaric gods. They assume lowly wrathful and horrific forms in order to have a stronger connection to aid us quicker in times of distress.

Most of us normal people have little karma to receive help quickly from the Buddhas directly. Contrary to what you may think, it is not that they are beyond reach. It is our karma, spiritual and mental disposition that prevents us from receiving help from the Buddhas. Thus, out of compassion they assume the forms of Dharma Protectors to come to our aid.

Protector practice is widespread in ancient Buddhist India and has been passed to Tibet. Protector practice includes the offering of “golden drink” that requires the Serkym set.

The offering is usually tea, milk or even alcohol. These are poured gradually during the offering puja onto the taller cup till it overflows to the lower bowl below.

Offering of piping hot black tea is a strong signal to the Dharma Protector to come to our aid fast, according to Tsawa Phultok Rinpoche in Nepal.