Question asked by Kevin
Halo pastor, I would like to know more about doing lama tsongkhapa retreat after reading the
( https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/tsongkhapa/tsongkhapa-retreat-instructions-and-prayer-text.html ). May I know where to get kusha grass?(it says from new broom?) and in the eight sensory offering do I need a tiny torma as the food offering or I can put something else? and do the mandala set have to be on the altar all the time during the retreat? because I only have one mandala set. Thank you for answering this many question as I wish to do short tsongkhapa retreat in saturday and sunday while im staying in university. Thank you!
Dear Kevin,
Thanks for your question. It’s fantastic that you would like to engage in a Lama Tsongkhapa retreat. In Asia, traditional brooms are made from long pieces of dried grass. This type of broom is actually Kusha Grass, so you can buy a new broom, and but some pieces of the grass from it to use for your retreat swastika.
For the sensory offerings, you do not need to use the little tiny torma for the food offering. You can use any sort of vegetarian food as the offering, some people like to use a fruit (like an apple or orange), other put packed biscuits, or even some nicely wrapped chocolates. Any food really, that is well packaged and won’t go bad when on the altar.
For the mandala set, yes you can keep it on the altar if you only have one. When you get the to mandala section of the prayers, use the mandala mudra rather than the physical mandala set. I hope these answers help and I wish you all the best for your successful retreat. Thank you.