Question asked by Anon
Dear Pastors, I've been so inspired by the picture of Tara, that Rinpoche posted recently. . I was wondering how to go about making offerings. . is it acceptable to give longer lasting offerings in front of Tara, that stay there for a few days.. and although this isn't something I've done before, shorter daily offerings, of for example water bowls.. the shorter offerings, are something I'm not sure I have the confidence to do yet.. Is it important to do that if you set up a Buddha image? I guess I worry that daily offerings, could become empty ritual, although I have to say I feel this Tara would help me overcome this concern, perhaps slowly, as she seems so alive and present. . with so many thanks for your time.
Dear Anon,
We are very happy to know you wish to make offerings to Mother Tara. By making offerings you will create the merit to be able to understand the Dharma and practise it well. An enlightened Buddha like Tara is a correct object of veneration, refuge and also a merit field. First, you have to set up an altar and place on it an image of Tara, a scriptural text (a dharma book) on Tara’s right and a stupa on Tara’s left. These are the representations of the Buddha’s enlightened body, speech and mind. In front of these holy objects, you can place a row of 7/8 bowls of sensory offerings and/or a row of 7/8 bowls of water offerings. The 8 bowls of sensory offerings are as follows: water, water, flower, incense, light, perfume, food and music. The water offerings must be changed daily. Offerings of fruits and flowers (e.g. in a vase) can be kept for longer as long as they remain fresh. The sensory offerings can be symbolic but it is important to offer light (a candle) every day if possible.
For more information and advice, please visit our Dharma stores “Kechara Paradise”, and learn more about offerings in this blog under the section “Buddhas, Dharma & Practice”. There are several articles which will be helpful to you, for example, “Floating Market: Dharma Sharing on Offerings”, “The Benefits of Offering Light”, “Making Water Offerings to the Buddhas”, and “Spectacular Shrine”. H.E. Tsem Rinpoche’s book entitled “The Living Buddha Within” also contains a section on setting up an altar and making offerings.