Sensory Offerings Demystified
Click to enlarge
As Buddhists, we believe that in order to progress on the spiritual path and the fruition of our meditation and practice, we require a lot of merits. When we make a lot of offerings, especially like what you see on Rinpoche’s altar here, we generate a meritorious field of energy, so that we when do our practice, we will gain the results.
Water Offerings
You can see on the half moon shape altar (where the Buddha Vajrayogini is standing), there are many bowls of water offering. This is the most common offering for Buddhists.
Sensory Offerings
On the square table, you will see 3 sets of 8 bowls of offerings. These are what we call Sensory Offerings. Sensory Offerings are common offerings on the altar and are required in most Tibetan rituals, pujas and prayers. Each set consists of eight sensory offerings namely: two bowls of water, flowers, incense, light, perfume, food and music. I’ve attached a picture here that explains their significance. The act of making sensory offerings represent offering up all the things that we are attached to. The first 2 sets of Sensory Offerings are for the Yidam (Meditational Deity), while the third set is for the Dharma Protectors.
Torma Offerings
In the middle of the square table, you will see 3 sets of what we call Torma (ritual cake) offerings. These are usually made with tsampa (roasted barley flour) and other substances as offerings as required in a certain ritual. Outside of Tibet or in modern times, we can use replacements like cakes, breads or biscuits.
Commitment Offerings
On the right side of the square table, you will see 5 bowls of offerings, which are the traditional offerings to Dharma Protectors called Commitment Offerings. They are milk, yoghurt, roasted barley flour/oats (with a pat of butter on top), tea and alcohol.
General/Food Offerings
Two offerings on the side covered in red cloths are the general food offering (can be anything – fruits, biscuits, grains etc) to generate merit.
Below are some links for you to read more:
- Making Water Offerings to the Buddhas
- Bangkok monks and why make offerings
- Setting Up A Tibetan Buddhist Altar
(Shared by Pastor Shin Tan)
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Thank you Rinpoche and Pastor Shin for this short and neat explaination for sensory offerings. Very simple, easy and useful for people who needs it set up their offerings.🙏😍👍
Thank you Pastor Shin for this wonderful sharing for us to understand more. It has increase my knowledge to do more for my altar. Very clear explanation, making a lot of offerings, we can generate a meritorious field of energy. Each offerings have a meaning behind it.
Thank you Pastor Shin for the explanation on offering. Many do not understand why Tibetan Buddhism altar has so many bowls. It is actually a symbolism that carries different meaning. Making offering is a good way to generate merits.