Question asked by Brendon
Hello I'm a new practitioner. I have a few question regarding the practice of Serkym. I don't have any initiation by the way.
1.) As I am a non-initiated person, Can I offer serkym to Setrap? If so, according to "Sadhana and Prayers" on your website, when should I pour the tea? Is it during the 3rd and 4th line of each stanza or at the end of wach stanza? Also when and how should I use the bell if it is permissible to use so.
2.) As I am a non-initiated person, Can I offer serkym to Vajrayogini? If so, according to "Sadhana and Prayers" on your website, when should I pour the tea?
Also when and how should I use the bell if it is permissible to use so.
3.) I have seen elsewhere that they put rice or crackers or cookies into the serkym. What's the meaning of it and as a non-initiated person, can I also put it into serkym offered to Setrap or Vajrayogini too? If so how should I do it?
Hi there Brendon,
Thanks for your questions.
Yes, of course you can offer Serkym to Setrap. When reciting the prayers, you pour the tea when reciting the 3rd and 4th line of each verse. Start this during the first verse, all the way until the last verse. During the last verse, you pour throughout the entire verse.
In regards to the tea offering for Vajra Yogini, yes, even if you are not initiated, you can still do the practice. You can find out how to do it here: https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/buddhas-dharma/tea-offering-to-vajrayogini-for-the-1st-time.html
For using the vajra and bell, it is usually rung when pouring the tea during the particular verses. If you are not able to get to a Dharma centre to learn how to use them properly, it is permissible to use them at home. But they should never be used when other people are around, because it will disturb them and from the spiritual side of things traditionally you do not play instruments when in a private setting only during public pujas, groups retreats, that sort of thing. It is a mark of humility, however if you are alone and no one else is around, you can play, it’s permissible.
As for the rice, cookies or crackers into the top layer of the serkym, it symbolises abundance. Here in Kechara, we don’t have that tradition as Tsem Rinpoche did not include it. If at all, it is usually just a couple of grains of rice but usually this is only done by our visit Sangha from other monasteries. Hope these answers help. Thanks.