Aimed to work to remove attachment while offering to the Buddhas. That creates the causes for healthy body, pleasant speech and a strong, alert and flexible mind.
The items (jug, wiping cloth) used should be used exclusively for the purpose.
Never offer empty bowls (it’s like offering nothing to the Buddhas, and can call up spirits that might disrupt our practice), they should be upside down laid down either in an array or stacked at the left side.
Preparation
Recite the Taking Refuge prayer.
Recite 4 Immeasurables Prayer.
Prostrate 3 times.
Wash your hands.
Lay them down in a line in front of the altar, or you it can create a bit of an arch too.
It can be 7 or 8:
- 7 bowls = 7 limbs of formal practice
- 8 bowls = 8 sensory offerings
With a clean cloth, wipe the bowls out three times clockwise (to dispel negativities created with body, speech and mind), and three times counter-clockwise (to bring to oneself the blessings of the Buddha’s body, speech, and mind).
Pass each bowl over burning incense to purify it. As you fill each bowl with incense smoke, think that you are filling all sentient beings’ minds with enlightened wisdom, compassion, and power.
Before doing the actual offering all bowls upside down except the first. Pour the water to fill the first left-most one reciting OM AH HUM. Then flip the one to its right and drop most of the water into it leaving a little bit on the original. Imagine the transmission of the teachings. Continue until all bowls have some water within them. If done like this you ensure no empty bowl is exposed.
Do not have the bowls too close, they must be 1 rice grain apart.
- If too close → dull mind
- If too wide → separated from Guru and Dharma
- If too loud when pouring → may make you go mad
Offering
Fill up to 4mm ≈ grain of rice.
As you fill each bowl visualise you are offering the purest waters of the world to the enlightened beings.
It’s advisable to cover mouth (hand, face mask or white scarf) when doing any offering, so the offerings are not polluted with one’s breath.
It’s advisable to use both hands when pouring to show respect for the 3 jewels.
Pouring in a continuous stream without splashes:
- Start slow.
- Then quicker.
- Slow again before reaching the top.
It’s also a concentration meditation.
❌ If spilling while poring → ethics may become loose.
❌ If not filling water to correct level → standard of living might decline.
❌ If overfilling bowl → gain intelligence but not stable
Consecrating
Light incense, purify offerings and recite OM AH HUM.
Visualisation:
- OM (white) AH (red) HUM (blue) on top of the bowl.
- As you recite them they dissolve into the bowl.
- HUM purifies them, AH transforms into nectar, OM and multiplies them filling all space.
- Think strongly Buddhas received the essence of the offering (the multiplied purified visualisation).
Clearing
From right to left, wiping with clean cloth, and turn them upside down (optionally stacking them on the left). While emptying pronouncing OM BENZA SATTO HUM (Vajrasattva’s short mantra) or the long version 100-Syllable Mantra of Vajrasattva.
Recite Dedication Prayer.
Use the water for watering plants or animals. Never use it for yourself. Dispose the water to a clean place, not at dirty sinks or toilet.
Benefits
Pure clean water is said to have 8 qualities so when offering it you generate the causes to develop 8 karmic benefits:
- Pure ethics
- Access to delicious food
- Flexible, fit body & mind
- Clear mind
- Gentle mind
- Purify obscurations
- Pleasant speech
- Healthy body