The true meaning and detailed explanation of the eight offerings to the Buddha

(This article is for reference only. Tantric practitioners must rely on the teachings and practice of the masters of the lineage)

Author: Khenpo Ka Source of the article by Tha Rinpoche: Heartland Home 2005-12-14

Offering offerings is part of Buddhist practice, and the offerings seen in some temples are offered in traditional ways. These offerings are not just part of the ritual, but an extension of the vow to serve all sentient beings.

Making offerings is the antidote to attachment and greed. Offering has a material meaning, that is, a person gives all his valuable items. Or, some people may give all their belongings symbolically, imagining that all sentient beings will benefit from this, and all their hardships will be compensated, and the perfection of giving is complete. Generally speaking, the offerings on the Buddhist altar are grouped into groups of seven and placed in seven containers. Each offering has its own special meaning:

"Water" Offering (1) - Drinking Water< /p>

The first offering is drinking water. The merit of water supply is to eliminate the thirst of all living beings, especially those in the realm of hungry ghosts, which can relieve the pain of thirst. Water supply also has the purpose of making all sentient beings receive the compassion of Buddhism, and ultimately be refreshed physically and mentally.

Offering of "water" (2) - Bathing water

Drinking water and bathing water are used as offerings, not because the Buddha is thirsty or needs to be cleansed, but to offer water to the object of refuge. Help us accumulate merit and achieve our own purity. Our bodies have many flaws and are fragile, and the purpose of making offerings is to remove the obstacles we encounter in practicing Dharma, practicing meditation, and understanding the Dharma.

When supplying water, the cups should be wiped clean, first pour a little water into the first cup, and then filter it again. Then arrange them neatly at intervals as wide as a grain of rice. Pour water in order from right to left. It should not be too full, but can be kept as high as a grain of rice. Pay special attention to the five faults of water supply. Only by staying away can you obtain the five merits.

The "Flower" Offering

The third offering is flowers, so as to decorate the siddha's surroundings. Although offering flowers is not necessary for the perfect Buddha world, it is important for the offerer There are benefits. Let us also have the will to enable all sentient beings to find a noble abode and ultimately possess the perfect appearances and qualities like those of siddhas.

How to accumulate merit by offering flowers?

In the past, when Kanakamuni Buddha was incarnation in the world, many bhikkhus were begging for alms in the city. Rich people provided food for them, but a poor man had nothing, but he had great faith and respect for the bhikkhus. I picked various flowers of different colors on the grass and worshiped and made offerings with a very pure and pious heart. He was later reborn as the son of a wealthy family at the Gion Abode of Buddha Shakyamuni, with a majestic and beautiful appearance. When he was born, flowers rained down from the sky, and he was named the "Flower God". This "Flower God" later grew up, received the bhikkhu ordination in front of the Buddha, and attained the status of Arhat. It can be seen that when offering flowers, the most important thing is to have a pious and pure heart and aspire that all living beings can achieve the ultimate fruition of Buddha. Even small flowers will have extremely vast merits and benefits due to their broad intentions.

Offering "incense"

Offering incense is not because Buddhas and Bodhisattvas need to use it to remove the smell on their bodies, but offering incense can eliminate the generation of unpleasant and unhealthy odors, and the merits accumulated will last It can achieve the completion of the profound fragrance of practice. It is said that those who complete the practice are surrounded by sweet and fragrant aromas.

"Lamp" offerings

The fifth kind of offering is lamps and candles. Buddhas and Bodhisattvas use their wisdom eyes to observe clearly and do not need candles to illuminate them. The purpose of offering lamps is to allow the offerer to practice visualizing that the ignorance of all sentient beings has been cleared. The purpose of offering lamps is also to allow knowledge and experience to be clearly expressed among all living beings, just as they are naturally revealed in the pure hearts of Buddhas and enlightened beings.

Materials such as lamp oil, butter, ghee, and vegetable oil must be very clean. Regardless of whether the offering cup is made of different materials: gold, silver, copper, iron, pottery, glass, etc., one's own ability is the focus of consideration, and the wick of the lamp must be exceptionally clean, with the root straight and stable, indicating the purity of the precepts. The middle part is thick, indicating good concentration. The tip of the tip is easy to light, indicating wisdom.

Applying incense (perfume)

Of course, radiant and perfect achievers do not need earthly perfume to experience the natural state of perfection, but we offer perfume to temporarily purify bad habits. , such as greed, anger, and ignorance, and in the end not only the habits, but also the external world are purified and perfected.

Offerings of “food” and “fruit”

The seventh offering is food. Achievers do not need food offerings. The purpose of offering food is to temporarily eliminate the pain of hunger and bring sufficient food to all living beings. Finally, offering food can enable all living beings to experience "Samadhi", the perfect state of meditation, and enable all living beings to live according to the natural resources of meditation.

Before talking about offering fruits to accumulate merit, let me tell you a little story: In the past, there was a poor mother and son in India. When the son went to farm elsewhere, the mother prepared food for him as a gift. Lunch. When he was about to eat, a begging monk came. My son thought that our family had not accumulated merits in previous lives. If we did not accumulate merits in this life, we would be even poorer in the next life! So he offered food to the bhikkhu with respect and a pure heart, and made a great vow. This great wish will enable him to be reincarnated as a prince in his next life, with no worries about food and clothing.

Therefore, we must also make vows to make offerings to the Three Jewels for ourselves and all sentient beings in the sky with a pure heart. Due to our pure intentions and dedication, we will not only achieve the status of a king, but also the perfect status of a Buddha!

Offering "music"

What about offering beautiful music as a way to accumulate merit?

Let’s take Suzuki Music as an example. Generally, there are bells and wind-blown bells ringing in the corners of Buddhist halls, pagodas, and temples. The purpose of offering this wonderful sound to the Buddha is to praise the purity of the Buddha's body and mind, and to praise the Three Jewels by singing, and the merits are particularly great. In the past, when Buddha Sakyamuni was alive, there was a king named King Pasenadi. He and his family went to Jeta Forest. Suddenly they heard a wonderful sound. Even elephants, horses, and livestock stopped to listen along the way. King Pasenadi was very curious, wondering whose song was so charming that even the animals were so intoxicated? It turned out that it was a small monk who sang the chant. King Pasenadi asked the Buddha: "What is the reason why the little bhikkhu has such a wonderful ability to sing?" The Buddha said: because he once offered a golden bell on the stupa of Kassapa Buddha. He also made a great vow of purity, so he was able to sing beautiful sounds and intoxicate all living beings for five hundred kalpas.

So we make offerings in the Buddhist hall with the three purities - pure intentions, pure conduct, and pure dedication. No matter whether the wind blows the small bell, the big trumpet, the whistle, the flute, the postscript... After making the offering, all He may be like a little monk, possessing the wonderful achievements of the sixty limbs of Buddha's sound.

Why are there eight offerings of water, flowers, incense, lamps, paints, fruits, and music in front of the Buddha?

This is a custom originating from India. When a guest comes to a home, he first invites a waiter to drink water, then washes his feet, then hangs a flower around his neck, diffuses the aroma all over his body, and then lights up the lamp. , apply fragrance on your body, and give you food and treats. After everything is ready, you can play the piano for the guests to enjoy.

We make eight offerings to the Buddha, but in fact the Three Jewels do not need these offerings. All of this is done so that sentient beings can accumulate merits and make eight offerings, and the key to making offerings is to move forward with a broad intention, to think about the emptiness of the three-wheel body, and to perform the three pure pursuits of universal and divergent pursuits.

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