OFFERING BEFORE FOOD
Grace in the Tibetan Mahayana Tradition
Dedicated to
TSAWI LAMA
(Our Chief or Root Lama)
HIS HOLINESS GYALWA KARMAPA XVI
Rangjung Rikpi Dorje, of
Dharma Chakra Centre
Rumtek, Gangtok, Sikkim
(India)
In the early morning, at breakfast, we call the Buddha Sakyamuni to ask him to accept our offering.
THE GOLDEN BUDDHA
******************
Merciful, skilled in means
Is the Buddha,
Born of the Sakya Race.
By others undefeated but himself
The defeater of Mara
The hosts of delusion.
Like a heap of gold is your body,
O King of the Sakyas
At your feet I bow.
Or we can offer our first tea of food to the Guru Lama: H.H. Karmapa
THE CHIEF LAMA
******************
From the pure sphere of the Dharmadhatu
And the Ogmin, highest of all the heavens
Comes He who is the essence
Of the Buddhas of the Three Times - - -
Past, Present and Future.
O my Root Lama, who really shows my mind to be the
Dharma Body
To you I bow down
And make this offering.
For the main meal or at midday, we offer to the Triple Gem
THE THREE JEWELS
******************
The guide unequalled is the
Buddha Jewel
The protector unequalled is the
Dharma Jewel
The Saviour unequalled is the
Sangha Jewel:
To the transcending Triple Gem
I make this offering
(in Tibetan)
Ton pa la may Sanjay Rinpoche
Chob pa la may tamchü Rinpoche
Dren pa la may gendun Rinpoche
La may Konchok sum la
CHOD PA BUL
OFFERING (FORMAL)
For a big meal presented by devotees (a dana) (for the useof the Sangha)
This delicious food with one hundred savours
So inviting
With these few choice words
I offer to the Victorious Ones
And to the Bodhisattvas
Who are their spiritual sons.
With faith in my heart I present it to them.
This is my prayer:
May all beings whatsoever
Attain to the realization.
By eating it may the higher yogas and the peace
Of Samadhi increase.
(Follow this by Thanksgiving)
Thanksgiving after the meal. To be recited by the Sangha only.
For us the kind host(s) have offered food:
May the merit of it become vast.
For all beings may the conditions leading to Enlightenment arise.
As the Buddhas of old shared the merit
So I share it:
And by this gift of food (or dana)
May all that live cross the ocean
Of the suffering of the worlds.
Then share the merit with the devas, nagas, and other unseen spirit beings:
May the King of the Naga Spririts be happy
And all unseen beings near us be happy
May all the devas and local gods of the towns be happy
May all have long life and freedom from sickness
May all be in excellent health
May all attain happiness.
Note: It should be explained that when the unseen spirits fall sick there is drought and famine in the world, and conflicts arise. By associating the unseen ones with his prayers the Lama Brother or Sister benefits not only them, but all mother sentient beings in the Great Compassion of the Buddha.
At tea time, or when taking a light evening meal, remember the Bodhisattvas who aid us in our daily tasks
1. Offering to Chenrezi
******************
Faultless One of pure white colour
With the Fully Enlightened Buddha
As the decoration on your head
Looking with greatly merciful eyes
On all that lives
To Chenrezi, I reverently bow
And make the offering.
2. Offering to the Divine Mother
(the green Jetsun Dolma)
******************
She who is the ruling queen
Of both gods and asuras *
Whose holy foot rests on the lotus
Remover of all difficulties whatsoever
To Dolma (or Tara) who is the Mother
I bow down and make
this offering.
note: * the fighting Gods who are motivated by jealousy are controlled by her.
If food is taken in the night
It may be prefaced by an Offering Prayer to the MAHAKALA Gonpas (or Protectors)
Emerging from the Dharma Sphere,
In the form of the Angry ones
Always of the same Dharma nature,
Unwavering, as the Protectors of the Teaching are.
Countless are the emanations
Streaming from the heart of
Our Protector of the Vajra
Whom we call DORJE BERNAK CHEN.
O Protector of the Transcendental Wisdom
Into your mouth I make
the offering.
Tibetan texts: Translated by: Gelongma Sister K.K. Palmo with the help of Ven. Thrangu Rinpoche and other Kagyudpa Lamas in India.
SARVA MANGALAM
In the Tibetan tradition grace is as beautiful as a spring morning, spontaneous and varied.
It brings the Guru, Buddhas
and Bodhisattvas, to mind.
In the evening it evokes the Protectors.
Originally published by KARMA RIGDOL PUBLICATIONS for KARMA TENGAY LING in 1976, San Mateo, California, U.S.A.