Can Food Be Dharma?
18 Jun
“As a Buddhist, we MUST set aside some food for the 3 Jewels. That’s part of our refuge commitments.”
I was told that and immediately, I pictured a divine finger up in the sky pointing at me in accusation, “How come a pastor like you is not doing what you are suppose to be doing?” Well, I had imagined the finger but the previous statement is real and the fact that not all Kechara Pastors practice this confuses this person. Well, there’s no confusion with me because I don’t do this offering.
That is because I already offer my meal as an offering beforehand to Dorje Shugden (although I have to admit I had been lax at times) and this is the same as setting aside some food and fulfils this commitment. Therefore, if its you reading this, rest assure, it is the same and there’s nothing to be confused about. Some might prefer to set aside some food on the shrine. I think this is beautiful and a good offering but not practical if you are out and in a restaurant. I know Tsem Rinpoche does this every single day to collect merits for his students and the organization.
We should do the same and in fact, we don’t necessarily have to offer cooked food. We can offer foodstuff in cans and bottles that have a longer shelf life. Whatever it is, we should have awareness to make food offerings during meal times and at our personal shrines to develop the quality of generosity within us. Furthermore, we often have plenty of requests and ask so much from the Protector but we on the other hand, we are not generating enough merits for him to utilize in order to help us. Food offering is one avenue to generate merits and to get closer to Dorje Shugden that would allow him to quickly come to our aid. The truth of the matter is that Dorje Shugden or any other Buddha do not need our food but they need our merits in order to grant attainments and assist us. That’s the gist of it all and we really need the merits. Quite badly.
The following is a food and drink offering prayer to Dorje Shugden that we can memorize or recite from our phone.
OM AH HUM (3x – purify food)
GANGSHIG DRENPA TSAMGYI CHINANGI
BARCHE KUNSEL LESHEY TRINLEY NAM
TSOLDZE GYALCHEN SHUGDEN RIG-NGA TSEY
TANSUNG KORDANG CHELA CHOPARBUL
All the obstacles from within and without
Completely you dispel and make things clear & fulfil activities,
To the 5 families of Dorje Shugden,
Your great entourage & assistants I offer this.
Morgan Robinson
Luqman Michel
Reza Pramudya
kampus terbaik
CASEY KAM
I did offer candle, fruits and water to my DS mask but the fruit I didn’t change daily. Does this offended?
Jason
Thank you for the proper prayer of offering Pastor Lai. You always bringing pure Dharma, knowledgeability and encouragement to the Practitioner, for the benefit of all sentient beings. The teachings of the Lineage are conveyed with the utmost attention to authenticity. You are an appreciated Friend, Pastor, Practitioner and inspiration. May you enjoy continued success and good fortune, optimum health and well being. Sarva Mangalam.
Thank you Mark. I am glad you like the little blog posts that I put on. It’s nice to get some encouragement sometimes.
Yes Dorje Shugden does not like fruits that have gone bad. Lol! Just kidding. Its ok to leaving offerings for more than a day as long as they are still fresh. Never leave fruits, flowers or any offerings that have gone bad. It’s bad for our practice. You see, if we don’t like to eat food that has gone bad, then why do we leave food on the altar that has gone bad.
In the past, I usually just offer fruits and other food items like milk and biscuits. After I saw the cooked food offering that Rinpoche posted on social media, I have started to make offerings with the food I cook. Am glad that I caught that those posts as we now have more options to offer to the Protector and Buddhas.
Thank you.