(continued from issue #697 P.4)

Since you cannot take money into or out of this world, it would seem sufficient to have enough for this one lifetime. Yet, people love money more than their own lives. They spend all their energy amassing more and more and are never content. It is the same thing with sex. Mr. Sun had wished his gout would improve, but he had also wished he could have more luck with women. (Grand Master laughter) His wife must not be here today. Mr. Sun had referred to Song Xian-zheng, a student, whose past romantic interludes I am also aware of. As the Chinese saying goes, 「Womanizing can lead a hero to his tomb.」 Indeed, such things will lead one far away from the Buddhas.

Today I am transmitting the Smoke Offering Practice. A simple explanation of this practice does not take very long. However, if I go into detail, it may take several hours, and we will not be able to finish today's program on time.

Spiritual practitioners have obstacles just as ordinary people do. Earlier, Mr. Sun had wished that our wishes would come true. This Smoke Offering will help you realize your wishes. Without a proper cleansing, karmic obstacles will manifest and hinder your success. A business deal you are about to sign may suddenly fall through. A marriage may be suddenly called off. You may be a sure bet to become the next president, but for some reason, the opportunity brushes you by. Obstacles exist between you and your goals that come from the human as well as the invisible world. The latter forces are more formidable. We are under the control of invisible forces in the Universe. Your past lives, the relationships and connections that you have forged in this lifetime, your karmic friends, enemies, and creditors -visible or invisible factors exist to bring about your present experiences. Practicing this Smoke Offering will assist in cleansing you of all these visible and invisible obstacles.

To perform this ritual, the first thing you will need is a smoke offering burner (censer). (Grand Master picks up the incense burner.) This is the smoke offering burner for individual practice. For group practice, a bigger burner may be used. You may also use a horizontal censer, depending on what it is you are offering. What I have here today is a smoke offering burner used in Vajrayana practice. The lid can be uncovered for you to place the smoke offering inside. After lighting it, smoke will rise from the opening. As the smoke ascends, chant the mantras slowly, and perform the visualizations and the rest of the ritual steps.

To where does the smoke ascend？ Firstly, if you are making an offering to Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, perform this practice between 5 and 9 a.m. If you are making an offering to your karmic enemies and creditors, perform this practice between 5 and 9 p.m. This is the time requirement.

Tantric rules specify requisite items for the smoke offering. The first requisite is sandalwood incense powder. The second item is flour that has been pan-fried without oil – to this you may use some milk powder, brown rice powder, peanut powder, bean powder, or five-grain powder. The third requisite is a mixture of brown and white sugar. The fourth item is red, white, blue, green, and yellow fabric cut into small squares.

(to be continued)

《本文譯自蓮生活佛在西雅圖雷藏寺2008年新春觀音大法會煙供法傳法開示》