(continued from issue #699 P.4)

At the start of the Smoke Offering, visualize the manifestation of the Personal Deity: the appearance of a moon disc in the Empty Space before you, the emergence of the seed syllable 「Seh」 and its transformation into the Four-Armed Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva. From your heart chakra, a blue colored 「Hum」 syllable is emitted to transform into a hook that latches onto the Four-Armed Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva (from your crown opening) and lowers her to your heart chakra. You then transform into Four-Armed Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva. At this moment, you are Four-Armed Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva.

To recapitulate: When you are done with the seven preliminaries, visualize the moon disc, the seed syllable 「Seh」 and its transformation into Four-Armed Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva in the Empty Space. Then, visualize the seed syllable 「Hum」 in your heart emitting a blue light to guide and receive the Four-Armed Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva to your crown to enter the lotus in your heart. Gradually this Four-Armed Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva enlarges to the size of your body, and in a snap, you become Four-Armed Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva.

After becoming Four-Armed Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva, you visualize emptiness. The mantra for the emptiness visualization is 「Om, si-ba-wa, su-da, sa-er-wa, da-er-ma, si-ba-wa, su-do-hang.」 This mantra transforms everything into emptiness. You are Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva sitting in emptiness. To strengthen this identity, chant 「Om Mani Padme Hum」 one hundred and eight times.

While you are dwelling on the vastness of Empty Space, visualize the smoke arising from the censer and filling the vastness of this space. The smoke also transforms into very subtle and wonderful clothing, foods and drinks, tools and equipments, houses, cars, refrigerators, and electrical appliances. All articles for use appear in your visualization: food, utensils and tools, exquisite clothing, and the five kinds of subtle offerings. You may also visualize the manifestation of jewels and gems filling up this Empty Space.

At this time, offer these items engendered in the smoke to all the ghosts, spirits, karmic enemies and creditors, and other beings who have negative affinities with you; so that after accepting your offerings, you will be left without hindrances and obstructions. Your undertakings will then be successful. All your karmic creditors, whether visible or invisible, will be positively influenced by your Smoke Offering.

At this time, while visualizing these offerings, snap your fingers seven times and chant this mantra, 「Om, Ah-bu-la-di, Pu-ba-yeh, So-ha.」 Chant this mantra seven times accompanied by finger snapping. Chant the mantra once and snap the fingers once.

「Om, Ah-bu-la-di, Pu-ba-yeh, So-ha.」 Snap once.

「Om, Ah-bu-la-di, Pu-ba-yeh, So-ha.」 Snap once. Repeat a total of seven times.

And the dedication verse？ If you are making offerings to Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, then you recite:

「These five amazing offerings, I sincerely render to all Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, Vajra Protectors, and Heavenly Beings through this smoke offering.」

If you are making offerings to karmic enemies and creditors, then you recite:

(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》