Attitude When Receiving Offerings
(By Tsem Rinpoche and Pastor Jean Ai)
As Buddhists, we are taught that making offerings generates tremendous merits to be dedicated towards our spiritual progress. Not only are we encouraged to make offerings to the Three Jewels – the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha – but even more so, we are encouraged to make offerings to our gurus, considered the most precious of all because they connect us with the Three Jewels. Hence, our connection with our teachers ultimately provides us with the knowledge and blessings we need to liberate ourselves from samsara and lifetime after lifetime of suffering.
Rinpoche took a photo with some of the flowers offered, thanking everyone for their generosity.
On 25 October 2014, Tsem Rinpoche gave us a teaching on the attitude one should have when receiving offerings. This teaching came the day after Rinpoche’s birthday, when Rinpoche received a lot of offerings from students and friends. They flooded the Ladrang, filling every available flat surface. Looking at the flowers and gifts everywhere, Rinpoche said he rejoiced in everyone’s generosity, not because he was the recipient but because it reflected on so many people’s progress in their practice of generosity. Rinpoche then set about giving us the teaching, saying that he had received it from His Eminence Denma Locho Rinpoche when Denma Locho Rinpoche was giving teachings in Drepung Monastery. Two years later on 29 May 2016, Rinpoche was kind enough to reiterate this teaching to many of us present, even giving us a visualisation we can engage in when receiving the offerings.
According to Denma Locho Rinpoche, when a devotee makes an offering, the recipient should rejoice in the person’s generosity. Making the offering took away from something else they could have spent their money or time on. Making the offering was therefore the giver’s practice of cutting their attachments to what they desire. With this in mind, it is the responsibility of the recipient to help the giver create as much merit as possible by offering it to the Three Jewels first.
Left to right: His Eminence Kensur Jampa Yeshe Rinpoche, His Eminence Denma Locho Rinpoche and His Eminence the 25th Tsem Rinpoche on pilgrimage in Bodhgaya
Denma Locho Rinpoche said that when we rejoice in the giver’s generosity, the recipient also reinforces their own spiritual practice because rejoicing is the direct antidote for jealousy. Getting into the habit of rejoicing for good things in general trains us to rejoice when good things happen to others, instead of to ourselves. This therefore attacks the self-cherishing mind that falsely leads us to believe we are someone worthy of making offerings to.
Hence, Denma Locho Rinpoche also had a word of caution for those who are in positions of spiritual authority and respect, who may become recipients of offerings. Denma Locho Rinpoche said that these individuals must take even greater care to avoid the ‘pitfalls’ of being in such a position. The pitfalls Denma Locho Rinpoche was referring to are opportunities to reinforce ego. Denma Locho Rinpoche stressed that when one rejoices in receiving offerings, it will help the recipient to cut their attachment to the item.
Some of the flower offerings Rinpoche received on his birthday. At the time, we were living in Los Angeles so many people in Malaysia made an effort to have these flowers delivered on time for Rinpoche’s birthday. It was this effort that inspired Rinpoche to give the teachings.
This is important because if our attitude of receiving offerings is not correct, the offering can become a cause for us to generate more attachment and negative karma (instead of merit). Some people, for example, may be attached to the sight of beautiful flowers and feel proud when they receive such offerings, thinking, “Yes, I am worthy of these offerings.” Denma Locho Rinpoche questioned the wisdom of this. Cut flowers last for one or two days before they begin to rot. In those one or two short days, is it logical for us to allow the impermanent flowers to deepen our pride and self-cherishing mind, or will the flowers become a cause for us and the giver to generate merit?
With all this discussion about rejoicing, Tsem Rinpoche asked us if this means we should rejoice for bad things. In short, the answer is ‘no’ because when we rejoice in bad things, for example our rivals and competitors losing, we may be rid of them temporarily but the real consequences are more far-reaching. Although our physical competitor may be gone, we have just reinforced our real enemies – jealousy, anger and other afflictive emotions which are the true causes for our suffering.
According to Denma Locho Rinpoche therefore, when one’s duties are carried out properly and without ego, being in a position of spiritual authority can become a vehicle for benefiting others. When the position is abused however, it can be detrimental spiritually even for the teacher. So how does one rejoice when receiving offerings? What is the recommended procedure of receiving an offering to ensure the action becomes a merit-making act for both giver and receiver?
Visualisation
If you have not received initiation, you can generate Lama Tsongkhapa or your yidam (meditational deity) on the crown of your head. At this point, visualise the offerings being made to the deity on the crown of your head, and the merits generated being dedicated to the person who made the offering.
If you have received initiation, Denma Locho Rinpoche said one should self-generate as the yidam and make the offerings to yourself as the yidam, dedicating the merits thus collected back to the person who made the offering.
An alternative meditation is to visualise the energy of generosity being offered up to the Three Jewels. Alternatively, you may also visualise the offerings transforming into the Eight Auspicious Signs and those being offered up to the Three Jewels on behalf of the person who made the offerings to you.
The reason such a dedication is made, is for the giver to create a connection with Dharma and to meet with teachers in future lifetimes so that they may further their practice until Enlightenment. Only after this dedication is made should the offerings be enjoyed or used ‘properly’.
Conclusion
Since Tsem Rinpoche received this teaching from Denma Locho Rinpoche, Rinpoche has practised it whenever someone generously makes an offering. I have seen this take place countless times with my own eyes. Each time offerings are presented to Rinpoche, Rinpoche recites a short prayer for the person and has the offerings displayed on the altar for a period of time, for the giver to accumulate merit.
Tsem Rinpoche reciting prayers and offering candles upon hearing about His Eminence Denma Locho Rinpoche’s passing into clear light on October 23, 2014. Just two days later, Rinpoche would deliver to us a teaching Denma Locho Rinpoche had given to him in Drepung.
Although we may not be in positions of spiritual authority whereby we are frequent recipients of offerings, we can apply the same logic and teachings presented by Denma Locho Rinpoche any time someone does something nice for us. Just replace the word ‘offerings’ with ‘gifts’, and the teachings instantly become relevant to our everyday lives. Thus, although we may not be gurus or teachers, we cannot deny that we experience generosity and receive gifts from others. So when someone is generous or shows us some kindness, practising Denma Locho Rinpoche’s teachings on the correct attitude when receiving gifts will result in a merit-making interaction between giver and recipient.
For more interesting information:
- My Precious Teachers
- Dorje Shugden Gyenze to Increase Life, Merits and Wealth
- A Note on Offerings by Panchen Ötrul Rinpoche
- Yesterday I experienced true generosity…
- Generosity
- Bangkok Monks and why make offerings
- Chinese New Year shopping!!
- It’s not between you and the recipient
- Making Offerings to Shar Gaden Monastery
- Offerings to the Sangha in India
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Thank you Rinpoche for this profound teaching which I truly appreciate and a great knowledge for me about generosity and receive gifts from others. By offering and giving to Guru, we practice generosity and reduce our attachment. I have learned that through visualising when making offerings to the Buddha, and dedicating the merits to the person who made the offering.
Thank you again Rinpoche and Pastor Jean Ai with folded hands for sharing this article.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this article. I had learnt the attitude when receiving offering. For example, we should rejoice in everyone’s generosity. We can make offering to Buddha before we consume the food or play the toy. By doing this we can create merits for the giver and ourselves. We should also cherish the gift from the giver, because they may spend their money or time on it. When they are giving, they are cutting they attachment to what they desire. OwO
Thank you Rinpoche & Pastor Jean Ai for writing this blog post. I learned many things from this post, like how to visualise when making offerings to the Buddhas and dedicating the merits to the giver. I didn’t know that we can offer generosity as an energy to the Three Jewels. It is very good to offer things like fruits or flowers on an auspicious day. Thank you again Rinpoche and Pastor Jean Ai for this sharing. 🙂
Aldan
Thank you for sharing. I learned many things from this article. It is good to do or make offerings to the Buddha for the giver. This will create a cause for the giver to be closer to the Dharma. Thank you again for sharing _/\_
Thank you Rinpoche and Pastor Jean Ai for writing this blog/article. The sentence that I understand from this article is “The reason such a dedication is made, is for the giver to create a connection with Dharma and to meet with teachers in future lifetimes so they may further their practice until enlightenment. Only after this dedication is made should the offerings be enjoyed or used ‘properly’”. I learned that we should always do dedication for the person that gave you the gift. When you do dedication, it is collecting merits for the givers and to help them connect with Dharma and when you offer the gifts you are making offerings to the Three Jewels. ^_^
From this article, i am able to learn that, the kindness of a Guru, whom always think to give the best to the students and to peoples, particularly for the students or people to connect to Dharma.
Through this article, i have learned that i can help people who care and love me and give me gifts to connect to Dharma, and they are protected by the Three Jewels, even have chances to connect to Dharma.
I feel so wonderful to have Dharma knowledge. From these knowledge, we are able to help more people and be more skillful in helping people to get close to Dharma. Instead of becoming more ego when receiving gifts. We can help the person who give us gifts to have more merits.
Thank you Rinpoche for giving us Dharma
Thank you Pastor Jean Ai for writing down.
A powerful article that shows us, how a gift to a spiritual teacher is used to benefit the student and teacher alike. All the gifts and offerings the most optimal usage of such actions, is to generate merit for the recipient and the giver.
Thank you for the visualisaiton as well that went with this article.
Thank you Pastor Jean Ai for this simple yet complete visualisation of receiving offerings or gifts. Most of Tsem Rinpoche’s students have received gifts from Rinpoche which are being offered to Rinpoche. It is good to know the meaning behind the practice of generosity as well we the visualisation of receiving gifts so that we don’t fall into the trap of inflating our ego further.
Thank you, Pastor Jean Ai on this sharing of Attitude When Receiving Offerings.
Yes, we need to cut down our attachments and our ego greatly in order to pursue generosity. On top of that we also need to learn how to rejoice for the person who is offering. As it is part of our spiritual practice and also antidote to jealousy is to rejoice for someone who does any offerings to the Three Jewels.
The sharing of the visualisation is appreciated and knowledgeable.
With folded hands
Thank you
Thank you Rinpoche and Pastor Jean Ai for sharing the beautiful Dharma teaching of correct attitude when receiving the offerings and gifts from others, especially visualizing our yidam on the crown of our head (if we are not given the initiation) to help the person who have made the offerings to generate merits and at the same time, we can prevent ourselves from developing attachments, ego and self-esteem within our minds.
I believe no one has never received any material gifts, offerings, kindness, help, compassion, love or care from our parents, relatives, loved ones, superiors, colleagues, friends and other people around us, thus, we can learn from this posting and practicing the visualization as taught by Denma Locho Rinpoche to help the people around us to be connected to the 3 Jewels and collect the merits.
May more and more people able to learn and practice generosity, giving, compassion and kindness towards all sentient beings, and for those who receive the offerings, will offer up to the 3 Jewels for the benefits of both the givers and receivers.
Thank you with folded hands,
kin hoe
Being really accustomed to environment where there is no such thing as a “free lunch” or where “everything comes with a price” is prevalent; receiving gifts especially when there is no “reason” or “justification” for such gifts have always been quite uncomfortable for me and honestly can be a struggle at times. Such teaching on what to do after receiving gifts has given me another perspective and allowed me to better reconcile my concerns and anxieties relating to this. It is also definitely a better way of giving back the giver by working towards enabling the giver to create as much merit as possible by us rejoicing in the giver’s generosity and offering the gifts received to the Three Jewels first.
Thank you Rinpoche and Pastor Jean Ai for sharing this method which can be easily adapted and adopted by us (when receiving gifts) in order to ensure the action becomes a merit-making act for both giver and receiver.
Such a precious Dharma teachings and practice that we can do daily for anyone who has given to us gifts even kindness.
whenever we receive gift or kindness, we shall rejoice or happy, not for what we get but in the giver’s generosity. By rejoicing we cut off our jealousy. This also trains us to rejoice when good things happen to others. Never cherish our ego of thinking we are someone worthy of giving gifts or kindness to.
Then we make a dedication by offering up the gifts or kindness to the three jewels. I like this very much and I think this is a way of me repaying the giver’s kindness by connecting the givers with Dharma and to meet with teachers in future lifetimes so that they may further their practice until Enlightenment.
And I must always remind myself, ONLY AFTER this dedication is made then only I can enjoy or use the gifts.
Making offerings to the 3 jewels is to received merit, blessings and attachment. Therefore we should practice dharma by cultivating a habit of being patience, compassion and showing kindness to all sentient beings. Besides, showing respect to people with higher attainment is a very good habit we should learn. It’s a culture we have to imprint into our mind.
I sincerely thank you Rinpoche and Pastor Jean Ai for sharing this short and wonderful article.
It’s extremely beneficial & important for us to have and bulid up the correct attitudes of giving gifts to a lay person and during making offerings to the Guru, Budhha, & Sangha.
The correct attitudes are to be
1) selfless(Do not keep good stuffs for only oneself, but look at the a bigger picture which if we give something away it might benefit more people),
2) eliminate the ego within us(Oh, I’m a person with high social status and hence, people around me should send me gifts and it’s not necessary for me to takr care of them),
3)gift without expectations but purely hope it will benefit the receiver( when we send a gift to a person, it’s good to not expect that person will return with a gift, because this expection could be destructive for the relationship and also for ourselves( because when the person is not able to fulfill our expectations, anger will arise and take place.
To have and construct the correct attitudes of receiving and giving gifts are equal to dharma practice, they are extremely beneficial for us and those who around us, positive energies will spread all over and pass on and on
It’s difficult, but nothing is impossible.
Thank you for sharing this meaningful practice with us. We receive so much kindness every day and this practice can be applied in daily life for the benefit of many people. We definitely want the Dharma to grow and our dedication to the three jewels, the person who made something nice for us will gain merits. In the way, the gift was trully beneficial for both, the giver and the receiver. Our attitude and motivation is most important. With the correct attitude even small things can become very powerful and beneficial. On the other hand, without the correct motivation, even big things may not generate such merits.
I’m blessed to personally witness when Rinpoche received gifts from someone Rinpoche will recite prayers for the person for them to accumulate merit. A genuine Lama will always find ways to benefits people in anyway.
Rinpoche never hope for any gift but it’s an act of cutting our attachment on something that we offered to the object of refuge. The teaching of making and receiving offering in this blog is a good education for us to set a right motivation to support our spiritual path. Thank you Rinpoche for giving us the opportunity collect merits and transform our mind.
Here, we are offering the best of ourselves to something higher than us – so that we can one day, aspire to become like that too!
The act of offering is an act of dana – an act of generosity. So it’s an emotional and physical expression of our reverence:
To the Buddha himself – the Perfectly Enlightened One
To the Dharma – the Truth – sometimes we place holy Sutras and Mantras on altars to pay our respects to the wisdom elucidated within those sacred teachings.
To the Noble Enlightened Ones like the Bodhisattvas – like Gwan Yin Bodhisattva who is a symbol of Great Compassion
Learning the dharma and practising it is so powerfully enriching for they always have positive results. Just to think of it, making offerings to our spiritual gurus allows us to collect merit. And when we receive gifts from others helps us to cut our ego and attachments when we set good motivation. Thank you Rinpoche for the teaching, and Pastor Jean Ai for sharing the significance of making offerings to the gurus, Buddhas, and sangha.
This teaching is very easy to understand and the points made clear.
Direct antidote for jealousy and the attitude in offering are some of the points that hit me. And how true it is when we can spend our money on making offerings to collect merits rather than spending it on more attachments. I especially like the part of visualising when receiving offerings. In the future, when I receive gifts from family and friends, I can visualise them being offered to the 3 Jewels and dedicate the merits to them and make the connection.
This is a great sharing from Pastor Jean Ai, I think not just offering, when we received any gift from anyone, it is such a great blessing for us to visualize the Yidam sitting on the crown and people are actually giving gift to the enlightened beings and not us, then in this way, we will not take the gifts for granted as it is been offered to the Buddha and not us.
We often feel proud when receiving gifts especially during special occasion, like our birthday, some anniversary dates, etc, we will be so super excited when there are tons of gifts on the table(s), but then, it is just for the moment of feeling proud, because after the event ended, most of the gifts not suitable to use or some even being kept in the box for many years. So why deepen our ego for something that is not useful at all..
Thank you Pastor Jean Ai for showing the picture of Rinpoche doing prayers dedicating to the people who made offering to Rinpoche, I has witnessed it myself many years ago in 1 occasion, after Rinpoche receiving the gifts from his students and friends, he did prayer and dedicate back the merits to the givers, then only he give instruction to his assistant to keep all these gifts nicely in the gift room, so that in future when Rinpoche came across anyone who needed that item to help in their spiritual practice, then Rinpoche will give it to them.
Rinpoche’s compassion and motivation has never changed since the first day, he never keep any of these gifts for him selves, Rinpoche always give it to others to encourage their spiritual path.
That is why I like this blog so much, even just giving gifts, there are so much for us to learn.
As Buddhist, it is a common practice to make offerings towards the Three Jewels – the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha. When we study the dharma, we will learn that it is even more important to make offerings to our Gurus. As Pastor Jean Ai aptly points out that “…our Gurus are the most precious of all because they connect us with the Three Jewels. Our connection with our teachers ultimately provides us with the knowledge and blessings we need to liberate ourselves from samsara and lifetime after lifetime of suffering.”
Therefore, it is an eye opener to learn from Denma Locho Rinpoche through the sharing by H.E. the 25th Tsem Rinpoche and Pastor Jean Ai on the attitude when receiving offerings; and understanding that this attitude can be applied to our daily life. The teaching emphasizes on real compassion and gratefulness on the part of the recipient, for “the recipient should rejoice in the person’s generosity. Making the offering took away from something else they could have spent their money or time on. Making the offering was therefore the giver’s practice of cutting their attachments to what they desire. With this in mind, it is the responsibility of the recipient to help the giver create as much merit as possible by offering it to the Three Jewels first.”
The recipient can help the giver generate merits by visualizing the offerings being made to the YIDAM or the Three Jewels, and the merits generated being dedicated to the person who made the offering. Thank you very much, Rinpoche for this sharing.
The teaching in this article illustrates to me the true meaning of appreciation and gratitude in receiving gifts from other people. To visualise such that the giver gains merits in their gifts and presents is a powerful way of returning goodwill for the gifts and obligate us from feeling obliged that the gifts must be returned in some way or the other. Merits gained is priceless in nature.
I was once told that in not receiving gifts or help and assistance, the person is a “taker” taking away from the giver the pleasure of giving. How much truth rings in this statement.
Here with the narration of Denma Locho Rinpoche’s teachings, I understand the grace of receiving and the benefit to be dedicated to the generosity of the giver.
Thank you Rinpoche and Pastor Jean Ai for this gift of learning.
Thank you Rinpoche for the teaching and thank you Pastor Jean Ai for sharing. I think it is a very important teaching for all. By offering and giving to 3 Jewels and Guru, we practice generosity and reduce our attachment and self cherishing mind. This is also a way to connect us to the 3 Jewels.
So wonderful to rejoice and create merits for the givers and sponsors. Appreciate the visualisation method. I will learn and apply it daily.
谢谢仁爱讲法师的分享。
上师五十颂说过， 供养上师就是等于供养于十方三世诸佛， 可以让我们累积功德。 原来是上师在收到供养后都会先把供品供给三宝， 再把功德回向给供养者。
供养上师也可以培养我们的慷慨心， 不会对物质执着。
当然， 这也不局限于高僧或上师收到供养而已， 在我们凡人的立场， 如果我们收到礼物也是可以利用这个机会把我们收到的礼物供养给三宝， 让送给我们礼物的人与三宝结缘。
我们如果也可以趁着这个机会随喜送给我们礼物的人的慷慨心也可以对治我们的妒忌心， 实在是一举两得。
非常谢谢仁爱讲法师的分享， 让我们了解更多做供养的好处。
谢谢
Thank You Rinpoche for the teaching and Thank You Pastor Jean Ai for sharing the powerful article. I love this technique taught by Denma Locho Rinpoche. This can be practiced daily to cut down my inner three poisons.I always worry that the three poisons grows in our mind without me realizing it. I particularly like the visualizing the yidam in crown receiving the offering the offering and creating the merit to givers to be closed with Guru in future. I thought it might be another good way of spreading the Dharma to others. Thank You Rinpoche for walking the talk to remind us and re-instill the teaching to our mind. Thank You with folded hands.
Thank you Pastor Jean Ai for sharing this article with us. It is indeed a good practice that we should cultivate whenever someone gives us gifts. I feel that the more Dharma work you do, the more unexpected gifts that you will receive from others for example treating you to a nice dinner, sponsor your pilgrimage trip, give Dharma books and other items. As the saying goes, the more you give the more you will receive.
With folded palms,
Vivian
Thank you, Pastor Jean Ai, for sharing this teaching on the correct attitude to have when receiving offerings.
It is important to remember to consistently make offerings to the Three Jewels,and to our Spiritual Guide, who is the embodiment of the Three Jewels. It is our Spiritual Guide who provides us with the blessings and the knowledge to liberate us from samsara and lifetimes of suffering.
In accordance with Denma Locho Rinpoche,it is important to have the correct attitude in receiving the offerings from a giver or it might lead to an ego trip (as the recipient thinks they are worthy of the offering)and to collecting negative karma instead. The correct attitude of the recipient in receiving offerings is to:
1) rejoice at the generosity of the giver, who has overcome their attachment in order to present the offering
2)help the giver collect as much merits as possible.
Rejoicing is a way of not only cutting off attachments, but it also prevents deepening our self-cherishing . When we divert our thoughts from ourselves and our worthiness to receive the offering, and instead direct them to rejoice over the generosity of the giver, this rejoicing can be an antidote to jealousy, and will help cut off our jealousy.
To help the giver get as much merits as possible, the recipient can make an offering of their offerings to the Three Jewels. The recipient can visualise Lama Tsongkhapa on the crown of their head and making offerings to him or visualise themselves as the Yidam receiving the offerings.Then they dedicate the merits to the giver.
The reason for making such a dedication is for the giver to create a connection with the Dharma and to meet with teachers in future lifetimes so that they may further their practice until Enlightenment.
The recipient is reminded to make this dedication first before the offerings are enjoyed or used ‘properly’.
“merit-making interaction between giver and recipient.”
I like your closing sentence, Pastor Jean Ai. I never thought that any gift that I received, i could also dedicate the merits. This is such an eye-opener.
The thought was always one way, i.e. I get greedy and make offerings for merit which in its own way is no merit since the motivation was for merits. Confusing, isn’t it?
So, thank you very much for this sharing.
By carrying out this a practice, you will change the whole landscape of receiving gifts.
By visualizing an enlightened deity and making it the object of the generosity, the giver gains merits.
Simultaneously, the receiver transmutes the conventional self into a non-inherent self which attacks the ego.
It’s a win-win situation.
Wonderful teachings on attitude when receiving offerings.I learned some important points here.Always dedicate the merits to the one who give or when someone does something nice for us.When we makes an offering, the recipient should rejoice in the person’s generosity. Its a good teachings and a reminder for us.
Thank you Rinpoche and Pastor Elena Khong Jean Ai for sharing the teachings on the attitude when receiving offerings.
Dear Pastor Jean Ai,
Thank you so much for sharing this wonderful teaching on receiving offerings or gifts in this secular world.
Frankly, if not for this sharing, many of us, including myself, would have this “Cloud 9” feeling when we get gifts particularly on our birthdays. Now I know who I should react and dedicate the merits to the giver.
Conversely, it is also applicable when we receive annual bonuses from our company that we work for. We should express gratitude and repay the kindness of management with dedicated work in return. And of course, we have to dedicate the merits to the entire leadership team in the organization that we work for.
Thanks so much Pastor for this sharing and Dharma teaching from Rinpoche.
Humbly yours,
Lum Kok Luen