Question asked by Jocelyn
Dear pastors,
Jocelyn here again. Good evening, thank you for reading my question dear.
For the Yamantaka retreat right, the 64 tormas to Kalarupa, is it possible to use bread or biscuits if not convenient to make 64 torma? Is there any photo available for example to show how many bread needed and the way of how to arrange the pattern of bread? do i need to put the drop tear cuttings and paste onto it if the 64 torma can use bread to represent it? For Yamantaka retreat, for the Yidam torma can i use a jar of biscuits to represent just like how we do for Dorje Shugden retreat? Looking forward to your reply and much appreaciated:)
Dear Jocelyn,
Thank you for your questions. It’s good to see you asking more questions here. For the 64 torma offering to Kalarupa, you don’t actually make 64 separate tormas but one torma, with sections marked off into 64 parts that you use as the offering. You can substitute this for bread and biscuits, in which case, in the centre place one large loaf of bread and around it you place 64 biscuits. The tear drop cuttings are not applicable to this type of torma, as it is a different type of torma than the once that use the tear drop shape. Similarly, it is possible to use a jar of biscuits for the yidam during your retreat.
That being said however, you should consult with the guru who gave you the empowerment of Yamantaka, and if it included permission to engage in the Kalarupa practice from a tantric perspective. This is because the guru would best be able to guide you in your retreat, and sometimes the guru may have instructions for you to engage in the retreat in a more traditional style with actual tormas. This would be for you to create more merit, as it would take you time and effort to make the tormas daily. Please do check with you guru on the above matter to get a proper answer.
Thank you