In front of the image of Buddha on our shrine we set up beautiful offerings, making sure that as we do so our mind is free from gross delusions, worldly concerns, and any bad or impure motivation.
We may arrange a row, or many rows, of seven offering substances: water for drinking, water for bathing, flowers, incense, light, perfume, and food. These can be offered as actual substances or as water. The seven substances represent the objects that delight the senses.
If we offer water to represent the seven offering substances, and if the water we offer has eight good qualities, we experience eight special benefits:
* Offering cool water causes us to develop pure moral discipline.* Offering delicious water ensures that we shall always find delicious food and drink in future lives.
* Offering light water causes us to experience the bliss of physical suppleness.
* Offering soft water makes our mind calm and gentle.
* Offering clear water makes our mind clear and alert.
* Offering sweet-smelling water brings easy and powerful purification of negative karma.
* Offering water that is good for the digestion reduces our illnesses.
* Offering water that soothes the throat makes our speech beautiful and powerful.
The practice of offering is a very important preparation since it creates a vast amount of merit and makes our mind very strong. One of its special benefits is that everyone can do it easily because seven offering bowls are not hard to find and we can easily obtain water. When we offer water there is no danger of developing greed or miserliness as there may be when we offer other substances. Therefore, this is one practice that we can perform very purely right from the beginning.
Our Center offerings are changed every day by volunteers. If you are interested in learning more, or in signing up for a space in the rotation or as a substitute, please speak to a teacher's assistant or other Center volunteer.
