Offering for the Dead
The principal guests of this offering are known as Spirits, those beings who have died suddenly, committed suicide or have been killed or died from illness or natural causes, and are wandering in the intermediate bardo state. At this time they are not in a form to take concrete food, thus they are constantly in search of smells, their only source of nourishment. This sur is therefore an offering of smells, prepared from a mixture of toasted barley flour and butter, and burned in a clay pot. This offering to the spirits relieves their hunger temporarily and also relieves one’s karmic debts to them. It is said that one may experience distress and bad circumstances due to the suffering of the bardo beings around one. Because of one’s karmic indebtedness to these beings, one is sensitive to their suffering, so the performance of this ritual is said to help both oneself and others. Traditionally in Tibet, when someone dies their family members perform this ritual after sunset 49 days, with the hope to help the deceased while in the intermediate state. This is also for people who have died long ago, whether reborn or not.
Request
Please fulfill all the purposes according to my own wishes May all the sentient beings in the bardo state be free from all types of fears and sufferings. May they be able to remember the instructions of the Gurus and be able to take rebirth in Sukhavati by having repaid all debts, may all beings be endowed with happiness, may all the country and local spirits never forget to give their assistance and support. At the time when I depart from this life may I be free from all types of suffering and pains and take rebirth in the pure land of Buddha and thereby be able to give benefit and happiness to all living beings as soon as the appearance of the bardo comes may I be guided by the eight Bodhisattvas of the Buddhas who show the correct path. May I take rebirth in Sukhavati and with my own manifestations, may the beings of the lower migrations be liberated without having to struggle or to harm others may everyone enjoy perfect freedom as soon as I meet the next life may I take miraculous birth from the corolla of the lotus flower in the pure land of Sukhavati.
This article is Written by Panchen Losang Chokyi Gyalsten and is orginating from Daka’s Buddhist Consulting site.
