"Live in joy, in love, even among those who hate."-Buddha
So, setting out offerings helps to generate positive spiritual energy for your meditation time. Here are some suggestions, but you may certainly go from here:
* 7 bowls of water, which represent: the sensory objects, including our own body, speech, mind and the five senses. It is recommended that the bowls are uniformly filled, symbolizing balanced meditation. (Tomorrow I will relate a most touching story about Lama Drub-khang Rinpoche, who was so poor early on in life that he could not afford the bowls to contain his water offerings).
*A small portion of food, placed in a special bowl (no leftovers, or peelings, etc.)
*Flowers (I love to use flowers from my garden, and through the Winter, I daily used a dried sprig of lavender, which retained its delightful scent the entire season). Wild flowers would also be lovely
*Incense
*Candles
As mentioned before, a picture of the Buddha should be included, as well as pictures of any teachers, lamas/gurus whose teachings you study. Once all the objects are carefully and respectfully arranged on your altar, please take a moment to consider them, their beauty, symbolism and significance.
Most important, it is the attitude behind the offerings that matter, not their cost. Lama Drub-khang Rinpoche's story tomorrow.
Abide in peace and joy, Cynthia
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