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Big Fire Puja, Dec. 7, 2008

On December 7, 2008, our Temple performed the "Big Fire Puja." The literal Tibetan translation is "Smoke Puja."

In the Smoke Puja (Tibetan: sang-puja of purification), we are making offerings to the four kinds of guests. 1) the guest of reverence, the guru, yidam diety, and three jewels, 2) the guest of quality, the dharma protectors, 3) the guest of compassion, the beings of six realms, and 4) the guest of karma creditors, the debt collectors or obstructing spirits.

We accumulate much merit for oneself and for all sentient beings by doing the smoke puja. In particular, by making offerings to the guest of reverence, we accomplish this accumulation of merit. By making offerings to the guest of quality, the obstacles of our spiritual journey will be pacified. By making offerings to the guest of compassion, the wish of beings of the six realms will be fulfilled. By making offerings to the guest of karmic creditors, we will be free from previously accumulated bad karmic debt, which we have to pay back.

The offering materials: For the white offering (vegetarian) anything that is free from meat (seafood and chicken may be used). The red offering (non-vegetarian) contains meat. The red offering is usually performed when there is an epidemic or such. But, it may also be practiced at any other appropriate time. The red offering is intended for the evil spirits that harm other beings.