Making Offerings to the Guru
Making offerings to the Guru is a core Buddhist practice. This is particularly relevant in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, where it is believed that all spiritual attainments are the result of the Guru’s blessings. It is the Guru, or spiritual teacher, who skilfully teaches the Dharma according to our aptitude and needs, helping us achieve rapid progress on the spiritual path. Without the Guru, Dharma is simply dry knowledge.
Merits are another integral part of the spiritual journey. Without merits, we will lack conducive conditions to learn and practise the Dharma. There are many ways to generate merits, and one of the best methods is by making sincere offerings to the Guru, or to great masters such as His Eminence Tsem Rinpoche.
“Giving to your Guru is the same as making continual offerings to all the Buddhas. From such giving, much merit is gathered. From such collection comes the supreme powerful attainment of Buddhahood.”
– Ashvaghosha, 50 Verses of Guru Devotion
Although Rinpoche passed into parinirvana on September 4, 2019, it is an excellent practice to continue making offerings just as we did when Rinpoche was still physically with us. This not only keeps our spiritual connection with this great being strong, but also generates vast merits for Rinpoche's swift return.
About Tsem Rinpoche
His Eminence Tsem Rinpoche was a world-renowned Buddhist teacher, the 25th incarnation from a long line of Indian and Tibetan Buddhist masters that can be traced to a direct disciple of Buddha Shakyamuni. He was the founder of the Kechara Buddhist Organisation headquartered in Malaysia, a prolific author of commentaries, discourses and books on Buddhism, and a beloved spiritual guide to many disciples around the world.
When Rinpoche passed into parinirvana on September 4th, 2019, the world lost a towering beacon of goodness and hope. He dedicated his entire life to the practice and proliferation of Buddhism especially through the digital world, and his teachings touched the hearts and changed the lives of thousands of people around the globe.
Rinpoche's life is an inspiring example of one who lived only to benefit others; one who never gave up the Dharma despite the difficulties that he faced. Skilfully sharing spiritual wisdom with all and never turning his compassion away from anyone in need, Rinpoche's caring, patient, skilful, wise, compassionate, kind and generous qualities continue to inspire many to follow the Buddhist path.
