We offer Blessing Ceremony for the Statues and Thangka located in
Kathmandu, Nepal. On your wish the Statues and Thangka will be blessed
by the Lama in Kathmandu. We will also send you the blessing Ceremony
images. Blessing Ceremony is free of cost. We request you to offer
minimum of US $25.00 for the Lama.
A blessing is an attempt to contact and share that which is good,
particularly in a divine sense. One is trying to make contact with the
force of goodness itself and to invite this 'energy' into a particular
situation so that it might pass on some of that energy to those present.
There are several elements involved in a blessing ceremony.FIRST:
the 'hardware.'
The main item is the Buddha image to which a white thread is tied to
or wrapped around. The thread is then looped three times around a water
vessel which sits in front of the senior monastic. The vessel has a
candle either pressed onto it or resting over the opening above the
water. The thread is then passed to the other members of the sangha
and, depending on the size of the group assembled, passed either around
the perimeter of the group or to each individual person. The end of
the ball of thread is then placed on the shrine, completing the circle
.
Green
Tara Statue being blessed by the Lama chopa in Syambhunath for the offerer
of the United States (Lama Chopa comes everday from Syambhu to Boudhanath & do his kora. He is very loveable lama.)
SECOND:
the 'software.'
Each of the various items has symbolic meaning:
The Buddha image is the foundation, the principle reference point in
all ceremonies. The thread sometimes has 8 strands to symbolise the 8-fold
path. It is usually white to represent purity and the thread itself symbolises
unity, connection, harmony, peace and solidarity.The water-vesselget
the lowdown on this the whole arrangement is seen as a microcosm built
of the four elements. The earth element in the solid vessel and the wax
of the candle; the water element in, umm, in the yes, you guessed, in
the water in the vessel; the air element is shared by us all as we breathe
and the fire element appears when the candle is lit.The water a symbol
of life, purity and cleansing.The thread 3x passing the thread around
the water vessel three times relates to the Three RefugesEncircling the
thread forms a tangible container that includes all those present, drawing
us together, connected to the Buddha image (and all that it represents)
as well as being joined to the sangha, the three refuges and, by extension,
the whole cosmos.
Medicine
Buddha Statue being blessed by the newar Lama (Bhante) for the offerer
of Malaysia
THIRD: the action.The candle is lit and the ceremony begins by a member
of the Sangha 'inviting the devas.' This is a traditional chant which,
while it has literal meaning that can be contemplated, it is primarily
intended to draw in the listener and focus the mind of all present on
'goodness'. The goodness of their own lives, the goodness of all those
they are connected with, both literally and symbolically (i.e. Buddha,
Dhamma, Sangha) and the goodness of the universe. The devas are the official
delgates of universal goodness but everything good is invited into the
circle.With the scene thus set the Sangha chants a series of traditional
verses of protection
and blessing
.
Vasundhara
Buddha Statue being blessed by the Lama for the offerer of Thailand
FOURTH:
the finale.
Toward the end of the chanting the candle will be extinguished in the
water. This water plays a very integral part of the ceremony in that
water is seen as being able to receive or absorb a great variety of
substances. In this instance it is seen as absorbing the goodness of
the situation and we make holy water by infusing it with goodness,
by permeating it with wholesomeness. At the end of the chanting the
thread is wound up. The water is then sprinkled liberally over the
assembly while the 'Verses of Victory' are chanted. As well as being
great fun this can also be very moving.Sharing
the blessings.
FIFTH:
the grande finale.
The process described above can take 20-30 minutes or longer.
Once everyone has been sprinkled with holy water a section of the thread
is cut into shorter lengths and those who wish can have a piece tied
around their wrist. This acts as a reminder of the occassion and connects
the wearer with the group in a subtle way.
For more information on
Dharma and Blessing Ceremony,please visit http://www.buddhamind.info
( Text from buddhamind)/ Image from NepaCrafts Blessing Ceremony in Kathmandu. view
all Statues
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