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GURU PUJA (LAMA CHOPA)
On the 10th & 25th of Tibetan month, in slow Tibetan (phonetics & English translation available), app. 1 1/2 hours long.
To find out when Tushita offers the next Guru Puja, please visit: Program> Calendar of Events.
 Guru Puja
practice consists of making offerings to and requesting inspiration
from the Spiritual Master, seen as the embodiment of the Three Jewels,
visualised in the form of Lama Tsong Khapa surrounded by the merit
field. Spiritual vows and commitments which might have degenerated are
also restored through the practice of the tsog (feast offering) and we
unite our minds with the holy mind of the Spiritual Master, who is
considered the root and life-force of the spiritual path, to receive
blessings to generate realisations on the path to enlightenment.
The word puja literally means "to please", thus Guru Puja means "to
please the Gurus, or Spiritual Teachers". Why should we please them?
Because they are fully dedicated to helping us develop our inner
potential to be enlightened. In fact, we cannot become enlightened
without their skilled guidance, and thus they are more important to us
than anyone else. The idea of "pleasing" our Spiritual Teachers is for
our own benefit, not for theirs. We need merit, or positive energy for
our enlightened potential to grow and become perfect, and one of the
best ways to do that is to make beautiful offering and prayers to the
Three Jewels and to our Spiritual Teachers. This is what happens in the
Guru Puja.
The puja begins with taking refuge and generating bodhicitta, the
intention to become enlightened for the benefit of all beings. We then
visualise the ‘Field of Merit’ which includes our present
Spiritual Teachers and those of the past, as well as Buddhas,
bodhisattvas, arhats, aryas and protectors of the teachings – in
short, all the objects of refuge. Holding this visualization in front
of us we offer an extensive version of the seven limbs: prostrations,
offerings, confessing, rejoicing, requesting, beseeching and dedicating
merits. Following that are prayers requesting inspiration for our
Dharma practice, and then a special type of offering called "tsog" (a
Tibetan word which means "collection" or "gathering"). Here we offer
plate-fulls of fruits and biscuits, which are distributed afterwards to
the participants. The tsog can be eaten by oneself or shared with
friends who have faith in the Three Jewels, but should not be given to
animals or thrown in a dirty place. Then there are verses requesting
inspiration to realize all the stages of the Lam Rim (Graduated Path to
Enlightenment). The puja ends with the dedication of merits to the
enlightenment of all beings.
Traditionally, the Guru Puja is celebrated on the 10th and 25th days of
the Tibetan calendar. Anyone is welcome to attend, but to receive
complete instructions on the practice and its meaning, one must have
received initiation into the Highest Yoga Tantra.
by Venerable Sangye Khadro, extracted from Amitabha Buddhist Centre Newsletter, Dec 1991
MAY ALL BEINGS BE HAPPY!
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