Maṇḍala of Offerings

Maṇḍala of Offerings (mchod pa'i maṇḍal)

• The maṇḍala of offerings is one of the preliminary practices (sngon 'gro), specifically designed as an antidote for the dissonant mental state of desire or attachment, and to acelerate the accumulation of merit (Skt. puṇyasambhara). In general, there are outer, inner, and secret maṇḍala offerings, corresponding to the three buddha-bodies of emanation, perfect resource and actual reality. Among them, the first is that of the external material universe, known as the trichiliocosm, which is symbolised by a three-tiered mound supported by a circuler metal base, on which thirty-seven small heaps of rice are placed. Simultaneously, this structure is visualised as the material universe, with Mount Sumeru at its centre, and a prayer, composed by Chos-rgyal 'phags-pa of Sa-skya, is recited in order to offer all material possessions to the Three Precious Jewels. By contrast, the inner maṇḍala of offerings comprises the subtle body complete with its energy channels, currents of vital energy and seminal points, and the secret maṇḍala of offerings is the actual reality or true nature of mind. All these are offered one hundred thousand times to the Three Precious Jewels as an antidote for attachment. For a detailed description of the maṇḍala of offerings, see dPal-sprul Rin-po-che, The Words of My Perfect Teacher, pp.283-307. GD (from the Glossary to Tibetan Elemental Divination Paintings)