Dzogchen Rinpoche Thupten Chokyi Dorje

Offering of Purificatory Smoke (bsangs)

• A ritual offering of smoke, usually prepared in a vase-shaped incense burner, when fresh juniper is burnt along with roasted barley flour, and other consecrated objects. The offering is made in conjunction with the recitation of specific liturgical prayers which indicate how obstacles are removed by the appeasement and pacification of mundane spirits or malevolent forces. Among the most important prayers of this genre is the Ri bo bsangs mchod, derived from the Rig 'dzin srog sgrub cycle discovered by the treasure-finder Lha-btsun nam-mkha' 'jigs-med. GD (from the Glossary to Tibetan Elemental Divination Paintings)