feast offering
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feast offering
See also Ganachakra, feast offering (tshogs kyi 'khor lo). A feast assembly performed by Vajrayana practitioners to accumulate merit and purify the sacred commitments (samayas).
Feast Offering (tshogs)
- The Tibetan word "tshogs" generally has two senses, corresponding to the Sanskrit sambhāra and gaṇa. In the latter case it refers to the feast offerings (Skt. gaṇacakra, Tib. tshogs kyi 'khor lo), which are indispensible to the practice of the tantras on account of their unique methods for conferring accomplishment and pacifying obstacles. Klong-chen rab-'byams-pa ([[GGFTC, pp. 922-926) indicates that the expression " feast-offering" might refer either to a ceremony in which fortunate yogins and yoginīs participate together, to the outer, inner and secret sacraments of the ritual which are offered and consumed during the feast, or to the maṇḍalas of buddha-body and buddha-mind, whether actual or visualised, who receive the offerings and bring the ritual to its successful conclusion. In general, feast-offerings are frequently held to commemmorate important events in the Buddhist calendar, such at the tenth day feast offering, dedicated to Padmasambhava. GD (from the Glossary to Tibetan Elemental Divination Paintings)