Guru Yoga > Offering the mandala

Question 1

What does it say in Guhyasamaja Tantra about mandala offerings?

Answer 1

Those who wish for attainments
Should mentally and skilfully fill this universe
With the seven precious objects.
By offering them every day,
Their wishes will be fulfilled.

Question 2

What are the twenty three precious objects?

Answer 2

• Mount Meru
• the four continents
• the eight sub-continents
• the seven precious objects (the precious wheel, the precious jewel, the precious queen, the precious minister, the precious elephant, the precious supreme horse, the precious general)
• the great treasure vase
• sun and moon

Question 3

With which verse do we offer the 23-point mandala?

Answer 3

O Treasure of Compassion, my Refuge and Protector,
I offer you the mountain, continents, precious objects, treasure vase, sun and moon,
Which have arisen from my aggregates, sources and elements
As aspects of the exalted wisdom of spontaneous bliss and emptiness.

Question 4

How do we offer the outer mandala?

Answer 4

By visualizing the mountain, continents, precious objects, treasure vase sun and moon.

Question 5

How do we offer the inner offering?

Answer 5

By mentally transforming our aggregates and elements into the form of the outer mandala.

Question 6

How do we offer the secret and thatness mandalas?

Answer 6

By imagining that our mind of indivisible bliss and emptiness transforms into the mandala.

From the point of view of its having the nature of great bliss, the mandala is the secret mandala.

From the point of view of its being a manifestation of emptiness, it is the thatness mandala.