Guru Yoga > Seven Limbs > Offering > Offering our spiritual practice

Question 1

Which offering delights our SG the most?

Answer 1

Putting his or her instructions into practice. Offering our spiritual practice is called an ‘unsurpassed offering’.

Question 2

What are the seven spiritual practices presented in many Tantric sadhanas?

Answer 2

1. Purification
2. Accumulating merit
3. Ultimate bodhichitta
4. Mahayana refuge
5. Aspiring bodhichitta
6. Engaging bodhichitta
7. Dedication

Question 3

What prayer can we recite to make these offerings?

Answer 3

I go for refuge to the Three Jewels
And confess individually all negative actions.
I rejoice in the virtues of all beings
And promise to accomplish a Buddha’s enlightenment.

I go for refuge until I am enlightened
To Buddha, Dharma and the Supreme Assembly,
And to accomplish the aims of myself and others
I shall generate the mind of enlightenment.

Having generated the mind of supreme enlightenment,
I shall invite all beings to be my guests
And engage in the pleasing, supreme practices of enlightenment.
May I attain Buddhahood to benefit migrators.

Question 4

What is the meaning of the first two lines?

I go for refuge to the Three Jewels
And confess individually all negative actions.

Answer 4

We need to purify our negativities by relying upon the three jewels.

Question 5

What is the meaning of the third line?

I rejoice in the virtue of all beings

Answer 5

We need to accumulate merit by rejoicing in all the special realizations and virtuous actions of Buddhas, Bodhisattvas and other beings.

Question 6

What is the meaning of the fourth line?

And promise to accomplish a Buddha’s enlightenment

Answer 6

We promise to accomplish the actual quick path to enlightenment, ultimate bodhichitta, the spontaneous great bliss that realizes emptiness directly.

Question 7

What is the meaning of the first two lines of the second verse?

I go for refuge until I am enlightened
To Buddha, Dharma and the Supreme Assembly

Answer 7

Mahayana refuge

Question 8

What is the meaning of the next two lines?

And to accomplsh the aims of myself and others
I will generate the mind of enlightenment

Answer 8

Aspiring bodhichitta

Question 9

What is the meaning of the third verse?

Answer 9

Engaging bodhichitta and taking the bodhisattva vows.

Pleasing, supreme practices of enlightenment = six perfections

I shall invite all beings to be my guests = having completed this training we will invite all living beings to our Buddha Land to enjoy the happiness of liberation.

May I attain Buddhahood to benefit migrators = dedication.