KKBN: Ngondro - Mandala offerings

Ngondro - Mandala offerings

In the third practice, Mandala offerings, wisdom and merit are equally emphasized. We understand that the Refuge to which we make offerings and our own essence are really one. Here, the unity of subject, object and action becomes much clearer. Mandala

If we make the offerings as pleasant as we can, the joy and benefit of the practice will be greatly enhanced. We already know the rich feeling of something sliding through our hands from the beach, when we played with sand, and probably retain it also from former lives as gold diggers or farmers, sticking our open hands into precious dust or different kinds of grain.

The effects of the offerings go much deeper than the conditioned values of changing cultures. They touch timeless experiences of body and mind. Desires are satisfied which people have at all times and places, and our deepest capacity for psychological richness is activated. Constantly offering expressions of timeless perfection is just as meaningful today as it has always been. If we can trust this and are not disturbed by the more exotic culturally determined aspects of the practice, it will be effective on all levels.

For detailed description see:

Ole Nydahl: Ngöndro. The four foundational Practices of Tibetan Buddhism.
Blue Dolphin Publishing 1990 (ISBN 0-931892-23-6, pages 55-69)