NEW SADHANA FROM THARPA PUBLICATIONS

Tharpa Publications UK has just published printed editions of the Burning Offering practices of Vajrayogini and Heruka Body Mandala, which will be available on their website in the coming days.

Throughout January, many Kadampa students around the world have been engaged in close retreats of Heruka and Vajrayogini, during which they collect a certain number of mantras.

To complete such a retreat it is necessary to perform a burning offering, or fire puja, of fulfilling the commitment of close retreat. This practice purifies any mistakes we may have made during our retreat.

CONSUMING THE FUEL OF ORDINARY APPEARANCE AND ORDINARY CONCEPTION
In The New Guide to Dakini Land, Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche says

‘When we perform a fire puja we offer the twelve substances and other material offerings to the Deities, and at the same time we think that our own and others’ ordinary appearances and conceptions are being consumed in the fire of wisdom. By thinking like this, our fire puja will be a genuine burning offering practice.’

Venerable Geshe-la explains: ‘The real burning offerings that delight the Gurus and Buddhas are the mental practices that consume the fuel of ordinary appearance and ordinary conception.’

During the coming weeks various centers will hold fire pujas to conclude their retreats. Here we share some photos of the puja at the end of the Mexican retreat we have been following.