Toh 1071[The Dhāraṇī for] Blessing the Offerings

The Scripture of the Dhāraṇī for Blessing the Offerings

Background

This scripture belongs to the Buddhist Tantra section of the Kangyur—the collection of esoteric scriptures compiled in Tibet. Dhāraṇī, or incantation, is a special form of practice on the esoteric Vajrayāna path, distinct from ordinary Śrāvakayāna or Mahāyāna practice.

Within the context of esoteric practice, preparing and presenting offerings is an indispensable sacred activity. Offerings are not merely material things—rice, incense, flowers, and water—but also manifestations of pure intention and selfless reverence for the Three Jewels. More profoundly, in esoteric philosophy, all these material things are embodiments of the elements of the Buddhadharma. Physical preparation alone is therefore insufficient: mantra or dhāraṇī must be used to transform these offerings and elevate them to a sublime spiritual nature.

The Scripture of the Dhāraṇī for Blessing the Offerings arose to instruct esoteric practitioners in the sacred method of “blessing” offerings before presenting them. It is a practical instrument of cultivation, helping practitioners transform the presentation of offerings from an ordinary act into enlightened activity.

Main Content

Although the detailed content of the scripture has not yet been fully translated, according to the esoteric tradition, a dhāraṇī used to bless offerings generally has the following structure:

First, this scripture contains formal mantras or dhāraṇīs. These esoteric syllables—often beginning with “Oṃ” and ending with “Svāhā”—are regarded as concentrating within themselves all the wisdom and blessings of the buddhas and bodhisattvas. When practitioners recite these incantations with an impartial mind, the offerings are transformed.

Second, the scripture teaches that every offering must be viewed through the lens of the “threefold emptiness” (tri-śūnyatā): the giver, the gift, and the recipient all lack intrinsic nature. This understanding is called “praṇidhi-pāramitā,” or the bodhisattva’s unobstructed perfection.