The practice of making offerings is an integral part of Tibetan Buddhism. Depending on what you offer, you generate the merits to receive certain resources and develop virtuous qualities to support your spiritual journey.

For example, when you offer food to the Buddhas, you create the causes to receive sustenance and to have your material needs met, so that you can focus on your spiritual development.

In addition, making food offerings to the Buddhas or sponsoring food offerings in a temple is part of the Perfection of Generosity. The correct motivation when making food offerings should be to generate merit and practise non-attachment.

However, not everyone is familiar with the subtleties of making food offerings so we’ve made a simple list of dos and don’ts to share.