Making a light-offering is the act of offering lamps to the Buddhas and bodhisattvas to pray for illumination to dispel darkness. Keep reading to gain an in-depth understanding of making light-offerings, the boundless merits of the practice, the types of light-offerings, and how to achieve a more auspicious and radiant life through the practices of light-offering and sincere chanting.
Why Light-Offerings?
In Buddhism, light symbolizes wisdom and the dispelling of darkness. Making light-offerings is a way to open wisdom to allow us to discern right from wrong and receive the guidance of the Buddha and bodhisattvas. Additionally, making light-offerings opens us to receiving the blessings of the Buddha and bodhisattvas to not only eliminate obstacles and dangers but also accumulate merits and virtues. Lastly, we can make light-offerings to the Buddhas and bodhisattvas on behalf of others; by doing this, we give blessings to them, so they will receive peace, auspiciousness, and wish fulfillment.
According to The Buddha Speaks of the Merits of Donating Light Sutra, those who make light-offerings in Buddhist stupas or temples can attain boundless blessings. The enlightened Grandmaster JinBodhi, with decades of experience in meditation practices and the perspective of a Buddhist achiever, summarized several benefits of light-offerings, including dignified appearance, intelligence and wisdom, health and longevity, a successful career, avoidance of disasters, and the elimination of accumulated karmic obstacles. In summary, making light-offerings can bring one immeasurable wisdom and blessings with numerous benefits. If you want to understand more detailed benefits, feel free to watch the following videos on the excellent merits of auspicious light-offerings.
★ Why Make Light-Offerings?
★ A Story of Resolving Bad Karma: Making Light-Offerings for Enemies
Is It Complicated?
The ritual of light-offering may vary according to different customs, but one thing is certain: Regardless of cultural background, it should be done with sincerity. As long as it is done in a clean and pure environment, with a respectful attitude, the offeror can obtain boundless merits. Here are two key points on how to gain greater blessings and benefits from light-offerings:
1) Chanting for Yourself and Your Family
While making light-offerings, sincerely chant the Buddha’s name and seek the blessings and protection of the Buddha and bodhisattvas; this practice helps us eliminate karmic debts accumulated in the past and send heartfelt blessings to our beloved family and friends. It brings not only wisdom and energy to us but also illumination and auspiciousness to our future generations. Grandmaster JinBodhi says that the compassionate illumination blessings, combined with the sincerity of the light-offerors, can eliminate ignorance and obstacles, allowing us to attain liberation. Therefore, sincerely chanting is crucial when making light-offerings.
2) Giving Generously and Doing More Good Deeds
In addition to chanting sincerely, you can also accumulate merits and virtues through other means. For example, participate in chanting classes organized by Bodhi Meditation, following Grandmaster JinBodhi’s teachings, to learn the proper ways to chant sutras and the names of the buddhas and bodhisattvas, and gain a deeper understanding of Buddhism; or, participate in meditation classes and practice persistently to elevate your realm of life and practice. Furthermore, by practicing kindness and doing good deeds, such as offering to monks, donating to the creation of Buddha statues, and sponsoring charity projects, you can quickly and effectively accumulate more merits.
Testimonial: Making Light-Offerings for a Smooth Pregnancy – Hechen in Taipei, Taiwan
My name is Hechen. Since I started learning The Earth Store Bodhisattva Sutra with Grandmaster Bodhi, I began reciting the sutra every day. One day, my neighbor told me about her pregnant daughter who had to lie in bed throughout the pregnancy due to her weak constitution. At that moment, I hoped that the merits of my sutra recitation could be dedicated to her daughter and the baby she carried. I wished for a safe pregnancy for the expectant mother and a smooth delivery. Then, I made a light-offering for them.
Later, my neighbor told me that her daughter needed a blood transfusion during delivery. After much difficulty, she finally gave birth to a baby girl by cesarean section. However, the doctor said that the baby’s heart valve could not close normally and needed to be observed for three months. If there was no improvement, surgery would be required.
After hearing this news, I was very worried about the family, especially the baby. So, on behalf of the baby, I made another light-offering. When the baby was three months old, her heart condition had returned to normal, and no surgery was required. I am truly grateful to Grandmaster JinBodhi and the Buddhas and bodhisattvas for their auspicious blessings!
Types of Light-Offerings and Testimonials
The types of light-offerings may vary based on the needs of the light-offerors. Here are two common types of light-offerings and testimonials from Bodhi Meditation:
1) Auspicious Blessing Lamp
The Auspicious Blessing Lamp is offered for living relatives and friends. It seeks various blessings and protection from the buddhas and bodhisattvas for loved ones, including good health, smooth academic progress, a successful career, wealth, family prosperity, good fortune, safety, or elimination of worries and obstacles as well as wish-fulfillment.
Testimonial of the Auspicious Blessing Lamp: Suffering From Delusional Disorder – Huailing in Toronto, Canada
My sister developed a delusional disorder more than 10 years ago due to a trauma. She always felt that someone was following her, and she’d feel restless all day and very distressed. On the fifth day of my attending the “Along With Buddha Online Chanting Class” with Grandmaster JinBodhi, my sister suddenly sent me a message, saying that she was planning to leave Beijing for Hainan because she felt someone was following her again.
The next morning, I immediately went to the meditation center to make an offering of an Auspicious Blessing Lamp for her, praying for the blessings and protection of the Buddha and Grandmaster JinBodhi to give her peace of mind and alleviate her condition. That night, during the teaching, Grandmaster JinBodhi stated, “Self-reminding is crucial; always remind yourself that you’re blessed by the Buddha’s illumination.” I wrote that down and read it to her. After a few days, my sister told me that she felt stronger and much more peaceful. I was very happy that my sister’s condition had improved, but I was also worried that the good times might not last.
A month later, my sister sent me a message telling me the blessings had really worked; she felt full of love and had learned to be a better person. She had learned to treat people and see the world with love. She feels love in her body and mind, and that has made her fearless. After reading her message, tears flowed from my eyes. My sister had suffered for more than 10 years and finally found relief from the mental torment. Making light-offerings really worked! I am grateful for the compassion of the buddhas and bodhisattvas, and the great love of Grandmaster JinBodhi, which illuminated my sister’s body and mind!
Type of Light-Offering 2: Lamp for Transferring Merits to Departed Souls
To make light-offerings for deceased loved ones, one can choose the Lamp for Transferring Merits to Departed Souls. By seeking the blessings of the Buddha, aims to eliminate the negative karma of past ancestors, infant spirits, and other departed souls, increase their merits, lead them to emerge from darkness and ignorance, and be reborn into the light. Ultimately, it aims to guide departed souls to the Pure Land with the help of Buddhas and bodhisattvas, liberating them from the cycle of rebirth. Additionally, when facing major difficulties or troubles, making light-offerings for the deceased can help resolve disputes with enemies and creditors, assisting in the release of one’s own burdens.
2) Lamp for the Departed
Testimonial of the Lamp for the Departed – Ann in Vancouver, Canada
I am Ann from Vancouver. Some time ago, my husband passed away due to a serious illness, which left me very sad and unable to let go. So, I was emotionally down for a long time. A friend told me to make an offering of a 49-day Lamp for the Departed for my husband at the meditation center so that he would be blessed by the Buddha and have a smooth journey.
During the first seven days after the light-offering, my family members all had dreams of my husband. My eldest son dreamed that his father came to watch him play soccer (an unfulfilled wish of my husband when he was alive); I dreamed that my husband, like in the past, was walking while holding my hand. After these dreams, my mood became much calmer, and I no longer felt sad anymore. My younger brother also dreamed that he helped my husband escape from a pit. Coincidentally, during this period, all the major and minor matters at home were taken care of by my younger brother.
Later, I dreamed of my husband again. He was bathed in the Buddha’s illumination, which brings great joy to my heart. I believe that this must be the effect of making light-offerings for the departed, which frees our family from the pain of the departure of loved ones. I deeply believe that my husband has truly received the compassionate guidance of Buddhas and bodhisattvas. I am grateful for the blessings of the Buddha and bodhisattvas and to Grandmaster JinBodhi!
★ More miraculous light-offering testimonials
Making Light-Offerings Online at Bodhi Meditation College
Making light-offerings helps us receive the blessings and guidance of the Buddhas and bodhisattvas, overcome all obstacles and clear away ignorance, and make our wishes our reality. It has been Grandmaster JinBodhi’s lifelong commitment to benefit all sentient beings, and as such, an online light-offering service has been established at Bodhi Meditation College to provide a more convenient way for those who cannot travel to the meditation centers. We welcome everyone with various needs to make light-offerings at Bodhi Meditation College. May the powerful Buddhas fulfill their wishes.
Extra Reading:
Introduction to the Auspicious Light-Offering and Its Benefits
Calming the God of Tai Sui and the Zodiac Animals That Offend the God of Tai Sui in 2023