Making light-offerings is one of the Three Auspicious Treasures of Bodhi Meditation. Many people make light-offerings in Buddhist temples, praying to the buddhas and bodhisattvas for protection and guidance to fulfill their wishes. What exactly are the benefits of making light-offerings? What is the significance? This article will introduce you to the merits and benefits of making light-offerings, as well as guide you on how to make light-offerings at home and what the appropriate methods are, allowing you to accumulate merits, receive the protection and blessings of buddhas and bodhisattvas, and move toward a more auspicious life.
What Are Light-Offerings? How Important Are They?
Light is a symbol of wisdom and illumination, having the power to dispel darkness and promote the growth and prosperity of all beings. Making light-offerings not only serves as an offering to the buddhas and bodhisattvas but also illuminates one’s own mind for wisdom and the ability to discern right from wrong. It also guides us in crucial moments, preventing us from straying onto the wrong path. The blessings of buddhas and bodhisattvas help us dispel ignorance, life obstacles, and disasters, and accumulate immeasurable merits and virtues. When we make light-offerings on behalf of others, they will receive the protection and blessings of buddhas and bodhisattvas to have their wishes realized, and they shall enjoy good health and fortune.
Merits and Benefits
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 wisdom and blessings. It is also believed that offering a thousand lamps may dispel all sins. These scriptures clearly illustrate that making light-offerings can eliminate accumulated karmic offenses over lifetimes and dispel all darkness. Grandmaster JinBodhi also teaches us that making light-offerings can empower us with tremendous energy and provide us with the strength, wisdom, and courage needed at every stage of life so that we can overcome challenges in career, education, and family to pave the way for a bright future. If you wish to quickly connect with the Buddha through making light-offerings to gain auspicious energy and fulfill your wishes, it is recommended to visit Bodhi Meditation Centers near you or the Bodhi Meditation College website. This practice will assist you in attaining immeasurable merits and blessings, making your life more complete, auspicious, and smooth.
Making Light-Offerings at Home
Can light-offerings only be made at temples? Is there a way to make light-offerings at home? Take note of the following to find out how you can engage in the practice in your own space:
1) How to Make Light-Offerings at Home?
Some may think that traditional butter lamps are a must when making light-offerings at home. However, considering safety, convenience, and the modern residential environment, it is not recommended to use butter lamps at home. Instead, you can choose low-energy, lightweight, and convenient LED lamps; not only do they support energy conservation and are also environmentally friendly, but their characteristics of being flameless, smokeless, and odorless allow you to make light-offerings at home worry-free. You may also make light-offerings online by visiting the light-offering page on the Bodhi Meditation College website, which helps you achieve the same effect more securely, environmentally, and conveniently.
2) How Many Lamps Should Be Offered?
There is no specific limit to the number of lamps one can offer. From a sincere perspective, the more, the better, but it should be within your capability. The most important thing is to maintain a sincere and respectful heart. Typically, people choose numbers with auspicious meanings, such as 3, 7, 12, 18, 21, 36, 49, etc. The quantity may vary depending on the type of blessing sought. In The Medicine Buddha Sutra, if we can offer 49 lamps in front of the Medicine Buddha and keep them continuously lit for 49 days, it can achieve the purpose of relieving afflictions and fulfilling wishes. Additionally, Grandmaster JinBodhi has advised that when facing significant troubles, lighting seven lamps continuously for 49 days can lead to a resolution. This advice tells us that the merit of light-offering is immense.
Light-Offering Taboos?
While there are no specific taboos regarding making light-offerings, it is recommended to choose a proper worship center or temple for the offering. When making light-offerings, it is advisable to wear simple and clean clothing, maintain a state of physical and mental purity, sincerely and respectfully pay homage to the Buddha statue, and make wishes while offering lamps. The most important aspect of making light-offerings before the Buddha is not the quantity of lights and external form but the sincerity. If you can maintain focus and calmness during the offering and pray with a respectful and sincere attitude, you will receive incredible merits and benefits.
Testimonials
Here are two light-offering testimonials:
1) The Mischievous Grandson – Lilian, Toronto
I’m Lilian from Toronto, and my grandson recently started attending full-time kindergarten. At first, he performed well in school. However, one day, his teacher noticed that he often did strange things, such as headbutting others, grabbing toys from other children, and sometimes even trying out dangerous acts that could hurt not only himself but also other children. The teacher informed us that if the situation remained the same, the school might have to consider expelling him.
Before going to school each day, my son and daughter-in-law would repeatedly advise and instruct him, but he did not listen; he would appear extremely impatient, slamming doors and throwing things, behaving like a rebellious teenager. This troubled his parents greatly. With no other options, my son asked me to make a light-offering for my grandson at the meditation center. I also sincerely attended the evening chanting sessions at the meditation center, praying for my grandson and seeking the blessings and protection of Grandmaster JinBodhi and the Buddhas and bodhisattvas to help him eliminate karmic obstacles and become a well-behaved child.
Then, something miraculous happened! On the third day of the light-offering, the teacher sent a message saying that my grandson had undergone a significant change. A week later, the teacher even praised him; the reason was that one day, my grandson brought a self-assembled model to school, and it was accidentally dropped by a classmate, making a mess. Instead of getting angry or pushing the classmate, my grandson picked up the scattered pieces of the model and informed the teacher. The transformation in my grandson was tremendous!
At home, he has also transformed from a mischievous troublemaker into a well-behaved child, bringing relief to my son and daughter-in-law. The effect of light-offerings at Bodhi Meditation is truly incredible! Once again, I sincerely thank Grandmaster JinBodhi and the Buddhas and bodhisattvas for their blessings and protection.
2) The Train Accident – Rusheng, Los Angeles
On the eve of the Qingming Festival, I received a text message from my sister that left me both shocked and grateful. My sister said that my nephew and his girlfriend were involved in a train derailment accident, but thanks to the protection of buddhas and bodhisattvas, they were unharmed.
The train they were on collided with a construction vehicle that had slid down a slope, causing severe casualties from the fifth to eighth coaches entering the tunnel. My nephew and his girlfriend happened to be in the fourth coach, the one closest to the tunnel entrance after the accident. This fortunate position allowed them to escape unscathed. Not only that, but they also found a relatively safe place within the coach to hide, so they did not suffer any harm and remained safe.
Miraculously, just a week before the accident, I noticed that all the family blessing lamps I had previously offered turned completely black. I hurried to the meditation center to make new offerings. It was the new light-offering that helped my nephew avert this major disaster. It once again proves the immeasurable merits of light-offerings and the auspicious protection of Grandmaster JinBodhi, turning a major crisis into a minor incident and ensuring safety. I am grateful to Grandmaster JinBodhi!
(Results of light-offering may vary individually.)
More Miraculous Light-Offering Testimonials
(On April 2, 2021, a serious train derailment and construction accident occurred in Sioulian, Hualien County, Taiwan. The train, carrying 498 people, derailed after colliding with a construction vehicle that slid down a slope and entered the track. The collision caused severe damage to the fifth and eighth train coaches, resulting in 49 fatalities and 213 people suffering varying degrees of injuries. It was the most serious accident for Taiwan Railways in nearly 60 years.)
Light-Offerings at Bodhi Meditation College
Making light-offerings and seeking blessings can help us overcome obstacles, dispel ignorance, and fulfill our wishes. Bodhi Meditation provides light-offering services at its meditation centers worldwide. Moreover, you can also make light-offerings for yourself, your family, and your friends through the online light-offering service at the Bodhi Meditation College website. By offering lamps to the Buddhas and bodhisattvas, you can pray to be liberated from suffering with the assistance of Buddha’s power, and receive the blessings and empowerment of Buddhas and bodhisattvas to achieve an auspicious life. Feel free to make light-offering for blessings by visiting Bodhi Meditation College website if you are in need.
Extra Reading：
Introduction to the Auspicious Light-Offering and Its Benefits
Light-Offering for Immeasurable Merits