4" Offering Bowls Set

Offering Bowls

A set of eight offering bowls may be placed on one's shrine and filled with water daily as a way of accumulating virtue and merit. This is also effective means of cultivating generosity, as water can be given freely without clinging. Alternatively, the bowls can be filled with a variety of substances and objects that symbolize the traditional offerings of drinking and washing water, flowers, incense, light, perfume, food, and music. One visualizes each of the substances expanding infinitely throughtout space as an offering to one's object of refuge.

The eight offering bowls are not simply bowls are also powerful reminders of the eight aspest of Buddha as well as the ways we request his guidance through prayer, confession, prostrating ourselves and celebrating the positive qualities of all things. What we place in the bowls is equally important as each offering has meaning. Traditionally, the offerings were: cool water to drink, symbolizing the eight merits and auspiciousness; pure water, symbolizing purity of body; flowers or plants for the pleasure of Buddha's eyes, symbolizing generosity; incense, symbolizing discipline; a butter lamp, symbolizing wisdom because ignorance is darkness and wisdom is brightness; a fragrance, symbolizing devotion; and fruits or sweets, which express gratitude and can lead to the trance state of samadhi. Often, to prevent against feelings of greed or self - importance that could destroy virtue, the eight offering bowls are simply filled water.

About this Ritual Item

These offering bowls are made White Metal Alloy with Brass Ring. The bowls are beautifully carved with designs of winding and vines and flowers. The carving details are done very finely throughout. This finely carved offering bowl set is crafted by the master artisans of Patan, Nepal.