HOW TO SET UP A TANTRIC SHRINE (2)

An enshrined mantra wheel is known as the "Dharma Mandala."

Some people enshrine pictures of mudras and implements; this is known as the "Samaya Mandala."

Some people enshrine only their personal deity, which could be a statue of Buddha or a Diamond Protector. This is known as "Karma Mandala."

Some enshrine many Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and drawings of the assembly of Diamond Protectors. This is known as the "Maha Mandala."

Where, then does one place the statue of one’s root guru? If one’s personal deity is Padmakumara, the porcelain statue of Padmakumara is placed in the middle, leading to rebirth in the "Maha Twin Lotus Ponds in the Western Paradise." Otherwise the picture of one’s root guru may be placed on either side of the main deity.

Buddhist sutras may be placed at the right of the shrine. At the left a stupa may be placed, and some adornments may be added to further enhance the shrine.

Offerings are to be set up before the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. Up to 37 kinds of offering may be employed. In general, the Five and Eight Offerings are employed. The Five Offerings are: incense, flower, lamp, tea, and fruit. The Eight Offerings are (from right to left): conch, fruit, scented incense, powder, lamp, three unlighted incense sticks, five white flowers (for Nyingmapa School), soapy water, and water. In the Kagyu tradition, red flowers are substituted for white flowers.

An oil lamp or a candle may be used for the lamp.

After all the offerings are set up, the next step is the placement of the censer. The structure of the altar consists of the mandala, offerings, and censer (in that order). For each meditation session, replace the fruit, soapy water, and water, and light the lamp and the incense (sticks should be in odd numbers). The remaining offerings can be replaced as seems appropriate.

Some people arrange their offerings in two rows, with the upper row for Buddhas and Bodhisattvas and the lower row for their personal deity.

The meaning of the Eight Offerings are:

the two waters= merit;

flower= charity;

incense= precepts;

lamp= endurance;

fruit= samadhi meditation;

scented incense= vigor;

conch= fulfillment.

When all is prepared, one may write to the Master and request a blessing for the shrine. Although far away, he can, by remote empowerment, consecrate the personal shrine with water and grain. Due to the Master’s blessing, the shrine will have great power and benefit. >

If setting up the shrine by oneself, consecrate it with 21 recitations of the "Universal Wheel One Word Dharani Mantra,"which is "Om, bu-lin."

Then recite seven times the Kundalin Mantra, "Om, ah-mi-li-deh, Hum pei," visualizing that the mantra enters water in a cup which is then sprinkled throughout the room and all over the shrine.

Or, one may recite the Master’s Heart Mantra 108 times. Dakinis will come, forming Auspicious Mudras and spontaneously aiding the practitioner to purify the Dharma Realm and the shrine. Dakinis help disperse the evil and impure spirits and prevent disasters. The tantric shrine will provide ever-present inspiration, and the person who sets it up will receive help and blessings from the heavenly gods.