Dedicating punya for those who are in difficulty or have died
Many of you are familiar with the idea of the dedication of punya and how this can be directed for all beings and also for beings whom we name specifically. Lama Shenpen guides us through the principles behind the dedication of punya in the short video below.
Lama Shenpen - Dedication of Punya
She describes how we all have the power of Bodhichitta, which is generated through our practice and our connection with the Mandala of Awakening. We can focus this power by making a pranidhana, which is another way of talking about dedicating our punya to the well-being of others. We can do this in our own personal practice and also, if we choose, by asking for someone's name to be added to the dedications list which is read out at the end of evening puja each day.
Dedicating punya in this way will form a connection for the named person with the Mandala of Awakening. We can augment this connection by making offerings on behalf of the person we are praying for. Offerings can be in the form of flowers, incense or candles on our shrine at home. We can also make a financial offering to the Hermitage at the time that we are requesting prayers for them.
Dedications at Evening Puja
If you would like to request that someone's name be added to the dedication list, contact [email protected]. The person's name will be added to the list for a month or, if they have died, for 49 days following their death.
You will be invited if you wish to make an offering via the donations page on the AHS website. All offerings will go towards the Hermitage development fund, which is used to maintain and develop the Hermitage as a sacred place and powerhouse of adhishtana. We have decided to move away from having a 'long-term' list, but instead to suggest that people write in again after a month if they wish the named person to stay on the list for a further month.
Offerings for those who have died
At the Hermitage we often recite the Samantabhadracharya Pranidhana or the Dewachen (Sukhavati) prayer for people who have died. We also sometimes make extra offerings at the stupa on behalf of someone. If you would like to request extra prayers or offerings in this way, then it may be something we could accommodate as we go forward.
Lama Shenpen adds that it is even more powerful if you are able to be present at those prayers (in person or online), as this forms a strong connection for the person we are praying for.