About Mandalas

The mandala offering is one of the main preliminary practices in both Sutra and Tantra. On the sutric level, the generation of merits is necessary in order to gain insight into the Buddha’s teachings and commentaries. On the tantric level, mandala offerings are compulsory to gain the realisations of the deity. As merits are essential in one’s spiritual growth, the importance of mandala offerings lies in their efficacy to gather merits in the shortest time possible.

Lama Tsongkhapa is renowned to have performed over 1.8 million mandala offerings in a closed retreat to gain a clearer understanding of the most profound Buddhist teachings of Madhyamika and Guhyasamaja. Upon completion of his retreat, he gained insight and a vision of Maitreya.

Further Reading

• Tsem Rinpoche teaches mandala offering (video)
• Mandala offering — a powerful method to accumulate merits by Tsem Rinpoche
• Mandala offerings and dharma attitude by Pastor David Lai
• Offering practice & mandala offering (video)

• Material: Alloy
• Ring height: 20 mm (0.8-in)
• Ring diameter: 90 mm (3.5-in)
• Plate height: 55 mm (2.2-in)
• Plate diameter: 130 mm (5.1-in)
• Weight: 0.56 kg (1.2 lb)