Mandala Offering in Ngondro

[Sopa Yutso]

I've checked WOMPT and Torch of Certainty about this, but am still lost... in the mandala section of the Barchey Kunsel, we make offerings to the "three realms and worlds, the beings and all their splendor..." Can anyone clarify what exactly these three realms and worlds are? They are not the form, formless and desire realms...?

[Malcolm]

I've checked WOMPT and Torch of Certainty about this, but am still lost... in the mandala section of the Barchey Kunsel, we make offerings to the "three realms and worlds, the beings and all their splendor..." Can anyone clarify what exactly these three realms and worlds are? They are not the form, formless and desire realms...?

They are. The worlds means all the worlds in the universe.

[Sopa Yutso]

I found another translation of the text and think I see my confusion. So what it says is:
"Three realms and worlds, the beings and their splendor,
My body, wealth and all my goodness,
I give to you who have compassion;
Accept them and bestow your blessings."

It seems that I'm saying,"Dear 3 Realms, etc., I offer my body, wealth and goodness to you; please accept them in exchange for your blessings." However, in a different translation, it seems to instead suggest that I'm actually also offering the three realms, other beings along with my body, wealth, etc. to "those who have compassion." If the latter is true, how can I offer something as vast as the universe/all these worlds, which I don't possess?

[Virgo]

It seems that I'm saying,"Dear 3 Realms, etc., I offer my body, wealth and goodness to you; please accept them in exchange for your blessings." However, in a different translation, it seems to instead suggest that I'm actually also offering the three realms, other beings along with my body, wealth, etc. to "those who have compassion." If the latter is true, how can I offer something as vast as the universe/all these worlds, which I don't possess?

Actually you don't really possess anything.

Kevin

[heart]

I found another translation of the text and think I see my confusion. So what it says is:
"Three realms and worlds, the beings and their splendor,
My body, wealth and all my goodness,
I give to you who have compassion;
Accept them and bestow your blessings."

It seems that I'm saying,"Dear 3 Realms, etc., I offer my body, wealth and goodness to you; please accept them in exchange for your blessings." However, in a different translation, it seems to instead suggest that I'm actually also offering the three realms, other beings along with my body, wealth, etc. to "those who have compassion." If the latter is true, how can I offer something as vast as the universe/all these worlds, which I don't possess?

Chokling Tersar is wonderful.

What you are offering is the infinite capacity of experience, a magnificent wealth indeed. It is your "possession" right now because you have your five senses and in particular you have a mind that lack any impediment of imagination. Mandala offering is about developing a vast appreciation of our capacity of experience and offer this magnificence to the Guru. Your a giving up or offering the world in full appreciation of it so to say.

/magnus

[Sopa Yutso]

Thank you, now it is all clear...

[Silent Bob]

We were taught that the best offering was one given with Threefold Purity: "no giver, no receiver and no offering". Though this may seem at first to be counter-intuitive, it can lead to an understanding of emptiness as a felt experience, rather than an interesting (or puzzling) concept.

Chris

[Malcolm]

Thank you, now it is all clear...

The universe has not yet been put up for sale, so it is still is without an owner.