Alex Wilding

One of the things our Lama most particularly wanted to achieve was for us to perform a sok puja, actually a rather simple one, in the practice hall of that monastery. It felt as if by doing that, we had really been there, we had made a connection, the whole pilgrimage was somehow made real.

We mustn't forget that sock pujas can be much simpler, even just a few lines, and that it's also quite possible for a solo practitioner to perform a full sock puja. Let's take a look at what might happen at, for example, a monthly tzok organized by a center with an established community so that there are enough people to do all the various jobs. It's early evening.

We mustn't forget that sock pujas can be much simpler, even just a few lines, and that it's also quite possible for a solo practitioner to perform a full sock puja. Let's take a look at what might happen at, for example, a monthly tzok organized by a center with an established community so that there are enough people to do all the various jobs. It's early evening.

We've turned up wearing our Sunday best, our hands washed, hair brushed and nails scrubbed. Mummy would have been proud of us. We file into the practice room and find a seat. We notice that on the shrine, in addition to the usual statues and perhaps paintings, and with the usual offerings in front of them, bowls of water, the flowers, incense, candles and so forth, There is an array of objects.

We've turned up wearing our Sunday best, our hands washed, hair brushed and nails scrubbed. Mummy would have been proud of us. We file into the practice room and find a seat. We notice that on the shrine, in addition to the usual statues and perhaps paintings, and with the usual offerings in front of them, bowls of water, the flowers, incense, candles and so forth, There is an array of objects.

At first, you might think they were some kind of elaborate fairy cake. Mostly they are red, some are white, many are roughly the shape and size of an upside-down carrot, and many of them have a couple of decorative discs stuck to them. These are the taumas, or offering cakes. I shall make no further attempt to describe them. It's a whole art form.

At first, you might think they were some kind of elaborate fairy cake. Mostly they are red, some are white, many are roughly the shape and size of an upside-down carrot, and many of them have a couple of decorative discs stuck to them. These are the taumas, or offering cakes. I shall make no further attempt to describe them. It's a whole art form.

An internet search for images based on the word Torma will quickly give you an impression. You should realize that the examples that you see when you do such a search will be likely to show particularly elaborate Tormas. Those at our imaginary center are likely to be rather simpler. Nearby, there is a table on which other offerings such as food are arranged.

An internet search for images based on the word Torma will quickly give you an impression. You should realize that the examples that you see when you do such a search will be likely to show particularly elaborate Tormas. Those at our imaginary center are likely to be rather simpler. Nearby, there is a table on which other offerings such as food are arranged.

Because people like to contribute to the chok but don't know what to do, we also see a pile of chocolates, potato crisps, sweets and snacks amounting to a worrying number of calories embedded in ultra-processed substrates. It is what it is. Any particular chok puja generally is associated with a particular deity, a Buddha, a dhagini or a lama.

Because people like to contribute to the chok but don't know what to do, we also see a pile of chocolates, potato crisps, sweets and snacks amounting to a worrying number of calories embedded in ultra-processed substrates. It is what it is. Any particular chok puja generally is associated with a particular deity, a Buddha, a dhagini or a lama.

And the proceedings will begin with the usual sadhana practice for that deity. Refuge, bodhicitta, invocation of the deity, praise, recitation of the mantra and so forth will all be performed. It depends, it depends, it depends, but this might well take something between half an hour or an hour. The tsok puja proper then begins and the taumas now start to come into play.

And the proceedings will begin with the usual sadhana practice for that deity. Refuge, bodhicitta, invocation of the deity, praise, recitation of the mantra and so forth will all be performed. It depends, it depends, it depends, but this might well take something between half an hour or an hour. The tsok puja proper then begins and the taumas now start to come into play.

Well, actually, that's not quite right. If there is to be a tsok, then some taumas may have been offered at or near the beginning of the whole proceeding to prepare the space that is to be used in a ritual or spiritual sense. But now the tsok starts to get into gear with more praises and invocations to the deities concerned.

Well, actually, that's not quite right. If there is to be a tsok, then some taumas may have been offered at or near the beginning of the whole proceeding to prepare the space that is to be used in a ritual or spiritual sense. But now the tsok starts to get into gear with more praises and invocations to the deities concerned.

The offerings are blessed by being sprinkled with water and what is known as amrita, which usually takes the form of alcohol with special substances dissolved in it. At some point, slices are taken off the main tomah. One particularly nice piece is offered to the lama. Other pieces are offered, for example, particularly to represent confession. Confession prayers are likely to be recited.

The offerings are blessed by being sprinkled with water and what is known as amrita, which usually takes the form of alcohol with special substances dissolved in it. At some point, slices are taken off the main tomah. One particularly nice piece is offered to the lama. Other pieces are offered, for example, particularly to represent confession. Confession prayers are likely to be recited.

Another slice is the liberation slice, which is offered to destroy the bad effects of our broken vows. And at some point, the body of the Torma is distributed to all the participants, along with some of the additional offerings, the sweeties and so on, to the general participants such as ourselves.

Another slice is the liberation slice, which is offered to destroy the bad effects of our broken vows. And at some point, the body of the Torma is distributed to all the participants, along with some of the additional offerings, the sweeties and so on, to the general participants such as ourselves.

If you want to look good, and who indeed doesn't, there are a couple of bits of etiquette that are worth knowing if you want to look like an ordinary beginner rather than a rank beginner. Firstly, when the food is brought round, remember that we are enacting a sacred space in which everything is to be seen as pure and sacred. So pick up a bit of whatever food comes to hand on the plate.