Alex Wilding

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.

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.

Hovering over it, deciding that this bit is my favourite, but that's not my favourite, picking it over and turning it round, is not only bad form, but is also not really within the spirit of the tsok. Secondly, when the Amrita drink comes round, the server will have a cup or bowl, notionally a skull bowl, but probably not, and a spoon. Hold out your cup left hand,

Hovering over it, deciding that this bit is my favourite, but that's not my favourite, picking it over and turning it round, is not only bad form, but is also not really within the spirit of the tsok. Secondly, when the Amrita drink comes round, the server will have a cup or bowl, notionally a skull bowl, but probably not, and a spoon. Hold out your cup left hand,

with your cupped right hand supporting it from underneath. Accept the spoonful of liquid, which is likely to consist mostly of whiskey, though I have known creme de menthe to be used. Accept the liquid in the palm of your left hand and drink it all down straight away, no hesitation. This is not only in the spirit of the sock, but it also helps to make less mess. Third tip.

with your cupped right hand supporting it from underneath. Accept the spoonful of liquid, which is likely to consist mostly of whiskey, though I have known creme de menthe to be used. Accept the liquid in the palm of your left hand and drink it all down straight away, no hesitation. This is not only in the spirit of the sock, but it also helps to make less mess. Third tip.