Alex Wilding

keep a little bit of your food aside. Toward the end of the eating and drinking, someone will come with a bowl to collect these remainders, which will be offered by the lama to all those who were not qualified to be present to take part in the tsok itself. If you've scoffed every bit, then you will be the one who looks like a rank outsider.

keep a little bit of your food aside. Toward the end of the eating and drinking, someone will come with a bowl to collect these remainders, which will be offered by the lama to all those who were not qualified to be present to take part in the tsok itself. If you've scoffed every bit, then you will be the one who looks like a rank outsider.

In some cases, these remainders are not actually collected from the general participants. and that part of the job is done by the llama on behalf of everyone else. If that turns out to be the case, then you can eat that last bit. And in this connection, there's one other beginner's mistake to avoid. There is no extra merit from giving back a lot of remainder. In fact, it's quite the opposite.

In some cases, these remainders are not actually collected from the general participants. and that part of the job is done by the llama on behalf of everyone else. If that turns out to be the case, then you can eat that last bit. And in this connection, there's one other beginner's mistake to avoid. There is no extra merit from giving back a lot of remainder. In fact, it's quite the opposite.

Sock that never got given out, because perhaps there was just too much, may well be shared out later, perhaps taken away and shared with friends. But the remainders are not treated in the same way. They have been dedicated to all sorts of outsider spirits, so they are not for us, but neither should they just be thrown in the trash.

Sock that never got given out, because perhaps there was just too much, may well be shared out later, perhaps taken away and shared with friends. But the remainders are not treated in the same way. They have been dedicated to all sorts of outsider spirits, so they are not for us, but neither should they just be thrown in the trash.

They should be left out for wild animals, and that doesn't include pets, and for birds. Buckets full of fruit, biscuits or even worse sweeties are not good for the environment and not good for the animals and birds. Too much remainder is actually a problem. Some years ago at Sechen Monastery in Bauda, I saw signs encouraging environmentally responsible puja and this is why.

They should be left out for wild animals, and that doesn't include pets, and for birds. Buckets full of fruit, biscuits or even worse sweeties are not good for the environment and not good for the animals and birds. Too much remainder is actually a problem. Some years ago at Sechen Monastery in Bauda, I saw signs encouraging environmentally responsible puja and this is why.

This eating and drinking phase may well also be accompanied by some sacred songs. If you are lucky, they will be very beautiful. There may also be a verse or two specifically encapsulating the point of this tsok, which might be repeated several times or even many times.

This eating and drinking phase may well also be accompanied by some sacred songs. If you are lucky, they will be very beautiful. There may also be a verse or two specifically encapsulating the point of this tsok, which might be repeated several times or even many times.

In some cases, a count of the number of times this verse has been recited is kept as an accumulation, in the same way as mantras are accumulated. Inserting extra liturgy is something that can always happen, and one insert that can easily be used here is something which is rather famous among the Nyingma, namely Jigme Lingpa's Concised Sok. It's about a dozen lines long,

In some cases, a count of the number of times this verse has been recited is kept as an accumulation, in the same way as mantras are accumulated. Inserting extra liturgy is something that can always happen, and one insert that can easily be used here is something which is rather famous among the Nyingma, namely Jigme Lingpa's Concised Sok. It's about a dozen lines long,

It touches all the essential points and it is rather beautiful. Being so short and remembering how Tibetans like to chant and chant and chant, it's very suitable for being recited three or seven times or for counting an accumulation of hundreds or thousands. Following the eating and drinking, the notional party, so to speak, it's very likely that there will be prayers to various protectors

It touches all the essential points and it is rather beautiful. Being so short and remembering how Tibetans like to chant and chant and chant, it's very suitable for being recited three or seven times or for counting an accumulation of hundreds or thousands. Following the eating and drinking, the notional party, so to speak, it's very likely that there will be prayers to various protectors

Sometimes again, each of them having their own tomas that are often taken outside. And confession prayers. It's always possible that there will be more confession prayers. And then the dedication of merit and the concluding prayers. In some ways, this description has been vague, and that's quite deliberate.

Sometimes again, each of them having their own tomas that are often taken outside. And confession prayers. It's always possible that there will be more confession prayers. And then the dedication of merit and the concluding prayers. In some ways, this description has been vague, and that's quite deliberate.

The point is that although there are themes in common, very strongly, tzokpushas vary hugely in detail as well as in extent. To learn the details of an extensive talk is going to take anybody quite a long time. The fact is that many of the people you're likely to meet at a typical Western centre will not have put that time in. Perhaps they haven't even had a chance to.

The point is that although there are themes in common, very strongly, tzokpushas vary hugely in detail as well as in extent. To learn the details of an extensive talk is going to take anybody quite a long time. The fact is that many of the people you're likely to meet at a typical Western centre will not have put that time in. Perhaps they haven't even had a chance to.

You may find beautiful chant and music with the sacred songs performed to aching melodies, or you may find a monotonous drone from beginning to end. You may find taumas made closely in accordance with the traditional patterns, or you may find mere fantasies. The last case may not be so bad. Preparing elaborate taumas takes a lot of skill and a great deal of time.

You may find beautiful chant and music with the sacred songs performed to aching melodies, or you may find a monotonous drone from beginning to end. You may find taumas made closely in accordance with the traditional patterns, or you may find mere fantasies. The last case may not be so bad. Preparing elaborate taumas takes a lot of skill and a great deal of time.