Material: Set of 7, Finely Carved Pure Copper Offering Cups with Eight Auspicious Symbols

Dimensions: 7.5 cm diameter x 4 cm

Description:

In Tibetan Buddhism, the Seven Offering Cups (also known as the Seven Offering Bowls, Tibetan: Yonchap) are important offering instruments. They are used on the altars of monasteries and individual practitioners to offer to the Buddha, Bodhisattvas, Dharma protectors, and others as a means of expressing devotion, accumulating merit, and purifying one's karma. The following details the Seven Offering Cups' influence and status in Tibetan Buddhism, as well as their mythological origins.

I. The Influence and Status of the Seven Offering Cups in Tibetan Buddhism

1. The Central Role in Religious Ritual

The Seven Offering Cups are a crucial tool in Tibetan Buddhist offering rituals. These seven small metal or ceramic bowls, filled with various offerings, are arranged before the altar, symbolizing offerings to the Buddha and all holy beings. These offerings typically include:

- Water (drinking water): symbolizes purity and the provision of the basic needs of all living beings. - **Water (for washing feet)**: represents purification of karmic obstacles and respect.

- **Flowers**: symbolize beauty and impermanence, offering to the Buddha's physical body.

- **Incense**: represents precepts, concentration, and wisdom, purifying the environment and the mind.

- **Lamp**: symbolizes wisdom, dispelling ignorance.

- **Perfume**: represents purity and offering.

- **Food**: symbolizes nourishment and generosity.

These offerings reflect Tibetan Buddhism's integration of exoteric and esoteric teachings, emphasizing that the act of offering is not merely a material contribution but a manifestation of the practitioner's inner devotion and wisdom. The use of the seven offering cups is ubiquitous in Tibetan Buddhist practice, monastic rituals, and personal altar offerings, serving as a crucial medium for practitioners to connect with the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas.

2. **Accumulating Merit and Purifying Karmic Obstacles**

In Tibetan Buddhism, offering is considered a crucial means of accumulating merit and virtue. Offering the seven offering cups is not only a sign of respect for the Buddha but also symbolizes a practitioner's refuge and devotion to the Three Jewels (Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha). According to Tibetan Buddhist teachings, the act of offering helps practitioners eliminate greed, hatred, and delusion, cultivate compassion and wisdom, and ultimately lay the foundation for Buddhahood.

3. **Cultural and Symbolic Significance**

The placement and arrangement of the seven offering cups are strictly regulated, reflecting the Tibetan Buddhist emphasis on ritual. The seven offering cups are typically arranged in sequence, from left to right or right to left (depending on the sect), with equal distance between each bowl, symbolizing the practitioner's focus and diligence. This standardized offering method also reflects Tibetan Buddhism's emphasis on detail and discipline, echoing the rigorous nature of tantric practice.

4. **Inter-sectarian Significance**

The seven offering cups are widely used across all Tibetan Buddhist sects, including the Nyingma, Kagyu, Sakya, and Gelug schools. While different sects may differ slightly in the specific content of offerings or the details of the rituals, the Seven Offering Cups, as a core tool for offering, are universal and indispensable in Tibetan Buddhism. In Tantric practice in particular, the Seven Offering Cups are often combined with complex rituals such as mandala offerings and offerings to Dharma protectors, further highlighting their importance.

II. Mythology and Origin of the Seven Offering Cups

There is no single, definitive mythological account of the Seven Offering Cups' origins, but their origins and significance are deeply rooted in the Buddhist tradition of offering, blending the indigenous characteristics of Tibetan Buddhism with Tantric thought. The following is the background and possible legendary origins of the Seven Offering Cups:

1. **Continuation of the Buddhist Offering Tradition**

The practice of the Seven Offering Cups stems from the offering culture of early Buddhism. During the time of Shakyamuni Buddha, believers offered flowers, incense, lamps, and food to the Buddha as a token of their reverence for the Dharma. This offering tradition was absorbed by Tibetan Buddhism and adapted to the Tibetan environment and culture, resulting in the Seven Offering Cups as a fixed form. The seven offerings in the Seven Offering Cups correspond to the majestic Pure Land described in classics such as the Avatamsaka Sutra, symbolizing the purity and perfection of the Buddha's realm.

2. **The Legend of Songtsen Gampo and Princess Wencheng**

The offering rituals of Tibetan Buddhism are closely linked to the introduction of Buddhism during the Tubo period (7th century). According to Tibetan Buddhist texts, when the Tibetan King Songtsen Gampo married Princess Bhrikuti (Princess Bhrikuti) of Nepal and Princess Wencheng of the Tang Dynasty, the two princesses brought Buddhist statues, scriptures, and offering instruments, respectively, contributing to the foundation of Tibetan Buddhism. The twelve-year-old life-size statue of Sakyamuni brought by Princess Wencheng is enshrined in the Jokhang Temple, while the eight-year-old life-size statue brought by Princess Bhrikuti is enshrined in the Jokhang Temple. The offering rituals for these statues likely included offerings similar to the Seven Offering Cups, used to purify the statues and purify the temple environment. Although the specific origins of the Seven Offering Cups are unclear, it is likely that this offering practice gradually became standardized during this period, becoming a part of Tibetan Buddhist ritual.

3. **The Fusion of Bon and Tantric Buddhism**

As Tibetan Buddhism developed, it absorbed elements of the indigenous Bon religion of Tibet. Bon traditions offer offerings of water, incense, and flowers, which bear similarities to Buddhist offering practices. The development of the seven offering cups may have been influenced by Bon offering rituals. When Guru Padmasambhava arrived in Tibet (8th century AD), he further integrated them with Tantric mandala offerings and Dharma protector rituals, resulting in the unique seven-cup offering form. In the process of subjugating Bon deities and incorporating them into the Buddhist Dharma protector system, Guru Padmasambhava may have also standardized the offering rituals, making the seven offering cups a crucial tool in Tantric practice.

4. **The Connection Between the Tantric Mandala and the Seven Offering Cups**

In Tibetan Tantric practice, the seven offering cups are often associated with mandala offerings. The mandala symbolizes the universe, and the offerings made to the seven offering cups are seen as offerings to the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas of the universe, symbolizing the practitioner's harmonious connection with the universe. According to tantric texts such as the Dhyāna Pitaka, offering instruments (such as the seven-hand offering cup) are used in mandala rituals to honor deities and guardian deities, helping practitioners enter deep meditative states. This incorporation of tantric thought has transformed the seven-hand offering cup into more than just a tool for material offerings; it has become a spiritual medium leading to enlightenment.

III. The Cultural Influence of the Seven-hand Offering Cup

1. **The Globalization of Tibetan Buddhism**

As Tibetan Buddhism spread to Europe, America, and other parts of Asia (such as Taiwan), the seven-hand offering cup became increasingly popular as an offering instrument. In the West, many Tibetan Buddhist centers and practitioners' homes feature seven-hand offering cups as a part of their daily practice. This form of offering not only preserves Tibetan Buddhist traditions but also promotes their global recognition and spread.

2. **Art and Craft**

The seven-hand offering cup itself is a fine piece of religious art, often crafted from silver, copper, or brass, and engraved with auspicious designs or tantric symbols. The craftsmanship of these instruments reflects the exquisite craftsmanship of Tibetan culture and has become an integral part of Tibetan Buddhist material culture.

IV. Summary

The Seven Offering Cups hold a significant religious and cultural significance in Tibetan Buddhism. They are an indispensable tool in offering rituals, symbolizing the practitioner's devotion, purification, and accumulation of merit. While there is no single mythological story underlying their origins, they are closely connected to early Buddhist offering traditions, the introduction of Buddhism during the Tubo period, the indigenous influence of Bon, and the mandala rituals of Tantric Buddhism. The Seven Offering Cups serve not only as a symbol of material offerings but also as a bridge connecting practitioners with the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, embodying the unique spirit of Tibetan Buddhism, which combines both exoteric and esoteric practices.