Materials: Herbs and medicinal materials, rare minerals, nectar, rare incense materials

Size: 24 hours/ring, 12 rings per box

Description:

The Role of Obstacle-Removing Incense in Buddhist Ritual

Obstacle-Removing Incense (also known as Purifying Incense or Tibetan Lying Incense) is an essential spiritual tool in Buddhist rituals, particularly Tibetan Buddhist rituals. Its core function is to generate smoke through burning, enabling the practice of "Sang Offering." This practice emphasizes "offering to the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas above and offering to all sentient beings in the six realms below." This means offering to the Three Jewels (Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha) above and to all sentient beings, including ghosts, spirits, and enemies, thereby accumulating merit and dispelling karmic obstacles. In specific rituals, Obstacle-Removing Incense plays the following key roles:

1. **Purifying the Environment and Magnetic Field**: It is often used in the "Purifying Mandala" ceremony at the beginning of a ritual, before the installation of a Buddha statue, or during the cleansing process after moving into a new home or visiting graves. Smoke dispels foul air, disease, and negative energy, stabilizes the energy of the space, and prevents interference from demons and external forces, ensuring a smooth ritual.

2. **Assisting Meditation and Silent Meditation**: During meditation or concentration, the aroma of the incense helps remove internal obstacles (such as distracting thoughts and karma) and external obstacles (such as environmental disturbances), enhancing concentration, calming the mind and spirit, replenishing vital energy, and promoting smooth flow of qi and meridians. It is particularly suitable for beginners or those with distracted minds.

3. **Offering and Remembrance**: Burning incense during ceremonies, memorial services for the deceased, or during thank-you prayers to the gods can dedicate merit, resolve old grudges, eliminate negative karma, and bring peace to the home, success in career, and the ability to turn misfortune into good fortune. Smoke offerings are often accompanied by mantras, mudras, and blessings to amplify their spiritual effects.

4. **Daily Protection and Evil Exorcism**: Incense is not limited to temple rituals but is also incorporated into home practices. For example, it is used before bed to calm the mind, to ward off negative influences such as Tai Sui, or to treat long-term illnesses. It is considered a "personal treasure," protecting the home from harm caused by celestial beings, earthly spirits, or enemies and creditors.

Overall, barrier-removing incense is more than just a physical incense; it symbolizes the Buddhist principles of karma and compassion. Through the diffusion of its smoke, it embodies the vast merits of "one incense, one universal affluent."

Origin of Barrier-Removing Incense

The origins of barrier-removing incense can be traced back to the early Buddhist tradition of smoke offerings, a long tradition closely tied to the tantric practices of Tibetan Buddhism. Smoke offerings, practiced as early as the Buddha's time (circa 5th century BC), were used for offerings and incense burning to demonstrate the existence of the Dharma and benefit sentient beings. However, its development as a dedicated barrier-removing incense primarily stems from the 8th century Tibetan Buddhist tradition.

- **Historical Background**: After Songtsen Gampo unified Tibet in the 7th century, Buddhism began to spread to the snowy plateau. In the early 8th century, Trisong Detsen further promoted Buddhism by inviting the Indian monk Padmasambhava (also known as Guru Padmasambhava) to Tibet. When Guru Padmasambhava established Samye Monastery on the north bank of the Yarlung Tsangpo River, he faced strong resistance from local demons and introduced the ritual of burning incense as a practical method to subdue demonic obstacles. This tradition primarily used cypress wood, which emits a unique fragrance when burned, from the Tibetan plateau. Later, Thonmi Sambhota brought the production technique back from India and promoted it in the Thonba River Valley, using waterwheels to grind the cypress wood into incense bricks. Tibetan incense thus became an indispensable element of temples, gradually evolving into "obstacle-removing incense," containing precious medicinal herbs such as white sandalwood, agarwood, and purple agarwood, and infused with relic nectar and the lama's blessing.

**Classical Basis**: Its formula originates from the Blue Divine Water Purifying and Removing Impurities Incense Sutra (also known as the "Purifying Impurities Incense Smoke Sutra"), a Buddhist text taught by Guru Padmasambhava. This text emphasizes the power of incense to eliminate obstacles, including demons from above, dragons from below, and mountain and water monsters in the inner realms. Later, it was blessed by the monastic community of both exoteric and esoteric Buddhism, becoming a precious sacred ingredient and widely circulated within the Nyingma and other schools of Tibetan Buddhism.

In the Chinese-speaking world, barrier-removing incense became popular in the late 20th century with the eastward spread of Tibetan Buddhism. It is commonly found in spiritual communities in Taiwan and China, blending Chinese and Tibetan elements and used for daily prayers.

Stories Related to Barrier-Removing Incense

Legends and stories surrounding barrier-removing incense often revolve around Guru Padmasambhava's feats of subduing demons, demonstrating its efficacy in transforming impurities into purity. The following are two representative stories:

1. The Legend of Guru Rinpoche's Subjugation of Tibetan Gods and Demons: In the 8th century, Guru Rinpoche entered Tibet at the invitation of Trisong Detsen to build Samye Monastery. He encountered intense interference from local spirits and ghosts: raging storms, frequent earthquakes, and even mountain and water monsters transformed into ferocious beasts that obstructed the project. Guru Rinpoche observed the cause and concluded it was the work of ghosts and demons. He then performed a smoke offering based on the Generation Stage Tantra. He used cypress wood and precious spices to create incense, chanted mantras (such as Guru Rinpoche's heart mantra, "Om Ah Hum Benza Guru Pema Siddhi Hum"), and used hand seals to bless it. Upon lighting the incense, plumes of smoke rose. He offered it to the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, requesting their blessings, and to the ghosts and demons, regarding the smoke as an offering and asking them to depart. The ghosts, delighted by the incense, retreated, and the temple was successfully completed. This incident not only dispelled local demonic obstacles but also made Tibetan incense a symbol of Tibetan Buddhism. Legend has it that Guru Rinpoche personally passed down the "Blue Divine Water Purifying Impurities Incense Smoke Sutra," instructing future generations on how to offer incense to the Buddha and dispel evil spirits, laying the foundation for the practice of barrier-removing incense. This story symbolizes the Buddhist wisdom of "compassion and transformation": resolving resentment through offerings rather than force, and is still frequently recited in Tibetan ceremonies.

2. **Modern Miraculous Story: Encountering Ghosts on a Film Set**: A Buddhist filmmaker frequently encountered "unclean beings" (such as ghosts or spirits) on location. These caused camera malfunctions, flickering lights, and even actors to become disoriented, resulting in numerous delays. Later, he received instruction from his master in the "Portable Treasure Barrier-Removing Incense." He burned incense on location, filling the air with smoke and chanting a dedication mantra. A miracle occurred: the equipment returned to normal, the atmosphere on set was refreshed, and the distractions vanished, allowing filming to proceed smoothly. This incident is considered a contemporary testament to the effectiveness of purifying incense, highlighting its effectiveness in dispelling ghosts of past life vows and other obstacles, and encouraging its daily use by believers.

These stories not only enrich the cultural significance of purifying incense but also highlight its continuity from ancient times to modern times, reminding practitioners that even a small incense stick can bring immeasurable merit, and the key lies in sincere devotion.

Storage: Keep in a cool, dry place.

Shelf Life: Indefinite if properly stored.