Material: Copper. Bronze (three-piece set)

Size: 8 cm (approximate size)

Narrative:

In Tibetan Buddhism, offering incense (Sangyan) is an important practice. By burning specific offerings, the smoke is offered to the Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, guardian deities and all sentient beings in the six realms in order to purify karma and accumulate blessings.

**The significance of offering incense**

The core of offering incense is to burn offerings and use the smoke as a medium to convey the meaning of offering. These offerings usually include herbs, grains, dairy products, etc., and are considered pure and blessed items. When the smoke rises, practitioners visualize it filling the sky, offering to all Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, and giving to sentient beings in the six realms, especially hungry ghosts, to relieve their suffering of hunger and thirst.

**Ways of offering incense**

There are many ways to practice offering incense, ranging from simple personal practice to large-scale rituals. Generally speaking, practitioners will choose to perform smoke offerings outdoors in the early morning or at dusk, because the energy between heaven and earth is most harmonious at this time. During the practice, offerings such as herbs, grains, dairy products, etc. are first prepared and burned in a brazier. Afterwards, the practitioner recites the corresponding scriptures and mantras, and visualizes the smoke turning into infinite offerings, filling the sky and benefiting all sentient beings.

This incense offering ceremony can not only purify the environment, but also help practitioners enhance their inner concentration and piety, making the merit of the offering more complete.