Material: Copper. Chrome-plated. Gilded

Size: 16.5 cm (approximate height)

Narrative:

**The story and origin of the eight offering cups**

The eight offering cups (Tibetan: བརྒྱད་མཆོད་པ་) are one of the indispensable offerings in Tibetan Buddhist practices and offering rituals, symbolizing the pious offerings to the Three Jewels of Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha. The concept of the Eight Offerings originated from the ancient Indian Buddhist tradition. It later developed into a fixed form of offering in Tibetan Buddhism and is widely used in temples, mandalas and personal practice.

**Contents of the Eight Offerings**

The eight offering cups usually consist of eight cups of the same size, which are arranged in order in front of the altar, and contain:

1. **Foot washing water** (the first cup): symbolizes purity and is offered to the Buddha for washing his feet.

2. **Mouthwash** (the second cup): symbolizes cleanliness and is offered to the Buddha for rinsing his mouth.

3. **Flowers** (the third cup): symbolizes beauty and purity, and is dedicated to the dignity of the Buddha.

4. **Incense** (the fourth cup): symbolizes freshness and holiness, and is dedicated to the Dharma body of the Buddha.

5. **Lamp** (the fifth cup): symbolizes wisdom and light, and is dedicated to the wisdom of the Buddha.

6. **Perfume** (the sixth cup): It symbolizes auspiciousness and blessing, and is offered to the Buddha's body.

7. **Food** (the seventh cup): symbolizes nourishment and blessings, offering to the Buddha's compassion.

8. **Musical instrument** (the eighth cup): It symbolizes joy and the sound of the Dharma, and is dedicated to the Buddha's teachings.

**The symbolic meaning of the eight offering cups**

There are strict regulations on the arrangement and offering of the eight offering cups. The cups should be placed neatly with appropriate spacing to show respect. The choice of offerings must also comply with the principle of purity, for example:

- **Water supply**: Clean water can be used to symbolize purity.

- **Flower offering**: Fresh flowers or five-colored flowers can be used.

- **Incense offering**: You can use altar incense or Tibetan incense.

- **Lamp offering**: You can use butter lamps or electric lamps.

In the practice of Tibetan Buddhism, the eight offering cups are not only a way to offer sacrifices to the Buddha, but also symbolize the practitioner's piety and accumulation of blessings. When offering the eight offering cups, practitioners should visualize the offerings becoming infinite, filling the void, offering to all Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, and praying for all sentient beings to be free from suffering and attain happiness.