Offering Bowls Set – Seven Bowls Set
This is a set of seven offering bowls, or tings, as they are called in the local language of Nepal. The seven bowls are traditionally filled each morning, and the offerings are removed at sunset. The act of offering with a sincere heart helps to strengthen our commitment to the Buddha’s teachings, and to destroy feelings of greed and miserliness.
The seven offering bowls are not simply bowls are also powerful reminders of the seven aspect of Buddha as well as the ways we request his guidance through prayer, confession, prostrating ourselves and celebrating the positive qualities of all things. What we place in the bowls is equally important as each offering has meaning. Traditionally, the offerings were: cool water to drink, symbolizing the eight merits and auspiciousness; pure water, symbolizing purity of body; flowers or plants for the pleasure of Buddha’s eyes, symbolizing generosity; incense, symbolizing discipline; a butter lamp, symbolizing wisdom because ignorance is darkness and wisdom is brightness; a fragrance, symbolizing devotion; and fruits or sweets, which express gratitude and can lead to the trance state of samadhi. Often, to prevent against feelings of greed or self – importance that could destroy virtue, the seven offering bowls are simply filled water.
About this Ritual Item
These offering bowls are made of copper and are gold gilded with 24 karat gold. The bowls are beautifully carved with designs of winding and vines and flowers. The carving details are done very finely throughout. This finely carved offering bowl set is crafted by the master artisans of Patan, Nepal.
