Feb 15 – Manila | The temple now has new sets of electronic candles, or e-lamps, for offering, located at the shrine.
Khenpo, our head monk, says that the current multi-colored electric lotus lamps are more than enough. Even if one gives offering to light these lamps for only a few seconds, the merit of the offering extends the whole time the lamps are on. Also offering different colors of lights, in the form of lotuses, make the offering much greater and beautiful.
However, for those who want the feeling of lighting their own lamps as offering, the new e-lamps are now available. So one may choose between any of the two kinds of lamp offerings.
the present multi-colored electronic lotus lamps
Also, Khenpo explains that in certain situations, burning oil lamps (or candles) are the best offering. However, in the past, our Buddha statues and shrines got dark due to the soot of burning real lamps. They are difficult to remove. Also, now that we have Thangkas hung around the prayer hall, they will also eventually turn black due to the soot. In addition, oil in the ancient times are very clean and natural.
Nowadays, most commercially produced oils contain many chemicals and artificial ingredients. So, burning them as lamps are also not the best offerings.
Moreover, with our Philippine weather, so many fires burning in the shrine hall due to the real lamps make the shrine hall hot and uncomfortable. So by going for electronic, the shrine, statues and thangkas remain clean, shiny and clear. For our situation, maintaining the cleanest shrine and shrine offerings is a way to maximize our merit.
The e-lamp, which are LED lights, lights up for approximately 8 hours.
How to Use the new e-lamps: (play the video or see the photos below)
STEP 1: lift the e-lamp
STEP 2: turn it upside down to light it
STEP 3: place it back in the lotus container