We all are aware that in our respective village, every year each household performs an annual rimdo (rituals) without fail. This was done with an objective to seek blessing from the protective deity and triple gems to shower unending blessing to the families till the next annual puja.
Prior to the Puja, proper plan is put in place starting from consulting an astrologer till arrangements of all the required items for the day. One amongst the most prominent item for the Puja is the meat. Some villager rears pigs especially meant to be killed for the Puja. Some will buy from the meat stall.
When you see people buy bulk meat like full cattle legs, pork etc, he is actually preparing for the annual Puja.
On the great day, apart from consuming a variety of meats like scavenger with families, friends, guest and ritual performers, substantial qty is also offered as Tshok Sha at the altar thus contaminating the sanity of an altar.
It is also defeating the very purpose of organizing such important Puja for the family.
A great Guru Patrul Rinpoche sums up everything as under which needs careful consideration to make ritual effective:
 |
| (Image courtesy: Treasury of Lives) |
"If you perform rituals like the offering prayer to the protectors using only the flesh and blood of slain animals, it goes without saying that the wisdom deities and the protectors of the Buddha’s doctrine, who are all pure Bodhisattvas, will never accept those offerings of slaughtered beings laid out like meat on a butcher’s counter. They will not even come anywhere near. Instead, powerful evil spirits who like warm flesh and blood and are ever eager to do harm will gather round the offering and feast on it".
So please please AVOID placing of meat at the altar. Have logical sense if one is following Buddha doctrines.
