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Dear Dharma Friends and Supporters,
With the goal of promoting true Buddhist teachings and universal relief of suffering through compassion, the Mid-America Buddhist Association (MABA) helps Buddhist practitioners in applying the Buddha’s teaching to benefit the society we live in and all sentient beings in all the dimensions. MABA has recently completed the construction of the Guan Yin Pavilion. For our supporters who are interested in making an offering of lanterns to the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas and for those interested in understanding the merits of such offering, we would like to provide a history of the lantern offering practice.
As recorded in the scripture called ”King Ajataœatru Shou Jue Sutra,“ when the Buddha was alive in this world, King Ajataœatru offered hundreds of barrels of lantern oil to light the temple lanterns as an offering to the Buddhas. There was a very poor woman named Nantuo who deeply admired and respected the Buddha. Out of joy, she also wanted to make an offering to the Buddha, but she was too poor to make any substantial material offering. As a beggar, she spent the only coin she received to buy a very small amount of lantern oil. With utmost sincerity, she used it to light a temple lantern as an offering to the Buddha. Just before dawn, the Buddha asked his disciple Maudgalyayana, known for his supernatural power, to put out all the lanterns. No matter how Maudgalyayana tried, the small lantern offered by the poor Nantuo remained lit and could not be put out. Maudgalyayana was curious and asked the Buddha about it. The Buddha said , ”The woman who offered this lantern has unshakable faith. This offering will eradicate all her past karma and she will bring forth the bodhi resolve to teach and transform all sentient beings. When she completes all the merits and virtues, she will become a Buddha named Sumeru--Lantern-Light Tathagata.“
When one makes a lantern offering to the Buddha with utmost sincerity, one can leave behind poverty and eventually become a Buddha. For thousands of years, Chinese Buddhists have followed this tradition of lighting temple lanterns as an offering to the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. This tradition creates the magnificent sight seen when temples throughout China are alight with tens of thousands of lanterns.
When the Buddha expounded his teachings, he often used the light of the lantern to signify wisdom. We need wisdom to determine the proper direction for our life and to make appropriate decisions about living We need wisdom to feel that our lives are fulfilled and meaningful. We need to use
wisdom to relieve ourselves from vexations and we need wisdom to create our future. One of the ways to acquire wisdom is to make lantern offering to the Buddhas. The brightness of the lanterns can drive the darkness away. The following verse from the Universal Door Chapter of the Lotus Flower Sutra explicates this point,:
The wisdom-sun can break apart the darkness,
Immaculate, your virgin light unfurls,
To quell disasters, winds, and storms, and fires,
A universal light for all the world.
The Sutra called ”The Buddha Expounded To The Elder Shou-Jia About Karmic Retribution“, praises the ten benefits of making a lantern offering to the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. The ten benefits are listed here. First, you will shine in the world as a light. Second, you will be born with healthy eyes wherever you are. Third, you will be born with heavenly vision. Fourth, you will gain the understanding of what is good when faced with good and bad information. Fifth, you will break apart the great darkness. Sixth, you will gain supramundane wisdom. Seventh, you will receive good rewards. Eighth, you will not be reborn in the dark realms. Ninth, you will reborn in the heavenly realm after this life. Tenth, you will attain Nirvana soon. The merit from making lantern offerings to the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas benefits all sentient beings and is true and not false.
MABA has set up a large lantern in the Guan Yin Pavilion. This lantern will always be lit as an offering to the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. We welcome all dharma friends and MABA supporters to offer one of the lanterns listed below for a recurring subscription fee of $100 a year.
Lantern of Illumination – To eliminate darkness and to have bright future.
Lantern of Peace – To quell disasters and illness and to have peace at home.
Lantern of Longevity – To be free from sickness and have long life.
Lantern of Wisdom – To eradicate stupidity and gain the great wisdom.
Lantern of Wish Fulfillment – To get what one wishes.
We will engrave a tablet in your name (or any name you wish to put on it) for a fee of $100 a year. The tablet can be for your ancestors or passed relatives or friends so they can benefit from the merits of a lantern offering.
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