BUDDHIST PRAYER SPONSORSHIP

 

AN EXPLANATION OF TRADITIONAL 49-DAY PRACTICES FOR THE DECEASED

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Traditional Vajrayana Buddhist ceremonies for the deceased may be done daily for 49 days after death. It is also beneficial to offer prayers and practice every seventh day during this period, and/or on the 49th day. Such rituals help to guide the consciousness through the dying process leading to positive rebirth, as well as supporting the deceased during the bardo transitions (the intermediate states between life, death, and rebirth). The practices can vary from week to week, accommodating the changes caused by these transitions. These rituals correspond to the scriptural explanations of how one's consciousness experiences the bardo, or interim state, during each week. In general, they include P'howa, Sur offerings, Riwo Sangchod offerings, Guiding the Consciousness through the Bardos, and many other prayers and aspirations on the behalf of the deceased.  The number of lamas (teachers)  and practitioners who participate in this, the amount of shrine offerings that are made (such as butter lamps and candles), the amount of food offered daily, and the donations to each practitioner all depend on what one, or one's family, is able to provide. Even a modest offering made with love and compassion creates great virtue.

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May all beings benefit. 

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RESOURCES:

 

Ati Ling - "When Someone Dies" - Jigme Tromge Rinpoche / Prayer requests and practice sponsorship, p'howa, butter lamp offerings, and traditional forty-nine day prayers for the deceased. Please expect to make financial offerings for these services: https://atiling.org/when-someone-dies/

 

Katog Choling - Information and assistance with divinations, or to sponsor prayers, pujas, rituals, p'howa (transference of consciousness after death), or the traditional forty-nine day ceremonies for the deceased. Please expect to make financial offerings for these services: https://katogcholing.com/prayers

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Rangjung Yeshe Gomde California / Prayers for the Healing, Living, Illness, Dying, and those Recently Deceased performed at Ka-Nying Shedrub Ling monastery in Kathmandu, Nepal; Nagi Gompa nunnery on Shivapuri Mountain; and Asura Cave Temple in Pharping, Nepal. Please expect to make financial offerings for these services: https://monlam.org/

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The Mahakaruna Foundation/Chagdud Gompa - Akshobhya practice for humans, animals, and traumatic death. Please expect to make financial offerings for these services: http://www.mahakaruna.org/akshobhya.html

 

Nubri Monastery, Chorten Gompa Monastery & Mahasiddha Nyingmapa Center/Tshod Dag Foundation - https://mahasiddha.org/prayers/index.php - Prayer Requests - [TLC suggests theses pujas: #66 Sur Offering, #s 90_08; 90_15; 90_25 Death Practices; #s 118, 119, 129, 130, 131, P'howa and Shitro - see the end of the list.] 

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Dzogchen Beara - Rigpa Spiritual Care Centre / Prayers: https://www.dzogchenbeara.org/prayers_and_services/ see website for numerous resources - locations in Ireland and Germany

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Tibetan Nuns Project: https://tnp.org/sponsor-buddhist-prayers/

 

Tara Mandala / Prayer Requests and Sponsorships: https://www.taramandala.org/giving/ways-to-give/#prayer

 

Amitabha Buddhist Center / Prayers: http://www.fpmtabc.org/prayers_asponsorship.php

 

KDT / Sponsorship of Pujas, Prayers, Special Ceremonies, and Blessings: kagyu.org/sponsor-pujas

 

Dorje Chang Institute: http://www.dci.org.nz/request-prayers/

 

Jesuit Resource: https://www.xavier.edu/jesuitresource/online-resources/prayer-index/buddhist-prayers