20Minute Bonpo Tsok Fire Rite for Home
Purpose: This tsok fire rite honors Bon deities and protectors through burnt offerings (torma) and a shared feast, using fire to transform physical gifts into spiritual essence, connecting practitioners to the divine and accumulating merit. The altar’s fire and meditative focus cultivate inner wisdom, aligning with Dzogchen’s view of pristine awareness (rigpa).
Setting: A quiet area in your home with a small altar (table or shelf)
containing:
A small firesafe brazier or metal bowl (e.g., for incense or
small torma burning, placed on a heatresistant surface).
An oil lamp or candle (optional, to symbolize wisdom, tying to
your altar interest).
An image or symbol of Shenlha Okar (Bon deity of compassion)
or a white syllable “A.”
Torma: A simple ritual cake (made from flour, butter, or even
a biscuit as a substitute).
Tsok offerings: A plate with food (e.g., fruit, bread, cookies,
tea, or juice) to share.
Optional: Incense, a bowl of water, or flowers.
Duration: 20 minutes (5 prep, 12 main, 3 conclusion).
Prerequisites: Basic meditation familiarity. The fire is small and safe (e.g., candle or brazier with minimal fuel). If outdoor burning is preferred, use a secure fire pit, but indoor is assumed for simplicity.
Safety Note: Ensure the brazier or lamp is on a fireproof surface (e.g., metal tray). Keep water or a cloth nearby. If uncomfortable with open flame, use a candle and visualize burning.
Ritual Structure
Preparation (5 minutes)
1. Cleanse the Space:
Tidy the altar, wiping it clean to symbolize purity.
Light incense (juniper or sandalwood, optional),
saying, “May this space be purified for the fire of offering.”
Arrange the torma and tsok offerings neatly on the
altar, with the brazier or candle central.
2. Prepare the Fire and Offerings:
Place a small amount of charcoal or wood in the
brazier (or use a candle if simpler). If using torma, break it into small
pieces for burning.
Fill the oil lamp with ghee or olive oil (if using),
or ensure the candle is ready.
Dedicate: “These offerings are for Shenlha Okar
and all protectors, to connect and awaken wisdom.”
3. Set Intention:
Sit comfortably (on a cushion or chair), facing
the altar.
Take three deep breaths, calming your mind.
Reflect: “Through this fire and feast, I offer to
the enlightened ones, purifying obstacles and resting in the natural state.”
Main Ritual (12 minutes)
1. Lighting the Fire and Offering (3 minutes):
Light the brazier’s charcoal or candle (or lamp),
focusing on the flame’s birth as fire’s essence.
As the flame stabilizes, say the Bon Mantra:
“A KAR A ME DU TRI SU NAG PO ZHI ZHI MAL MAL”
(Translation: Purifies negativity and invokes
Bon’s primordial purity, from the Ma Gyud cycle, suitable for offerings.)
Throw a small piece of torma (or a pinch of flour)
into the brazier, saying: “To Shenlha Okar, protectors, and all beings,
I offer this fire’s essence.”
Visualize the flame transforming the torma into
radiant light, reaching deities and spirits across realms.
2. Tsok Offering and Feast (4 minutes):
Chant the mantra again (A KAR A ME…), offering the
plate of food mentally to Shenlha Okar, protectors (e.g., Sidpa Gyalmo),
and all beings.
Break a small portion of the food (e.g., a piece
of fruit or bread), placing it near the fire or altar as a physical offering.
Imagine the fire’s light multiplying the offerings,
filling the universe with abundance.
Take a bite or sip from the tsok (e.g., a cookie
or tea), sharing the feast with the divine, saying: “May this nourishment
