SANG: Smoke Offering Puja

Sang is mainly dedicated to what are referred to as “elemental spirits”– the gods of the mountain, the gods of the sky, the gods of the river, and the gods of all aspects– and “local deities.” Though only seen through expansive and refined sense perceptions, we can experience these classes of beings through observing signs in the natural world including animals, features of the land, and weather patterns. In addition to these particular guests we also offer to the aforementioned “four guests”.

• First, to all Buddhas and Bodhisattvas throughout the ten directions (ordinate and cardinal directions plus above and below) and the three times (past, present and future) as well as to the yidam deities of all the mandalas.
• Secondly, you are offering to the protectors of the Dharma, dakinis, and very high spiritual gods who protect the Dharma.
• The third class of guests includes all sentient beings, particularly local deities and elemental spirits.
• Finally, you are offering to hungry ghosts and to beings with whom you are karmically indebted.

Sang is generally practiced in the daylight hours and offered anywhere that one wishes to renew and repair the connection with the elemental beings of the area. The offering and intention create the causes and conditions for harmony internally among the beings that inhabit the place, as well as externally in the environment itself. In this way, it can be an important step in the process of purifying gross and subtle levels of environmental pollution. The offering can also effect change in the experience of the beings that inhabit the place, for example, healing discord in one’s family or pacifying animals and pests.

It is very important for the sang offering to be clean. Traditionally the sangdze or offering substance, consists of a mixture of “the three whites” and “the three sweets” (flour, butter, yogurt, sugar, molasses, and honey) as well as incense, 5 colored cloth, medicine, alcohol, and precious stones or jewels. The main criteria is that whatever is offered into the sang fire contains no onion, garlic, meat, or eggs.