The Cost of a Lama
Tashi delek, it’s Pema here and I have big news! But first, let me tell you about the village. Since the devastating hailstorm some things have been repaired including the bridge, but there is still a lot left to fix, including the nunnery. Some of the texts were saved but still much of our precious library was wiped out. Also, we sent some of our doctors and ritualists over to our neighboring village to aid with the naga illness there and they are yet to come back, but a messenger was sent back saying things were getting better there.
Now back to my big news! I just heard that a very famous lama is nearby and there is a possibility that he can stop over in our village! He is known for being a strong spiritual leader and is very generous and kind; guiding many to enlightenment. I know that lamas are very important to Buddhism, their students put all their trust in them for all their future lives and a lama teaches us what to do and what not to do and aids us in gaining merit. When you learn from a lama, you are enriching your spiritual existence by resembling them in every way possible. The Buddha himself was the great lama, and we look to lamas as Buddhas.
This is common knowledge for every Buddhist growing up. The last time an important lama made a trip to our village was two years before I was born, so I have never experienced what happens. We have lamas here but none that are this knowledgable and insightful. Some of the other nuns here have talked about the last time a lama came to our village and all the good merit and fortune it brought us; they were also chattering about what it would cost us to have him visit.
I wasn’t so sure why my sisters were talking about the cost of inviting the lama and if we could afford it after we put an abundance of our resources into repairing the village after the storm; what would it cost us? So I decided to go to Alama to ask her about what happens when an influential lama visits the town. As she was busy with her chores around the nunnery she briefly told me that we as a village have to invite the lama and he may or may not accept because they are very busy. It also increases the chance of acceptation if we as a village offer as much as we can; including gold, art, texts, and other things. I could tell that Alama was very busy and didn’t have the time to discuss in further detail, so I let her go and decided to go to the library to find more answers.
In what I have discovered from my research is that when a great lama is considering visiting a village it is a huge deal. Also, that my sisters weren’t kidding when they were saying that it will cost our village a lot in offerings if the lama comes. It starts with a beautiful invitation letter, and upon agreement to come there are many steps to be taken. The temple needs to be prepared by cleaning it to top to bottom, filling everything that needs to be filled, and getting all the offerings ready. Outside the temple chalk drawings need to be prepared which represent each of the eight auspicious offerings.
On the day of the lamas arrival, smoke fire offerings are made and all the monks line up along the road with greeting scarves, pictures and cloth and this line up can go on for miles as a sign of greeting and respect. When the lama arrives music is played and people throw offerings at his car. Once inside, the chanting begins and the first offerings are made. They consist of a mandala and the specific five offerings consisting of the body, speech, mind, quality and activity. These offerings come with offering scarves to bless the lama with the five offerings. After these offerings there are food offerings of tea or sweet rice to the lama, then to everyone.
The lama then teaches or gives a speech and after prayers everyone who came to see the lama lines up to make their offerings to them. These offerings can consist of many different things like scarves, art or money. After the lama blesses everyone he heads to his private quarters to rest. When the visit it at its end, more offerings are made to the lama, usually in the form of money. Then the lama is accompanied on his departure from the village.
Now I fully understand why everyone is talking about whether we have the means to have a lama visit our village. None the less, us at the nunnery think that with all the good fortune, merit, and insight it will give us it is worth it. I overheard that some of the older scholars in the nunnery were staring to compose an invitation letter for the lama. I’m going to go find them and ask to join in or at least watch how they write the letter. Something as important as this I don’t think they’ll let me have input, because I still have a lot to learn. Also, apparently I ask too many questions.
