The Avataṃsaka Sūtra says: "Like a single lamp entering a dark room, a hundred thousand years of darkness are all dispelled." In the Dharma, the lamp is the oldest and gentlest offering—its light breaks ignorance, its small warm flame reveals the awake nature already present.

Kagyu practitioners light lamps before the Buddha in retreat and ceremony as a practice of awareness. Milarepa, meditating in the snow mountains, kept a lamp of the mind. Thus lighting a butter lamp for a distant loved one is not only a prayer—it turns the aspiration "may they be free of suffering" into real flame before the Buddha.

• **Dispelling darkness, increasing light.** Dedication of the lamp prays that obscurations fade and wisdom arise for the deceased or the one prayed for.
• **A lamp through the long night.** One flame sustained day by day signifies unbroken good intention; as the Lamp Offering Sūtra says, its merit is measureless.
• **Solace and healing.** In offering the lamp, the living give concrete form to their care and wishes, and the heart finds peace.

Online lamp offering follows the Kagyu tradition:

• **Aspiration.** You provide the beneficiary's name and wish (health, safety, a good rebirth); the lama lights the lamp with that aspiration.
• **Lit before the Buddha.** The lama lights the butter lamp, reciting the Lamp Vow and the Avalokiteśvara mantra, flame meeting flame.
• **Sustained dedication.** While the lamp burns, the lama dedicates it for the beneficiary; several days of continuous burning may be arranged.
• **Final dedication.** When the lamp is spent or the term ends, a closing dedication is made, that the wish be fulfilled and light pervade all.