Smoke offering (Tibetan "sang" and "sur") is among the most common Vajrayana practices of generosity: pure grain, herbs, and incense burned into rising white smoke, offered up and given out. Milarepa, meditating in the mountains, made smoke offerings daily to his deities and to the dākinīs and all six realms—a constant practice.

The Kagyu especially stresses the spirit of "boundless kindness and impartial great compassion" in feeding. Thus remote smoke offering lets you, from afar, arouse this one thought of giving—not to a single person, but, through a wisp of smoke, opening the heart to all hungry beings.

• **Upward offering, outward giving.** The smoke offering nourishes the Three Jewels, deities, and protectors, and feeds hungry spirits and bardo beings, perfecting the two accumulations.
• **Vast good connection.** One offering benefits immeasurable beings impartially, dissolving past enmity.
• **Purifying obstacles, cultivating merit.** The pure aspiration of the burning offering clears subtle obscurations of self and beneficiary.

Remote smoke offering follows the Kagyu tradition:

• **Aspiration and designation.** You provide the beneficiaries (family, the deceased, or all beings); the lama prepares the offering with that aspiration.
• **Proper burning.** In a pure place the lama burns grain and herbal incense per ritual, reciting the smoke-offering liturgy and the Avalokiteśvara mantra.
• **Visualizing vast giving.** The smoke is visualized as measureless nectar and food filling the ten directions, satisfying all six realms.
• **Dedication.** All merit is dedicated to the designated, that they be free of suffering and enmity be dissolved.