The "Sūtra of Lamp Offering Merit" teaches that offering lamps to the Buddha yields immeasurable merit, dispelling the darkness of ignorance across countless eons. On the plateau, the butter lamp is the simplest bond between practitioners and all beings—one lamp in the wind and snow is an unextinguished vow.

Sakya's lamp-lighting rite rests on the Lamdré view that "light is essence." Before the mandala the lama lights lamps, seeing each as the wisdom-light of the yidam Hevajra, dispelling the bardo darkness for the dead and kindling the cause of merit and insight for the living. Lamp after lamp, the vow continues.

• **Dispels ignorance.** The lamp symbolizes wisdom—clearing bardo fear for the dead, nurturing awareness for the living.
• **Accumulates merit.** The sūtra states lamp-offering merit is vast; one's eyes remain clear life after life.
• **Continuous vow.** Lamp stands for vow; one after another, longing and blessing become unextinguished light.

The butter-lamp offering proceeds thus:

• **Light with intention.** You state for whom and why the lamps are lit (deliverance / a loved one's health / your own peace); the lama lights the set number before the mandala.
• **Mantra and visualization.** The lama intones the Hevajra heart mantra, seeing the flame as the deity's wisdom-light shining on the dedicatee.
• **Dedication.** The lamp's light is dedicated solely to the vow—that wisdom dispels darkness and merit and insight increase.
• **Perpetual lamp.** A "perpetual lamp" may be set so the vow continues daily.

You need not be present—only raise that one thought of blessing in your heart; the lamp keeps it lit for you.