Materials: Bhutanese lying incense, various medicinal herbs, herbs, traditional Chinese medicine, bamboo tube packaging

Dimensions: Approximately 23 cm in length

Description:

The Role, Origin, and Story of Bhutanese Lying Incense in Buddhist Ritual

Bhutanese lying incense (also known as recumbent incense) is a unique traditional incense that holds a significant place in Bhutanese Tibetan Buddhism (primarily the Nyingma and Kagyu schools). Burned horizontally (as opposed to vertically, as standing incense is often done), it derives from South Asian religious traditions and incorporates Bhutanese Tibetan medicine and natural resources. The following details its role in Buddhist rituals, its origin, and the legends and stories surrounding it. This information is based on historical records and religious practices of Bhutanese incense culture, specifically focusing on the renowned manufacturer Nado Poizokhang as a representative example of Bhutanese lying incense.

1. Its Role in Buddhist Ritual

Bhutanese incense is not only an everyday item but also an indispensable medium for Buddhist rituals. Its functions can be categorized into three core aspects: purification, spiritual focus, and offering. In Bhutan, burning incense (called "poe" or "sang") is a core religious practice, practiced almost daily, morning and evening, from village homes to grand temples. It plays a crucial role in festivals, meditation, and special ceremonies.

1. Purification:

- The smoke from incense is considered a "sang offering," used to remove negative energy, evil spirits, and impurities. It purifies temple spaces and sacred objects (such as Buddha statues and scriptures), and dispels malevolent spirits from homes. In Bhutanese Tibetan Buddhism, this tradition of smoke offerings originates from the indigenous Bon religion and has been integrated into Buddhism to become a standard ritual. For example, at sacred sites like Taktsang Tiger's Nest Monastery, monks burn incense powder (placed on hot coals) at sunrise, using the smoke to "cleanse" the valley, symbolizing the removal of karmic obstacles.

- On a practical level, early incense also served to repel mosquitoes and invigorate the mind, preventing drowsiness or distractions during sermons in hot weather.

2. **Focus and Healing**:

- The aroma of the incense helps practitioners focus their attention, calm the mind, and promote meditation and concentration. During religious ceremonies such as Tara Puja (Tara Puja) or Medicine Buddha rituals, incense is used to stabilize the body and mind and relieve stress. Its ingredients (such as juniper and sandalwood) originate from Tibetan medicine and have aromatherapy properties, harmonizing the mind and body and treating minor ailments.

- In Bhutanese homes, incense sticks are lit each morning and evening, symbolizing "sunrise offering" and "sunset blessing," helping believers maintain inner peace amidst their busy lives.

3. **Offering**:

- Incense sticks are considered "immeasurable offerings." Through visualization and chanting of mantras such as "Om Ah Hum," the fragrance is offered to four categories of guests: enlightened beings (Buddhas and Bodhisattvas), devas (Dharma protectors), beings in the six realms, and evil spirits. This is an act of charity and compassion, and the smoke symbolizes pure sensory offerings, pleasing the spirits and accumulating merit.

- In large-scale ceremonies such as Riwosangchoe (mountain smoke offerings), white smoke is burned in the morning for the devas and red smoke is burned in the evening for the hungry ghosts. Special incense sticks containing 108 ingredients (108 is an auspicious number in Buddhism) are used, prepared according to astrological charts.

Overall, Bhutanese incense sticks combine indigenous elements of Bon with the tantric traditions of Buddhism, emphasizing sensory offerings rather than sacrifice, embodying the Bhutanese philosophy of "Gross National Happiness." It is not limited to temples but also permeates daily life, strengthening religious ties within the community.

II. Origin and History

The origins of Bhutanese lying incense can be traced back to ancient South Asian religions. It later spread through the Himalayas and evolved into a unique Bhutanese craft. Its history spans millennia, integrating the wisdom of Indian Buddhism, Bon, and Tibetan medicine.

1. **Origin and Spread**:

- **Indian and South Asian Roots**: Lying incense originated from the Brahmanic and Hindu practice of "gandhapuja" (incense offering). Appearing several centuries before the Common Era, it was used in temple rituals, where incense was burned lying flat, symbolizing humility and a connection to the earth. Later, it was introduced to Buddhism, becoming a practical tool for early monks (for example, to repel mosquitoes and to invigorate the spirit). This form of "lying incense" became popular in remote South Asian regions such as Nepal and Bhutan, where it is easy to use outdoors or in high altitudes.

- **The Integration of Bon and Tibetan Buddhism**: Before Buddhism arrived in Tibet in the 7th century, Bon religion already practiced "sang" (smoke offering), using coarse plant smoke to purify the soul. After the arrival of Buddhism, lying incense was incorporated into Vajrayana (Tantric Buddhism), becoming a hallmark of Tibetan Buddhism. When Guru Rinpoche brought Buddhism to Bhutan in the 8th century, he introduced incense as a meditation aid, a practice practiced in temples dating back to the 1600s.

- **Local Development in Bhutan**: As a Tibetan Buddhist nation (the state religions are Nyingma and Kagyu), incense in Bhutan incorporates Tibetan medicinal formulas and uses local alpine plants (such as juniper, azalea, and saffron). These formulas often come from 350-year-old texts from the Mindrolling Monastery in India or from the secret traditions of the Drukpa Kagyu school. A modern representative is the Nado Poizokhang factory, founded in the 1960s by Mr. Nado at the encouragement of Abbot Gelong Nerchendrep Tshering Dorji. He began small-scale production in temples, adhering closely to ancient texts (such as the over 700-year-old formula of the great yogi Pema Karpo), and using organic ingredients gathered by yak herders at altitudes exceeding 4,000 meters. To this day, Nado remains the world's largest manufacturer of handmade incense sticks (Zim Poe, used for royal offerings) and powdered incense sticks (Zangdrup, used for smoke offerings).

2. **Production Process**:

- Ingredients: Juniper powder as a base, blended with 40-108 natural ingredients, such as sandalwood, cloves, agarwood, honey, sugar, and borneol. Tantric classifications include Kriya Tantra (vegan, alcohol-free) and Upa Tantra (broader ingredients).

- Process: Grinding, fermentation for a week, pressing into sticks, and air-drying for 4-5 days. Nado emphasizes sustainability, collaborating with communities to protect the herbs.

3. Related Stories and Legends

The cultural appeal of Bhutanese incense lies in its mythological stories, which connect incense with the Buddha's compassion and reinforce its sacredness.

1. **Legend of the Incense Goddess Dugpoema**:

- Legend has it that the Buddha personally created incense and later gave it to his disciple Dugpoema (the incense offering goddess) to spread throughout the world. She is depicted as a bare-breasted woman standing on one leg amidst a sea of ​​flowers, wearing a golden crown, rubies and emeralds around her neck, and holding a smoking staff, symbolizing the purity and sensual pleasure of incense. In Bhutan, Dugpoema is the embodiment of incense, and believers consider burning incense as an offering to her. Mr. Nado claims to be carrying on this mission, bringing incense to the world, embodying the legacy "from the Buddha to the common people."

2. **The Story of the Buddha and the Mosquito's Compassion**:

- According to legend, during a sermon by the Buddha, mosquitoes were rampant during the heat. A disciple accidentally killed one. The Buddha compassionately said, "The karma of killing should be driven away by incense." Since then, monks have used incense as an alternative to killing, offering both spiritual invigoration and purification. This story explains the early practical origins of incense, which later became integrated into Bhutanese rituals, emphasizing non-violence (ahimsa).

3. Guru Padmasambhava's Mountain Smoke Offering:

- In the 8th century, while subduing Bhutan's evil spirits, Guru Padmasambhava used a smoke offering (sang) to appease the mountain deity, laying the foundation for incense rituals on the plateau. Legend has it that the smoke transformed into a rainbow, symbolizing the dissipation of karmic obstacles. Since then, Bhutanese temples, such as the ancient monasteries in the Bumthang Valley, have continued this tradition, recreating the "miracle" of the smoke during annual rituals.

These stories not only enhance the mystical quality but also teach compassion and purity, reinforcing the religious depth of sang incense.

In short, Bhutanese sang incense is a fusion of Buddhism and indigenous culture, from ancient legends to modern production, a testament to Bhutan's spiritual heritage. To experience it firsthand, visit the Nado factory or Tiger's Nest Monastery to experience the tranquility of the smoke.

This incense is not-toxic and hand-made from high Himalayan medicinal herbs. The 1000 year old formula used for prayers is uplifting and promotes well being for all.