Shakyamuni Buddha Puja
The Shakyamuni Buddha Puja is mainly celebrated on the 4 major holidays of Tibetan Buddhism. Chötrül Düchen, Saka Dawa, Chökor Düchen and Lha Bab Düchen. Then if possible every day during the first 15 days of the new Tibetan year. From Losar to Chötrül Düchen.
In the puja itself, the qualities of Shakyamuni Buddha are mentioned, his innumerable courageous and compassionate acts as a bodhisattva that led to his attainment of Buddhahood.
Above all, the puja also consists of all the offerings that became the cause of the full awakening of Gautama, since he, as Bodhisattvas, offered them to many realized beings. In the puja we visualize all these very different and wonderful offerings, and now we offer them to Shakyamuni Buddha in order to create the causes for us to achieve the state of full awakening ourselves.
As in any puja, one takes refuge in the three jewels, generates the 4 immeasurable attitudes, practices the seven branches to create positive potential and cleanse negative karma.
The mandala is offered.
In the mantra recitation one sends out light to cleanse oneself and all areas of the cycle of existence from negative karma.
With motivational recitations to direct our mind in the direction of Buddhahood, and the corresponding dedications, one ends the puja.
The English version is very detailed and takes 3½ hours, the German version, compiled by Geshe Thubten Soepa, is shorter and takes an hour.
In terms of content, the two versions are very similar.
Der Puja Text auf deutsch