Karma Thegsum Chöling

Butter lamps and prayers are offered daily in all Tibetan Buddhist monasteries, including KTC Minneapolis. Butter lamps symbolize dispelling darkness through remarkable consciousness shifting practices. Butter lamp offerings are associated with great good fortune, relief from suffering, and healing.

Lamps are traditionally offered for events that we celebrate such as marriage, anniversaries, birthdays, graduation, birth and healthy pregnancy. They are also offered in times of transition and challenge such as for 49 days after the death of a loved one, and in times of illness, job change, divorce, or other stressful situations. Lamps are even offered for animals and the health of the planet Earth, or for the reconciliation of humanity. Dedicated Buddhist practitioners view any time as a good time to offer lamps, and offer them for the monastery to thrive, for the long life of the lamas, and in support of the people who are practicing.

Traditional butter lamps on the shrine

When you request a butter lamp offering, please state how long you would like the lamp to burn and what the purpose of the lamp is. An aspiration is often better than a specific result (for example, “to see my parents able to live in comfort again” rather than “to see my father get the job he applied for”).

Standard donations  for butter lamps include:

• 49 day lamp $75
• 10 day lamp $30
• 3 day lamp $10
• 2 day lamp $7
• 1 day lamp $4

To sponsor a butter lamp you can either donate through PayPal or mail a check along with the  name of the recipient, the purpose  of the lamp and the duration. If your lamp is for a person or an animal, it is excellent to include a picture that does not have to be returned.

Butterlamps make a difference.