This Is Devotion.

This is supreme devotion. We, the public watch and feel devotion and joy, even if we don’t have Vajrakilaya empowerments. This is puja, devotion and offering. Or to take another example, in multiple Buddhist traditions, lunar New Year, is celebrated with 15 days of devotion — not only puja, but long lines of cars and people waiting to light an incense stick or butter lamp at temple. We celebrate those first 15 days of the year with devotional practices, puja and offerings. Without exception, no matter what our practice, whether we just quietly sit and observe our breath, or recite sutra, or chant mantras, or even if we practice advanced highest yogas, we always, always, always begin with devotion.