The final day of any major religious festival is dedicated to practicing of giving and offering. It is known as Tshog-Kor (literally meaning ‘Circle of Offering’)

The better term that conveys the meaning is the Sanskrit word, Ganachakra, which means “Wheel of Accumulation”.

In the ceremony of Tshogkor, practitioners gather around the lama, and make offerings of food, drinks, snacks, incense, money, butter lamps, which, first of all, is an act of practicing detachment from desires and clinging. It is said that by giving one generates merits and good karma. In fact, we refer to someone fortunate as“Tsho Tsasab” – meaning someone who has accumulated and built the merits.

Conversely, if you don’t give, you don’t get. Meaning wealth, prosperity, peace or anything you want must be cultivated through similar actions. If you cultivate hate you get hate in return. If you give money away, you will get money in return. (There was curious academic study being done that showed that for every dollar you give, you get back $1.65)

Second, by participating in the ritual of tshogkor, it is believed that one purifies and renews sacred vows made to enlightened beings, to one’s lamas, and to the spiritual community.

Thirdly, the practice of Tsho-kor is designed to generate “gatherings” of bliss and togetherness among the community members – to help each other to continue on the path of Buddha Dharma.