‘Gathering Circle’ —A Buddhist Practice
The most common group activity participated in by practitioners of Vajrayana Buddhism is a gathering circle. In the Tibetan language, this is called tsok (short for tsok kyi khorlo, which literally means gathering circle). Gathering circles opportunities for practitioners to assemble in the recognition of each other’s inherent divinity, and the environment as a sacred circle, and confess any deviation from that pure perspective. To accomplish that, they recite a vivid and poignant text together, related to a symbolic enlightened deity—for example the Buddha of Compassion (Chenrezig,) or the emancipator Tara—and make offerings. The special features of gathering circle practice are a collective acknowledgment of points of deviation from sacred outlook, a reaffirmation of our promises, traditional and votive offerings of food and drink.
Tibetan and American Buddhist Practitioners at a California outdoor gathering circle
The practice can be elaborate, involving an orchestra of traditional musical instruments, sculptural dough offerings known as torma, and complex mudra (symbolic gestures). Or, it can be quite simple and brief. They can take place anywhere.
An example of a commonly practiced simple tsok text is Shower of Blessings, an arrangement that centers on a famous prayer to Guru Rinpoche/Padmasambhava.
Practitioners typically participate in a gathering circle twice a month at minimum, on the tenth day of the Tibetan lunar calendar and the twenty-fifth. These days are tracked by English-speaking practitioners via Dharma centers’ online calendars or a hard copy calendar published by the Rigpa organization. Some practitioners adapt the schedule of tsoks to their western work week.
Gathering circles that take place outside of a large Dharma center requires everyone play a role and work harmoniously together. Each participant brings an offering of food or drink. Some people are involved in cleaning the room and setting up the shrine. Others prep the food offerings. and place them on the offering table. Skilled people play the main roles in the ceremony, for example, leading the chanting of the text or playing of an instrument.
At its best, tsok is a pristine, joyous, experience of mutual love and support that creates bonds between one’s close “family” of students under the same teacher (lama) or group of teachers, heals rifts, and creates a fresh start for high quality practice during the two week period that follows.
If you wish to go further and read a brief teaching on the meaning of tsok, here is a pdf from the late Lama Tharchin Rinpoche. http://www.vajrayana.org/media/files/files/7a48b5b8/Brief_Teaching_on_the_Practice_of_Tsok.pdf
