What happens to the offerings afterwards?

[Firebird]

"Mommy, I don't think Buddha ever eats the stuff you leave for him. I've watched this altar for a long time. I check the fruit and stuff, and he never eats it, Mom," like I had done this serious scientific study, and had to break the findings to her gently.

OMG...I'm rolling you crack me up!

I couldn't understand why my mom always left Buddha cooked rice and a small bowl of fruit on the altar all the time. So, I would eat the fruit sometimes (give me a break, I was 6)

So that's what happens to the offerings afterwards!

[JonnyRoXXX]

Don't feel bad Kassandra... I did the same thing at my friends houses... I thought they were snacks.... but I was only like nine at the time...

[Kassandra]

Lol

[Sarraqa]

I couldn't understand why my mom always left Buddha cooked rice and a small bowl of fruit on the altar all the time. So, I would eat the fruit sometimes (give me a break, I was 6). When I finally got in trouble, I said, "Mommy, he really doesn't care if I eat them, 'cause see, nothing happened when I did." I had been inspecting the rice and fruit for weeks, each time she left a fresh offering, looking for the tangerines peeled, or the rice to be less than the day before. But, nothing. So, I said very consolingly, like I didn't want the shock of this revelation to hurt her feelings, "Mommy, I don't think Buddha ever eats the stuff you leave for him. I've watched this altar for a long time. I check the fruit and stuff, and he never eats it, Mom," like I had done this serious scientific study, and had to break the findings to her gently.

I often wondered if Buddha was friends with Santa Claus, since they both visited the house, but no one saw them. Who knows, maybe they are buds. Yeah, "Multi-cultural, Multi-spiritual, Multi-crazy" times, haha.

That was just had. xD

Also, thanks for posting this! I always wondered myself :woot: now I have lots of ideas.

[Obsidian]

In Shinto, eating an offering after is it given to a deity is perfectly acceptable as it is viewed as unreasonable to throw away perfectly good food. This is the view I have so I consume any food offering afterwards- if it's good enough for the Gods, it's good enough for me. I also light candles in their honour or offer them bouquets of flowers.

[astrowitch]

When I offer food/drink to the God/Goddess, what do I do with the food afterwards? Throw it away? Or is there a special/better way to dispose of it?

[DPhoenix]

It's the symbolism of the offering that matters. What you do with the food is up to you. If the food is inside I leave it out over night and throw it away in the morning. If it's outside I leave it there. Again, it's up to you and how you feel it should be done. Hope that helps. Good luck & goddess bless! <3

[Vesca]

Just merging these threads to conserve digital trees. Carry on, new responses and opinions are always welcome!