Sang Chod - fire offering by Geshe YongDong, Courtenay B.C. Canada

The Tibetan practice of Sang Chod is about making offerings to the spirits of nature as a way to stay in their good graces, so that our transgressions do not lead to the accidents, illnesses, or other misfortunes that spirits can cause. It can be seen as a great feast given in thanks, for within the clouds of smoke the practitioner visualizes all that would be attractive to the spirits.

[@patriciapaterson5355]

Thank you, Geshe YongDong--for this Chod!

[@TredaraTV]

A lovely little discourse on the spirits! I love seeing how truly Pagan systems really work.

[@yosoyperez-ley2096]

Whats that beeping sound from..?

[@tamarafoubert]

Buddhism merged with the ancien Bön animistic religion of Tibet which created the unique Tibetan buddhism. Many of the pagan rituals seem to be preserved, such as fire offerings and the use of effigies. Tibetan buddhism contains several magical and superstitious elements

[@brianharris6437]

It is easy to overestimate the uniqueness of Tibetan Buddhism rather than recognize its continuities with Indian Buddhism because Vajrayāna died out in the land of its origin. However, scholarship suggests that most of the so-called "shamanic" elements of Tibetan practice originate from India, where offerings are still made to local spirits and divine possession can be invited in Śaiva as well as Buddhist contexts. Chöd, as another example, is clearly traceable to Indian charnel grounds through its use of kāpālika elements (e.g. skull cup, khaṭvāṅga).
As for fire and smoke offerings, we also find these in Japanese Buddhist tantra (Mikkyo) as practiced by the Shingon and Tendai schools. They are part of the common Indic heritage of Buddhists, Hindus, and Jains. You might look up the term homa for more on this.