Guru Puja lays the whole path to enlightenment on the mindstream, connects us more strongly to our teachers, accumulates merit, and purifies negative karma. The practice consists of rejoicing and making offerings to and requesting inspiration from the spiritual teacher, seen as the embodiment of the Three Jewels (Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha), preparing our minds to achieve realizations.
“If you are able to do the practice of Guru Puja in your daily life, it contains all the important points of sutra and tantra. It is a complete practice, like hitting a target, so you should attempt to integrate everything in this way. If you do this practice you don’t miss anything. This practice of Guru Puja is very profound, with many extra benefits, and is very quick to bring enlightenment. The lam-rim prayer in Guru Puja has lam-rim, thought transformation and, after the six perfections, the generation and completion stages of tantra. There are verses that show those paths” (excerpt from Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche).
When coming to a tsog, please bring a food offering to share. This is usually a snack item, like sweets, fruit or nuts that can be easily passed out.