Short Amitayus Practice
Amitayus together with White Tara (top left), Namgyalma (top right), Dorje Shugden (bottom left) & Shize (bottom right). Click to enlarge.
Amitayus, the Buddha of Infinite Life, is synonymous with Amitabha, the Buddha of Infinite Light. He resides in the heavenly abode of Sukhavati, also known as the Western Pure Land. Adored throughout eastern Asia, devotees of Amitabha, Amitayus or Amida (as known in Japan), pray to be reborn from a Lotus in his Pure Land. As the Buddha of Infinite Life and Infinite Light, Amitayus has special popularity amongst Buddhist practitioners due to the infinite benefits that can be received, the immediate result being the feelings of peace and joy within us.
In the sutras, Buddha Shakyamuni, at the request of Manjushri explained that before enlightenment Amitabha or Amitayus had made 12 great vows to benefit and help sentient beings. Thus Amitayus functions as the Buddha of Increase, not just for long life, but also in all things beneficial to our lives. Outwardly, his practice grants us an abundance of necessities, good health, helpful friends, good family and good living conditions. Inwardly, we attain a greater understanding of Dharma, by practising morality or ethics as part of the Three Higher Trainings of (1) morality, (2) meditative concentration and (3) wisdom. Secretly, we reduce the habituations of a self-cherishing, self-grasping mind.
In this way, Amitayus helps us to dispel the darkness of ignorance and to attain wisdom and compassion, which is sometimes iconographically represented as his being in union with his consort. Amitayus usually holds a long-life vase filled with the nectar of immortality, the elixir of eternal life. It is a very significant and auspicious practice for Dharma students to offer Amitayus to their Lamas, as a request for the Lamas to live long and to spread the doctrine of the Buddha to the world.
His Eminence Tsem Rinpoche received the lung or oral transmission of this mantra and practice from Lama Zopa Rinpoche. The best time to engage in this practice is in the morning, during the first hours of daylight when the sun rises. However you can engage in this practice any time of the day and it will still be extremely effective.
An exquisite antique thangka of Amitayus from Tibet. Click to enlarge.
Benefits of Short Amitayus Practice
If you engage in this practice and recite the long mantra a minimum of 30 times, the benefits are:
- Instantly calming oneself
- Brings down blood pressure
- Calms the heart
Long term benefits of this practice include:
- Keeping calm in times of disaster and misfortune
- Keeping calm at the time of death
- Purifying negative karma
- Avoiding untimely death
- Collecting oceans of waves of good karma (and merits)
Visualisation
Click to enlarge.
Before reciting the praise, visualise Amitayus in front of you sitting on top of a lotus and moon cushion. He has one face and two arms, sits with his legs crossed in full lotus position and is red in colour. His hands hold a long-life vase in the gesture of meditative equipoise, resting in his lap. He wears a five-point crown with his hair half tied up on top of his head and half falling freely over his shoulders. He wears the jewelled ornaments and divine silk scarf of the Bodhisattvas.
Just before reciting the mantra, visualise a moon disc inside the long-life vase that Amitayus holds. On top of this is the seed syllable HRI. It is surrounded by first the short mantra and then the long mantra.
As you start reciting the long mantra, light rays emanate from the HRI, drawing back the energy of life that was stolen by Yama, the god of death, and other entities. This energy is drawn back in the form of long-life vases and skull-cups filled with nectar. They come back and dissolve into the HRI seed syllable.
Then more rays of light go out from the HRI and brings forth the life and fortune energies of all sentient beings, the blessings of the Three Jewels, and everything that is perfect, good and wholesome. These energies come back as rays of nectar and dissolve into the HRI and mantra garlands.
The vase is filled with these energies, which takes the form of white nectar. This is the nectar of immortality. It overflows from the vase and enters you through the crown of your head, purifying you of negative karma, delusions, negative energies, illness, etc. Finally, your body becomes pure, like a glass vase filled with milk. You can use this same visualisation to pray for the long lives of your family and friends. Instead of the nectar entering you, it enters that person.
Finally, you must think strongly that your body is filled with this white nectar. It is free of all negative karma, delusions, illness, negative energy and harm from spirits or black magic. Your body is completely pure. Then continue to recite the request when finishing. Following that, Amitayus dissolves into light and this light dissolves into you via the crown of your head.
SHORT AMITAYUS PRACTICE
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Multiplying Mantra
OM SAMBHARA SAMBHARA VIMANA SARA MAHA JAVA HUNG
OM MARA MARA VIMANA SARA MAHA JAVA HUNG (7x)
Blessing the Rosary
OM RUTSIRA MANI PRAWA TAYA HUNG (7x)
Taking Refuge
NAMO GURU BEH
NAMO BUDDHA YA
NAMO DHARMA YA
NAMO SANGHA YA (3x)
I take refuge in the Guru
I take refuge in the Buddha
I take refuge in the Dharma
I take refuge in the Sangha (3x)
Generating Bodhicitta
SANG GYE CHO DANG TSOG KYI CHOG NAM LA
JANG CHUB BAR DU DAG NI KYAB SU CHI
DAG GI JIN SOK GYI PAY SO NAM KYI
DRO LA PAN CHIR SANG GYE DRUB PAR SHOG (3x)
I take refuge until I am enlightened in the Buddhas, the Dharma and the Sangha. By the positive potential I create by practising generosity and the other far-reaching attitudes, may I attain Buddhahood in order to benefit all sentient beings. (3x)
The Four Immeasurables
SEM CHEN TAM CHE DAY WA DANG DAY WAY GYU DANG DEN PAR GYUR CHIG
SEM CHEN TAM CHE DUG NGEL DANG DUG NGEL KYI GYU DANG DREL WAR GYUR CHIG
SEM CHEN TAM CHE DUG NGEL MAY PAY DAY WA DANG MI DREL WAR GYUR CHIG
SEM CHEN TAM CHE NYE RING CHAG DANG NYI DANG DREL WAY DANG NYOM LA NAY PAR GYUR CHIG
May all sentient beings have happiness and its causes,
May all sentient beings be free of suffering and its causes,
May all sentient beings never be separated from sorrowless bliss,
May all sentient beings abide in equanimity, free of bias, attachment and anger.
Praise to Amitayus
JIGTEN DRENPAY TSOWO TSEPAGME
DUMIN CHIWA MALU JOMZEPA
GONME DUG NGEL GYURPANAM KYI KYAB
SANGYE TSEPAGME LA CHAGTSEL LO
Amitayus – Principle guide for the world,
Destroyer of all untimely death,
Refuge for all who suffer without a Protector,
Homage to the Buddha Amitayus.
Long Mantra
NAMO RATNA TRAYAYA OM NAMO BHAGAWATE APARIMITA AYUR JANA SEBANE SITZE TATE ZORA TZAYA TATAGATAYA ARHATE SAMYAK SAMBUDDAYA TAYATA OM PUNYE PUNYE MAHA PUNYE APARIMITA PUNYE AYU PUNYE MAHA PUNYE AYU JANA SARWA RUBA SIDDHI AYU JANA SITZE DROOM OM DROOM AH DROOM SWA DROOM HA DROOM TSE DROOM OM SARWA SAMKARA PARISHUDDHA DARMATE GAGANA SAMUGATE SOBAWA BISHUDDE MAHANAYE PARIWAREI SOHA (30x)
Short Mantra
OM AMARANI ZEWONG DEYEE SOHA (21x)
Request When Finishing
DUMIN CHIWAY TSENMA TONG WARA
DEYI MOLA TSEPAGME GONKU
SELWAR TONG NE CHIDAG CHOMTE
CHIME RIGZIN NYURDU TOB PAR SHOG
When seeing signs of untimely death,
In that second may I see the Protector Amitayus,
And, by that, conquering the Lord of Death’s power,
Quickly attain the state of immortal wisdom!
Vajrasattva Mantra to Purify Mistakes
OM BENZASATTO SAMAYA MANU PALAYA / BENZASATTO TENO PATITA / DIDRO MAY BHAWA / SUTO KAYO MAY BHAWA / SUPO KAYO MAY BHAWA / ANU RAKTO MAY BHAWA / SARWA SIDDHI ME PAR YATSA / SARWA KARMA SUT TSA ME / TISHTAM SHRIYAM KURU HUM / HA HA HA HA HO / BHAGAWAN SARWA TATAGATA / BENZA MA MAY MUN TSA / BENZA BHAWA MAHA SAMAYA SATTO / AH HUM PHET (3x)
Completion Dedication
JANG-JUB SEM-CHOK RINPOCHE
MA-KYE PA-NAM KYE-GYUR CHIK
KYE-PA NYAM-PA ME-PA YANG
GONG-NA GONG-DU PEL-WAR SHUG
May the precious Bodhi-mind,
Where it is not born arise and grow
May that born have no decline
But increase forever more.
TONG-NI TONG-WA RINPOCHE
MA-KYE PA-NAM KYE-GYUR CHIK
KYE-PA NYAM-PA ME-PA YANG
GONG-NA GONG-DU PEL-WAR SHUG
May the precious Emptiness
Where it is not born arise and grow
May that born have no decline
But increase forever more.
DAG-SOG JIN-NYEH SAG-PA GE-WA DEE
TAN-DANG DRO-WA KUN-LA GANG-PHAN DANG
CHE-PAR JE-TSUN LO-ZANG DRAG-PA YI
TAN-PI NYING-PO RING-DU SAL-SHEH SHUG
May this merit accumulated by myself and others
beneficially serve all sentient beings and the Buddhadharma
and especially may the essential teachings of the unerring Master Tsongkhapa,
become clear and enduring.
Prayer by Je Tsongkhapa
KYE-WA KUN-TU YANG-DAK LA-MA DANG
DRAL-ME CHO-KYI PAL-LA LONG-CHO CHING
SA-DANG LAM-GYI YON-TEN RAP-DZOK NA
DORJE CHANG-GI GO-PANG NYUR-TO SHUG
In all my rebirths may I not be parted from perfect Gurus,
Let me enjoy the abundance of the Dharma!
Perfecting the quality stages and paths
May I quickly attain the rank of Vajradhara Buddha.
Dedication of virtue
GE-WA DI-YI NYUR-DU DAK
LA-MA SANG-GYE DRUP-GYUR NA
DRO-WA CHIK-KYANG MA-LU PA
DE-YI SA-LA GO-PAR SHUG
By this virtue, may I quickly
Realize Guru-Buddhahood,
And transfer each sentient being
Into that Enlightened state.
CHO KHI GYAL PO TSONG KHA PA
CHO TSUL NAM PAR PHEL WA LA
GEK KI TSHAN MA ZHI WA DANG
THUN KYIN MA LU TSHANG WAR SHOK
May all conducive conditions arise
and all obstacles be pacified,
in order to increase infinitely,
the doctrine of the spiritual king, Tsongkhapa.
DA DANG SHEN GI DU SUM DANG
DRIL WA TSOK NYI LA TEN NAY
GYA WA LO ZANG DRAG PA YI
TAN PAR YUN RING VAR GYUR CHIG
By the merits of the 3 times of myself and others,
May the doctrine of Lama Tsongkhapa blaze forever.
Auspicious Dedication
NYIMO DELEK TSEN TELEK
NYIME GUNG YANG DELEK SHIN
NYITSEN TAKTU DELEK PEL
KON CHOK SUM GYI JIN GYI LOB
KON CHOK SUM GYI NGOR DRUL TSOL
KON CHOK SUM GYI TRA SHI SHOK
At dawn or dusk, at night or midday,
may the Three Jewels grant us their blessing,
may they help us to achieve all realisations
and sprinkle the paths of our lives with various signs of auspiciousness.
Dedication for the Guru’s long life
JETSUN LAMA KU TSE RABTEN CHING
NAMKAR TRINLEY CHOG CHUR GYE PA DANG
LOBSANG TENPE DRON ME SA SUM GYI
DRO WE MUNSEL TAKTUR NE GYUR CHIG
May the holy teachers have long lives.
May the enlightened activities be fully displayed in the ten directions,
and may the brightness of the teachings of Lama Tsongkhapa
continuously dissipate the veil of darkness covering the beings of the three realms.
Dedication for the long life of H.H. the 14th Dalai Lama
GANG RI RAWE KORWAI SHING KHAM DIR
PEN DANG DEWA MALU GYUNG WAI NE
CHENREZIG WANG TENZIN GYATSO YI
SHA PEI SITHAI BARDU DEN GYUR CHIG
In this holy Land surrounded by snow mountains,
You are the source of all benefit and happiness
May your lotus feet, O powerful Chenrezig, Tenzin Gyatso
Remain in this world until the end of existence.
Request for Attainments
HUM!
TUN PAY NGO DRUB MA LU PA
DENG DIR DAG LA TSEL DU SOL
KOR DANG TEN PA LONG CHO NAM
GYE PAR TZO CHIG SHUGDEN TSEL
Hum!
Grant me here and now,
Appropriate attainments without exception!
Grant increase of the entourage, teachings, and wealth,
O mighty Shugden!
Tsem Rinpoche’s Notes on the Practice
This is the Tsepagme (Amitayus) mantra lung that Lama Zopa Rinpoche gave me and to Carole Lim when we met him at Lobsang Drakpa Centre. If recited 30x it will instantly calm oneself, bring the blood pressure down & calm the heart. Its long-term benefits are that it will keep one calm even during times of disaster, misfortune, and during death, purify negative karma, avoid untimely death, collect oceans of waves of good karma.
Also, along with this Rinpoche gave me the meditation sadhana of this practice in English: “How to do the long life meditation on Amitayus according to the Tradition of the Mother Actualised Queen.”
Tsem Rinpoche’s hand written notes on the short practice of Amitayus from when he received the transmission. Page 1. Click to enlarge.
Tsem Rinpoche’s hand written notes on the short practice of Amitayus from when he received the transmission. Page 2. Click to enlarge.
For more interesting information:
- Dorje Shugden Shize: A practice for healing and long life
- Transcript: Amitayus Sadhana practice
- A Gorgeous Amitayus Thangka
- The Deity That Grants Longevity – Amitayus
- Why is Buddha Amitabha So Prevalent in China?
- Amazing Amitabha
- Chinese Bodhisattvas – Buddha Amitabha and Kuan Yin
- Amazing huge Amitabha Buddha on the “roof of Vietnam”
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Good work ! Good Site . 👍A lot of useful information.👍
Amitayus, is the primary Buddha of Pure Land Buddhism. In Vajrayana Buddhism, it is known for his longevity, discernment, pure perception, purification of aggregates, and deep awareness of emptiness . The greatest obstacles to the fulfilment of our wish to experience pure happiness are death and ignorance. It is written in the Buddhist sutras that by chanting the Amitayus Mantra, one increases one’s lifespan, acquires good fortune and wisdom, avoids untimely or accidental death, removes all negative karma, and accomplishes non-death or is reborn the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. With correct visualisation and recitation of the mantras its very beneficial for us.
Thank you Rinpoche for this sharing