Instructions for Tsem Rinpoche’s Name Mantra Retreat
Calling upon the blessings of the Guru is one of the most important practices within Buddhism. For students of H.E. Tsem Rinpoche, calling upon his enlightened energies leads to a fulfilled spiritual journey. Click on image to enlarge.
The blessings of the Guru are paramount. It is said in many texts, both sutra and tantra, that we should have great devotion and faith in our Guru and practices received from the Guru. We should strive to overcome our afflictive emotions using this faith in our Guru, through his or her practices, instructions and advice. Then when we invoke upon the Guru’s blessings, our meditations will become very powerful and have quicker results for our spiritual path.
A qualified Guru embodies the blessings of the lineage masters, which stem all the way back to the historical Buddha Shakyamuni. So, when we invoke upon the Guru, we are not only invoking upon the person sitting in front of us (or in our visualisation), but we are actually invoking an entire enlightened lineage. This means we receive the direct blessings of Buddha Shakyamuni and all the enlightened masters who descend from him, through our Guru.
The efficaciousness of this all depends on our faith, steadfastness, loyalty and devotion. This is based on us knowing the Dharma, studying it and applying it in our daily lives. If we try to do Dharma practice without this in mind, without making the effort to study and apply what we have learnt, then we will always be depressed and uninspired. We will always feel that we need someone else to encourage us, talk to us and help us, especially on the spiritual path. If we find that we are still depressed, not inspired, we are still not able to motivate ourselves towards spiritual transformation, we are not able to overcome our anger, we are not able to push ourselves, or we feel like we are still attached to certain things, if we are still feeling all of that, we should apply the remedy. Read and study the Dharma more, follow it and put it into practice.
This thangka depicts Buddha Shakyamuni and the 16 Arhats, whose enlightened blessings are included when we invoke upon the Guru.
Click here for more beautiful thangkas.
Dharma is beautiful because it doesn’t talk about a god or external divinity. Dharma is something that is extremely approachable by everyone, from whatever culture we come from. That is the beauty of the Buddha’s teachings, that he speaks to our heart. Buddha and the Gurus since his time do not just tell us to “be nice”; they tell us how to be nice. They do not just tell us to overcome our attachments; they tell us how. They do not just tell us what will happen if we are attached; they show us why we are attached and how we continue to be attached – the workings of karma.
For example, the Buddha and our gurus have explained about karma, what it is, the results of karma, how to cut it, and the alternative to karma. These teachings are so appealing because they are not based on superstition, magic or mechanically attending the temple or church. They are about real personal transformation.
Unfortunately, there is no short cut to solve our problems, because our problems are due to the ripening of our karma. There is no escape. There is no running away, there are no exceptions for anyone. But when we receive the blessings of our Guru and sincerely practise the Dharma, we can overcome these problems through self-transformation. Therefore, we should listen, learn and follow our Guru’s teachings, make prayers and invoke upon our Guru.
Some people say that they do not have problems or issues. But the fact remains that if you are human and living on planet Earth, you will definitely have problems. Some people think they are too rich to have problems. These people may not have physical or financial problems but they will have internal, emotional problems. Problems never end.
So, now is the time to apply the Dharma in our daily lives. And the best way of doing that is to practise what has been taught by our Guru. If we do this, real and lasting self-transformation will occur. The Guru Yoga and name mantra practice of His Eminence Tsem Rinpoche is a great way for students to further their spiritual path, because by invoking upon Tsem Rinpoche’s energies, we will be blessed to make manifest the teachings that he taught.
When students engage in the Guru Yoga and name mantra recitation of H.E. Tsem Rinpoche, they create the causes and receive the blessings to make his teachings manifest in their own lives. Click on image to enlarge.
This article contains the instructions to engage in a Guru mantra retreat. While mantra retreats usually focus on the recitation of a particular deity’s mantra, this retreat is unique as it is based on the Guru Yoga and name mantra of H.E. Tsem Rinpoche. It includes meditative practices to merge with Tsem Rinpoche’s enlightened qualities to accumulate a tremendous amount of merits.
Thus, this retreat is extremely effective for Rinpoche’s students and followers who are seeking a fulfilled spiritual journey. The benefits of engaging in this retreat include creating and strengthening our connection with Rinpoche’s past and future incarnations, and receiving blessings for our spiritual wishes to come to pass.
Retreat Preparations & Guidelines
[Before you begin your retreat it is advisable to request one of Kechara’s Pastors or the Kechara House Puja Team to engage in a Drugchuma Puja to remove obstacles for your retreat to be successful. In lieu of this, if such arrangements are not possible, you can engage in the daily practice of Dorje Shugden as outlined in the Diamond Path and request Dorje Shugden to remove any obstacles for your retreat to be successful.]
1. Prepare your seat
Buddhist Swastika, click for high resolution image for
download.
- Print out a Buddhist swastika
- Take two pieces of kusha grass, commonly found as a traditional grass broom in South East Asia and place in the centre of the swastika. If taken from a broom, the broom must be a new one, not one that has been used before.
- Place the stem of the long kusha grass vertically with the tassels facing upwards and place the short kusha grass horizontally.
2. Sitting location
- Locate a spot where you would be most comfortable.
- Place the cushion at the position you have chosen and do not move it from its original position for the entire retreat.
- Then place the Buddhist Swastika with the kusha grass under the cushion.
- Be mindful not to step on or cross over other people’s cushions.
3. Tormas
- Purchase four clear glass bottles, two large and two smaller. Fill them with biscuits or other edibles that are vegetarian and long lasting. Place these on individual plates and fill the empty space on the plate (around the bottle) with wrapped sweets, candies, etc.
- At the beginning of every prayer session, add some sweets and candies to the torma plates, and a few drops to each sensory offering and water offering, visualising that you are renewing the offerings.
- The two large tormas are for Lama Tsongkhapa and Dorje Shugden, while the two smaller tormas are for their respective entourages.
Click on image to enlarge
4. Other offerings
- Offerings such as milk, yoghurt, candles, cakes, fruits, etc. are strongly encouraged.
- It is wonderful to have additional offerings of incense and candles concurrently with the retreat session.
- Names or photographs of people whom you want to pray for or help can be put in a sealed envelope, on a plate or in a box between the mandala and torma. These people may be your parents or your friends, or someone who is sick. They may also be those who have been kind to you in the past or have previously helped you.
5. Etiquette
- After toilet breaks, you are advised to wash your hands and rinse your mouth before resuming your prayers.
- Talking during the break is not encouraged.
- During mantra recitation, if you have to cough or burp involuntarily, go back on your mala beads by 7 beads.
- You have to restart all of the mantras if you fall asleep.
6. Do not move the statues or images until you have finished the retreat.
7. Do not move the tormas until you have finished the retreat – every session, add a little bit of offering to the ‘base’ of the torma, visualising that you are adding it to the torma as a whole.
8. Do not have prayer sessions at 6AM/PM and 12AM/PM. Sessions are usually from 3-6AM, 7-11AM, 2-5PM and 7-11PM (you can do as many or as few sessions as you like, with a minimum of one session per day).
9. If you are doing a group retreat, everyone must do the same sessions and same number of sessions each day.
10. Each retreat for a particular deity requires at least one statue of the deity and/or a picture representation of the deity (e.g. a thangka, poster, postcard). This instruction is for the benefit of those who are unable to afford statues. Additional representations of other deities may also be placed on your altar to be blessed – after all, a blessing is a blessing!
11. Other things to observe
- Five Precepts: Do not kill, do not steal, no sexual misconduct, no lying, no alcohol
- Mahayana vegetarian meals: no meat (including seafood), no onion, no garlic, no eggs, no dairy products (cheese, milk, etc.)
- Water offerings and prostrations are encouraged during the retreat period – do as many as possible during the retreat
- Minimise entertainment, or too much travelling – The purpose of a retreat is to clear obstacles. This purification can cause obstacles to arise, hence unnecessary travelling should be minimised.
Retreat Prayers
You can download the retreat prayer text here. You should follow the prayer guidelines below during your retreat
First session of the day:
- Preliminary mantras
- Taking Refuge and Generating Bodhicitta
- Four Immeasurables
- Gaden Lhagyama – The Guru Yoga of Lama Tsongkhapa
- A Flute Calling to the Guru — The Guru Yoga Practice of Tsem Rinpoche (includes recitation of Tsem Rinpoche’s name mantra)
- Tsem Rinpoche’s Swift Reincarnation Prayer
- Completion Dedication
Subsequent sessions throughout the day:
- Taking Refuge and Generating Bodhicitta
- Four Immeasurables
- A Flute Calling to the Guru — The Guru Yoga Practice of Tsem Rinpoche (includes recitation of Tsem Rinpoche’s name mantra)
- Tsem Rinpoche’s Swift Reincarnation Prayer
- Completion Dedication
Last session of the day:
- Taking Refuge and Generating Bodhicitta
- Four Immeasurables
- A Flute Calling to the Guru — The Guru Yoga Practice of Tsem Rinpoche (includes recitation of Tsem Rinpoche’s name mantra)
- Dorje Shugden Serkym
- Tsem Rinpoche’s Swift Reincarnation Prayer
- Completion Dedication
NOTE: For the last session of the entire retreat, recite the King of Prayers after the completion dedication.
Preliminary Mantras & Taking Refuge
Preliminary Mantras
[To be recited only during the first session of the day]
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 CHÖ DANG TSHOG KYI CHOG NAM LA
JANG CHUB BAR DU DAG NI KYAB SU CHI
DAG GI JIN SOG GYI PEY TSHOG NAM KYI
DRO LA PHEN CHIR SANG GYE DRUB PAR SHOG (3x)
In the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha
Until enlightened, I seek refuge.
Through giving and other perfections,
To aid all, may I become a Buddha! (3x)
The Four Immeasureables
The Four Immeasureables
SEM CHEN THAM CHE DEY WA DANG DEY WEY GYU DANG DEN PAR GYUR CHIG
SEM CHEN THAM CHE DUG NGEL DANG DUG NGEL GYI GYU DANG DREL WAR GYUR CHIG
SEM CHEN THAM CHE DUG NGEL MEY PEY DEY WA DANG MI DREL WAR GYUR CHIG
SEM CHEN THAM CHE NYE RING CHAG DANG NYI DANG DREL WEY TANG NYOM LA NEY PAR GYUR CHIG
May all sentient beings have happiness and the causes of happiness!
May all sentient beings be free of suffering and the causes of suffering!
May all sentient beings never be parted from happiness, free of suffering!
May all sentient beings abide in equanimity free from bias, attachment and aversion!
Gaden Lhagyama
Gaden Lhagyama — The Guru Yoga of Lama Tsongkhapa
[To be recited only during the first session of the day]
Invocation
GA DEN LHA GYE GÖN GYI THUG KA NEY
RAB KAR ZHO SAR PUNG DRE CHU DZIN TSER
CHÖ KYI GYEL PO KÜN KHYEN LOZANG DRAG
SEY DANG CHE PA NE DIR SHEG SU SÖL
From Tushita’s hundreds of gods’ Protector’s (Maitreya Buddha) heart,
To the tip of this fresh, pure white, heaped curd-like cloud,
O Losang Drakpa, Dharma’s Omniscient King,
Please come to this place, with your disciples!
Requesting to Stay
DÜN GYI NAM KHAR SENG TRI PEY DEY TENG
JE TSÜN LA MA GYE PEY DZUM KAR CHEN
DAG LO DEY PEY SÖ NAM ZHING CHOG TU
TEN PA GYE CHIR KEL GYAR ZHUG SU SÖL
In the space ahead on a lion-throne, lotus and moon,
Venerable Gurus smile brightly with delight.
Please stay hundreds of eons to spread the Dharma
As the supreme merit field for my mind of faith!
Prostration and Praise
SHEY JEY KHYÖN KÜN JEL WEY LO DRÖ THUG
KEL ZANG NA WEY GYEN GYUR LEG SHEY SUNG
DRAG PEY PEL GYI LHAM MER DZEY PEY KU
THONG THÖ DREN PEY DÖN DEN LA CHAG TSHEL
Your wisdom mind sees the full range of existence,
Your eloquent speech adorns the fortunate’s ears,
Your beauteous body, famed glory outstanding,
Homage to you, worthwhile to think of, hear, and see.
Offering
YI ONG CHÖ YÖN NA TSHOG ME TOG DANG
DRI ZHIM DUG PÖ NANG SEL DRI CHAB SOG
NGÖ SHAM YI TRÜL CHÖ TRIN GYA TSHO DI
SÖ NAM ZHING CHOG KHYE LA CHÖ PAR BÜL
Pleasant offerings of water, various flowers,
Fragrant incense, light, perfume, and so on,
Oceans of offerings, set out and envisioned,
Offered up to you, supreme field of merit.
Confession
GANG ZHIG THOG MEY DÜ NEY SAG PA YI
LÜ NGAG YI KYI MI GE CHI GYI DANG
KHYE PAR DOM PA SUM GYI MI THÜN CHOG
NYING NEY GYÖ PA DRAG PÖ SO SOR SHAG
Non-virtue committed with body, speech, and mind,
Which I have heaped up since beginningless time,
Especially what has transgressed the three vows,
Each I confess from my heart with strong regret.
Rejoicing
NYIG MEY DÜ DIR MANG THÖ DRUB LA TSÖN
CHÖ GYE PANG PEY DEL JOR DÖN YÖ JEY
GÖN PO KHYÖ KYI LAB CHEN DZEY PA LA
DAG CHAG SAM PA THAG PEY YI RANG NGO
In time of strife you strove to learn and practise,
Shunned the eight mundane concerns and made life essenceful,
O Protector, from the depths of our hearts,
We rejoice in your powerful great deeds.
Request to turn the Wheel of Dharma
JE TSÜN LA MA DAM PA KHYE NAM KYI
CHÖ KUI KHA LA KHYEN TSEI CHU DZIN TRIG
JI TAR TSHAM PEY DÜL JEY DZIN MA LA
ZAB GYE CHÖ KYI CHAR PA WAB TU SÖL
Venerable Gurus, from love and wisdom,
Clouds densely massed in your Dharmakaya sky,
Please loose a rain of vast and profound Dharma
On the fields of disciples as needed.
Requesting to Remain
NAM DAG Ö SEL YING LEY ZHENG PA YI
ZUNG JUG KU LA CHAR NUB MI NGA YANG
THA MEL NANG NGOR ZUG KU RAG PA NYI
SI THEY BAR DU MI NUB TEN PAR ZHUG
Risen from the pure sphere of clear light,
Union’s form is unborn, undying.
Still, to ordinary view, in this gross form,
Please stay on, undying, until the end of samsara.
Dedication
DAG SOG JI NYE SAG PEY GE WA DI
TEN DANG DRO WA KÜN LA GANG PHEN DANG
KHYE PAR JE TSÜN LO ZANG DRAG PA YI
TEN PEY NYING PO RING DU SEL JEY SHOG
May whatever virtue that I have gathered here,
Bring benefit to all beings and the Dharma,
And may it make Venerable Losang Drakpa’s
Essence teachings specially shine forever!
Long Mandala Offering Prayer
OM BENZA BHUMI AH HUM
WANG CHEN SER GYI SA ZHI
OM BENZA REKHE AH HUM
CHI CHAKRI KOR YUGGYI KORWE U SU
RII GYALPO RIRAB
SHAR LUPAGPO, LHO DZAMBULING
NUB BALANGCHÖ, JANG DRAMINYEN
LU DANG LUPAG, NGAYAB DANG NGAYABZHAN
YODEN DANG LAMCHOGDRO, DRAMINYEN DANG DRAMINYEN GYIDA
RINPOCHEI RIWO, PAG SAM GYI SHING
DÖ JOI BA, MAMÖ PAYI LOTOG
KHORLO RINPOCHE, NORBU RINPOCHE
TSUNMO RINPOCHE, LONPO RINPOCHE
LANGPO RINPOCHE, TACHOG RINPOCHE
MAGPÖN RINPOCHE, TERCHEN POI BUMPA
GEGMO MA, TRENGWA MA, LU MA, GAR MA
METOG MA, DUGPÖ MA, NANGSEL MA, DRICHAB MA
NYI MA, DA WA, RINPOCHEI DUG
CHOGLE NAMPAR GYELWEY GYELTSEN
U SU LHA DANG MII
PELJOR PUNSUM TSOGPA MA TSANG WA ME PA
TSANG ZHING YI DU ONG WA DI DAG DRINCHEN
TZA WA DANG GYU PAR
CHE PE PALDEN LAMA DAMPA NAM DANG
KYE PAR DU YANG LAMA LOBSANG THUBWANG DORJE
CHANG CHENPO
HLA TSOK KORDANG CHEPA NAMLA
SHINGKAM UL WAR GYI WO
TUG JE DRO WAY DON DU ZHE SU SOL
SHE NAY KYANG DAG SOG DROWA
MAGYUR NAMKAY TADANG NYAMPAY
SEMCHEN TAMCHELA TUG TSE WA CHENPO GONAY
JINGYI LAB TU SOL
SA ZHI PO KYI JUG SHING ME TOG TRAM
RI RAB LING ZHI NYI DAY GYEN PA DI
SANG GYE ZHING DU MIG TAY UL WAR GYI
DRO KUN NAM DAG ZHING LA CHO PAR SHOG
IDAM GURU RATNA MANDALAKAM NIRAYATAYAMI
OM BENZA BHUMI AH HUM
Great powerful golden ground
OM BENZA REKHE AH HUM
Edge, iron mounted surrounded,
In centre, King of Mountains, Meru,
East, Lupagpo, South, Dzambuling,
West, Balangchö, North, Draminyen,
Lu and Lupag, Ngayab and Ngayabzhan,
Yoden and Lamchogdro, Draminyen and Draminyen Gyida,
Precious mountain, wish-granting tree,
Wish-fulfilling cow, harvests reaped though untilled,
Precious wheel, precious jewel,
Precious queen, precious minister,
Precious elephant, precious horse,
Precious general, great treasure-vase,
Goddess of grace, goddess of garlands, song-goddess, dance goddess,
Flower-goddess, incense-goddess, light-goddess, perfume-goddess,
Sun, moon, precious parasol,
Banner of victory over all,
In the centre, god’s and human’s perfect wealth,
Lacking nothing, pure and pleasing, all these,
To the glorious sublime kind root and lineage Gurus
And especially Sovereign of all the Teachings
Glorious excellent Venerable Lama Tsem Rinpoche
Ground, perfume anointed, flowers strewn,
Meru, four lands, sun and moon adorned,
Seen as Buddha-fields and offered, thus,
May all sentient beings enjoy pure lands!
IDAM GURU RATNA MANDALAKAM NIRAYATAYAMI
Migtsema (Mantra of Je Tsongkhapa)
MIG MEY TSE WEY TER CHEN CHENREZIG
DRI MEY KHYEN PEY WANG PO JAMPEL YANG
DÜ PUNG MA LÜ JOM DZEY SANG WEY DAG
GANG CHEN KHE PEY TSUG GYEN TSONGKHAPA
LO ZANG DRAG PEY ZHAB LA SÖL WA DEB (21x)
Objectless compassion, Chenrezig
Lord of stainless wisdom, Manjushri,
Conquering mara’s hordes, Vajrapani,
Crown jewel of the Sages of the Land of Snows, Tsongkhapa,
Losang Drakpa, at your feet, I pray. (21x)
Dissolving Je Rinpoche into Ourselves
PEL DEN TSA WEY LA MA RINPOCHE
DAG SOG CHI WOR PEY MOI TENG ZHUG LA
KA DRIN CHEN POI GO NEY JE ZUNG TE
KU SUNG THUG KYI NGÖ DRUB TSEL DU SÖL
O Glorious and precious root Guru,
Pray sit on the lotus-moon seat at my head.
Caring for me in your great kindness,
Please grant me the attainments of body, speech and mind!
PEL DEN TSA WEY LA MA RINPOCHE
DAG SOG NYING KAR PEY MOI TENG ZHUG LA
KA DRIN CHEN POI GO NEY JE ZUNG TE
CHOG DANG THÜN MONG NGÖ DRUB TSEL DU SÖL
O Glorious and precious root Guru,
Pray sit on the lotus-moon seat at my heart.
Caring for me in your great kindness,
Please grant attainments, common and supreme!
PEL DEN TSA WEY LA MA RINPOCHE
DAG SOG NYING KAR PEY MOI TENG ZHUG LA
KA DRIN CHEN POI GO NEY JE ZUNG TE
JANG CHUB NYING POI BAR DU TEN PAR ZHUG
O Glorious and precious root Guru,
Pray sit on the lotus-moon seat at my heart.
Caring for me in your great kindness,
Until I attain supreme awakening, remain steadfast!
Supplication to Lama Tsongkhapa
TÖ SAM GOM PEY SHE RAB PHEL DU SÖL
CHE TSÖ TSOM PEY LO DRÖ GYE SU SÖL
CHOG DANG TÜN MONG NGÖ DRUB TSEL DU SÖL
NYUR DU KHE RANG TA BUR JIN GYI LOB
DE CHEN LHEN KYE YE SHE CHAR DU SÖL
NGÖ ZIN TRÜL PEY DRI MA SEL DU SÖL
SEM NYI THE TSOM DRA WA CHE DU SÖL
NYUR DU KHE RANG TA BUR JIN GYI LOB
I supplicate you—increase the wisdom which is listening, contemplating, and cultivating;
expand the intelligence which is explaining, debating, and composing;
grant the supreme and common attainments.
Bless me to quickly become like you.
Again, I supplicate you—manifest the co-emergent great bliss wisdom;
clear away the stain of mistaken self-grasping;
cut off the net of confusion regarding the mind’s nature.
Bless me to quickly become like you.
Aspirational Prayers to Lama Tsongkhapa
TSE RAB KUN TU GYAL WA TSONG KHA PEY
THEG CHOG ZHEN YIN NGO SU ZEY PEY THÜ
GYEL WEY NGAG PEY LAM SANG DHE NYI LEY
KHE CHIG TSAM YANG DHOG PAR MA GYUR CHIG
By Conqueror Tsongkhapa’s power of activity
as the actual Mahāyāna spiritual friend,
May I not be turned away in any of my lives, even for a moment,
from this excellent path praised by the Conqueror.
MEY JUNG NAM THAR TSANG MEY TRIM DANG DHEN
LAB CHEN GYEL SEY CHÖ PEY NYING TOP CHE
DE TONG CHOG GI RIM NYI NEL JOR CHÖ
LO ZANG GYEL WEY TEN DANG JEL WAR SHOG
And may I meet the teachings of Conqueror Losang,
Whose marvellous holy life was endowed with a pure discipline,
the great courageous actions of a magnificent bodhisattva’s career,
and guarding the two-stage yoga of supreme bliss and emptiness.
TSUL TRIM TSANG ZHING MANG DU TÖ PA DANG
JANG SEM JONG DANG TA CHÖ TSANG WA SOG
LO ZANG GYEL WA NYI PEY TEN PA LA
SE LHEY MEY PEY NAM THAR KYONG PAR SHOG
May I nurture a pure holy life maintaining pure discipline,
making efforts in learning, training in bodhicitta,
and completing the view, enjoyments, and so forth
as united in the second Conqueror Losang’s teaching.
A Flute Calling to the Guru
A Flute Calling to the Guru — The Guru Yoga Practice of Tsem Rinpoche
Before me, in space of bliss-void clear light,
On a throne of jewels raised up by lions,
Is the root Guru, supreme embodiment of all Refuge.
He glows reddish white, with a peaceful, happy expression,
Wearing three saffron robes and golden pandit’s hat,
Legs crossed in indestructible vajra position,
Right hand in mudra of teaching the Dharma.
On his left hand, in mudra of equipoise,
Rests a beautiful vase filled with undefiled nectar.
At his heart is Great Bliss King Heruka,
Color of lapis, embracing his Consort.
With expression of majesty, four faces, twelve arms,
Hand-symbols such as vajra, bell, he wears dry skulls,
A necklace of wet skulls, and tiger skin skirt.
His two feet, extended and bent, trample extremes of samsara and nirvana.
Red Varahi embraces the Father,
Her calves wound around his thighs,
Hair loose, adorned with the five mudra ornaments,
Bliss increasing, holding curved knife and skull.
At his heart, on a sun-cushion, around the letter HUM,
Are the root and lineage Gurus, Yidams, Buddhas, Bodhisattvas,
Pratekyabuddhas, Shravakas, Viras, Dakinis,
And Dharmapala Guardians, an infinite ocean!
The Guru’s three places are marked by three letters.
Light from the HUNG invites from the countless,
Infinite Purelands of the ten directions,
The Wisdom Beings who, in an instant,
Dissolve in: He becomes the nature of all Refuge.
With great devotion I prostrate, with body, speech, and mind.
O Guru, embodiment of all Refuge,
I offer you my body and wealth, and others’ as well,
All pure virtues of the three times,
Clouds of offerings, owned and unowned,
Actually arranged and mentally emanated.
With intense regret I confess bad karma, downfalls and harmful deeds
I have committed with body, speech and mind in beginningless lives!
I rejoice in my own and all other’s virtuous deeds!
Please turn the wheel of the vast, profound Dharma!
Please remain with me inseparably, adorning the lotus in my heart,
From this life onwards up to full enlightenment!
All well-accomplished virtue such as this
I dedicate for the attainment of omniscient, unexcelled
Enlightenment of my parents and all beings of the six realms!
Tens of millions of four continents, Mount Meru, sun and moon,
Perfect wealth of devas, nagas, human beings,
And a mandala of outer, inner and secret nature,
I mentally offer to the Guru supreme!
Well accepting with compassion for the sake of living beings,
Please rain down blessings and siddhis, common and supreme!
With steadfast great courage, you took responsibility
To spread the powerful great deeds
Of the ten directions’ Conquerors in dark remote lands;
To Protector, Sole Father Guru, Dragpa Gyaltsen, I bow!
Tsem Tulku Vajradhara, embodiment of all Gurus
Heruka Chakrasamvara, embodiment of all Yidams
Mighty Dorje Shugden, embodiment of all Dharmapalas,
I pray to You, who are the embodiment of all Refuge!
At all times, in this life, future lifetimes, and bardo,
O Guru, I have no hope for Refuge but You!
Never let go with your hooks of compassion
And grant me common and supreme siddhis!
[Dissolve the visualisation into the HUM seed syllable at Heruka’s heart. Then from the HUM arises the form of Lama Lobsang Thubwang Dorje Chang. The HUM at the heart of Vajradhara, has Tsem Rinpoche’s Name Mantra in a circle around it. The mantra garland is turning in a clockwise direction. As you recite the mantra, light rays emanate from Rinpoche’s heart, enter the crown of your head and fill your body, bestowing blessings and attainments.]
OM AH GURU KIRTI DATSA SHASANAH DHARA VIRYIA SIDDHI HUM HUM (recite as many times as possible)
Because of thus requesting with intense longing,
From the five places of the Venerable Guru’s body
Stream five-colored light-rays and undefiled nectars.
Descending, they dissolve into my body’s five places.
The four obscurations are purified, four empowerments received.
May I soon attain Yuganaddha, the state of four Kayas!
Coming from the Guru’s body, a thumb-sized replica
Enters my crown and mixes with my mind-HUM syllable,
Bestowing blessings and attainments, common and supreme:
Please remain, always, until full enlightenment!
By blessings and power of praying with single-pointed focus
To the benevolent Guru, source of all goodness and happiness,
Relying, in pure thought and action, on the Spiritual Guide who shows the path,
On the basis of this precious human life of freedom and endowments,
Which surpasses a hundred thousand wish-fulfilling jewels,
Which is difficult to find, extremely meaningful, and easily destroyed,
Since suffering of lower realms is impossible to bear,
Keeping the Three Jewels, supreme, unfailing, as my eternal Refuge,
Striving to adopt and abandon in respect to the natural law of karma,
Please bless me to develop genuine renunciation,
Wishing to escape this pitiful, terrifying prison of samsara!
Thinking of how poor beings of the six realms, my parents,
Have been so continuously kind to me, in order to liberate them
From samsara and lesser nirvana’s vast sea of suffering,
Please bless me to develop supreme Bodhicitta!
Thousand-fold sunlight of unobscured vipasyana
Shining on golden Mount Meru of immutable shamata,
Uproots the darkness of beginningless ignorance:
Please bless me to realize the incomparable view!
Thus, in a pure sky of training in the common path,
From gathered clouds of four uncommon empowerments
Falls divine rain of perfectly pure vows and commitments,
Fertilizing the field of Highest Yoga Tantra’s two stages;
May the good fruit of Yuganaddha ripen in this very lifetime!
Thus by meritorious power of this supreme prayer,
And all pure virtues of the past, present, and future,
May the powerful wish-fulfilling jewel of the sole Father Guru’s reincarnation
Swiftly come as Lord Protector for his poor disciples!
Great loving Protector, having left for another realm
Your amassed disciples, bereft of a Refuge to show them the way,
Are left like chicks without wings on a desolate empty plain
Of darkness and unbearable sorrow!
In this life, in future lives, and in the bardo,
At all times, we rest our hopes in none but You.
Kind Guru, do not abandon your compassion!
Grant blessings, O Lord Protector of Beings!
In this life and all our succession of lives
May you happily care for us, O Lord Protector!
May we enjoy the blissful nectar of Your teachings,
And quickly attain the state of Heruka!
May I and others receive nothing but
A body like yours, O Venerable Guru,
Entourage, lifespan, realm of existence,
And excellent, supreme name, just like Yours!
Vajrasattva Mantra
OM BENZASATTO SAMAYA / MANU PALAYA / BENZASATTO TENO PA / TITA DRIDO 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
Dorje Shugden Serkym
Dorje Shugden Serkym
[To be recited only during the last session of the day]
HUM!
DÖN NYI LEG TSOG CHAR BEB LAMA DANG
CHOG TÜN NGÖ DRUB KÜN TSÖL YIDAM HLAR
DE TER DÜTSIY TUNG WA DI BÜL GYI
ZHE NE SAM DÖN NYUR DU HLÜN DRUB TZÖ
HUM!
O Gurus who rain down accumulations of excellence fulfilling our own and others’ purposes,
And Yidams who bestow all ordinary and supreme attainments,
Through offering you this ambrosial drink which bestows bliss,
May you, having partaken, swiftly and spontaneously accomplish our wishes!
NE SUM PAWO KANDRÖ TSOG KÜN DANG
TU DEN TEN SUNG DAM CHEN GYATSO LA
DE TER DÜTSIY TUNG WA DI BÜL GYI
ZHE NE SAM DÖN NYUR DU HLÜN DRUB TZÖ
O all hosts of heroes and dakinis of the three places,
And ocean of powerful, oath-bound Dharma Protectors,
Through offering you this ambrosial drink which bestows bliss,
May you, having partaken, swiftly and spontaneously accomplish our wishes!
KYE PAR JIG TEN LE DE TEN SUNG CHOG
TU TOB NYEN NYUR DORJE SHUGDEN LA
DE TER DÜTSIY TUNG WA DI BÜL GYI
ZHE NE SAM DÖN NYUR DU HLÜN DRUB TZÖ (recite this verse 21x)
And especially, supreme, supramundane Dharmapala,
Forcefully powerful, strict, and swift Dorje Shugden,
Through offering you this ambrosial drink which bestows bliss,
May you, having partaken, swiftly and spontaneously accomplish our wishes! (recite this verse 21x)
ZHI GYE WANG DANG NGÖN CHÖ RAB JAM LE
TOG ME TSÖL TZE NAM GYUR RIG NGA LA
DE TER DÜTSIY TUNG WA DI BÜL GYI
ZHE NE SAM DÖN NYUR DU HLÜN DRUB TZÖ
O five families who unobstructedly bestow
Infinite activities of peace, increase, power, and wrath,
Through offering you this ambrosial drink which bestows bliss,
May you, having partaken, swiftly and spontaneously accomplish our wishes!
TZE DUG YUM GU NA DREN GELONG GYE
LE KEN TUM PAY TAG SHAR CHU SOG LA
DE TER DÜTSIY TUNG WA DI BÜL GYI
ZHE NE SAM DÖN NYUR DU HLÜN DRUB TZÖ
O nine beautiful consorts, eight guiding monks,
And ten fierce, attendant young guardians, and so on,
Through offering you this ambrosial drink which bestows bliss,
May you, having partaken, swiftly and spontaneously accomplish our wishes!
KYE PAR GYEL WAY TEN PA SUNG WAY TSO
SE YI TRAB CHEN KOR DANG CHE NAM LA
DO GU TSANG WAY SER KYEM CHO PA DI
BUL LO SUNG KYOB YEL WA ME PAR TZO (recite this verse 3x)
Especially, principal guardian of the Conquerors’ Teachings,
Setrap Chen along with entourage to you
This golden drink replete with all one could wish is offered: Never waver in your protection! (recite this verse 3x)
KA KOR NYEN PO DAM NYAM SOG GI SHE
SHINTU TRO TUM KACHE MARPO LA
DE TER DÜTSIY TUNG WA DI BÜL GYI
ZHE NE SAM DÖN NYUR DU HLÜN DRUB TZÖ (recite this verse 3x)
O extremely fierce Kache Marpo, the strict attendant,
Executioner of those with degenerated samaya,
Through offering you this ambrosial drink which bestows bliss,
May you, having partaken, swiftly and spontaneously accomplish our wishes! (recite this verse 3x)
DAM NYAM NYING TRAG SER TAR JANG WA YI
SER KYEM RAB TU KÖL WAY TUNG WA DI
NAM KA BAR TZIN KOR DANG CHÄ LA BÜL
SHE NÄ NÄL JOR SAM DÖN DRUB PAR TZÖ
Vow-breakers’ heart-blood purified like gold,
This drink of fully boiling serkyem,
I offer to Namka Bardzin and entourage
Accepting, accomplish the yogi’s intended purpose!
ZHEN YANG TRÜL PA YANG TRÜL SAM YE DANG
KA DÖ HLA SIN TONG SUM YO WA LA
DE TER DÜTSIY TUNG WA DI BÜL GYI
ZHE NE SAM DÖN NYUR DU HLÜN DRUB TZÖ
As well as the inconceivable emanations and their emanations,
Attendant deities and demons who shake the three thousand worlds,
Through offering you this ambrosial drink which bestows bliss,
May you, having partaken, swiftly and spontaneously accomplish our wishes!
DE TAR CHÖ CHING TRINLE KÜL WAY TÜ
NAM ZHIY TRINLE DÜ DRUG KE CHIG KYANG
YEL WA ME PAR PA YI BU ZHIN DU
TAG TU KYONG SHING TAG TU JE ZUNG TZÖ
Thus, by the force of this offering and exhortation,
May you grant your activity throughout the six time periods,
And, without wavering, always protect me
And care for me like a father for his son!
KA DÖ DREG PAY TSOG KYANG DÜLTZIN JE
YAR DAM NYEN PÖ TA TSIG DREN TZÖ LA
DAG GI GANG DANG GANG CHÖL LE DI NAM
DA TA NYUR DU DRUB LA MA YEL ZHIG
And you hosts of wrathful attendants, as well,
Remember your sworn oaths of promise to Lord Dültzin
And accomplish swiftly now, without distraction,
Whatever activities I have requested!
Tsem Rinpoche’s Swift Reincarnation Prayer
OM SWASTI!
NANG TONG GYU MEY YING LEY MA YÖ KYANG
KÜN LA JEY TSE’I THUG JEY TAG ZIG PA
KHAM SUM CHÖ KYI GYEL PO TSONGKHAPA
DAG SOG DRO WEY TSUG GI GYEN DU CHÖ
OM SWASTI!
Gazing at all beings with compassionate attachment at all times,
Without ever wavering from illusion’s sphere of Appearance and Emptiness −
To Tsongkhapa, that beacon of the Three Realms,
We all migratory beings bow with the crown of our head!
GYEL KÜN TRIN LEY DZEY ZANG MA LÜ DANG
ZHEN DÖN SAM MI KHYAB PEY NGANG TSHÜL CHEN
DRO LA JEY TSE’I THAR LAM TÖN ZHIN DU
LO BUR ZHI WAR SHEG DI KYE MA HÜ
Effortlessly projecting the enlightened deeds of all Victors,
Naturally possessing unimaginable altruistic deeds,
Lovingly showing liberation’s path to migratory beings,
And yet returning to the Sphere of Peace so suddenly − this is tragic.
ÖN TE NYIG DÜ DRO LA MI TAG PEY
NGANG TSHÜL SEL WEY DAM PA ZAB MO ZHIG
DAG CHAG NAM LA CHEY DU TÖN DZEY DI
MEY JUNG NAM THAR LAR YANG DREN PAR GYUR
Enacting such a vivid yet profound lesson
In impermanence, for the migratory beings of a decadent era −
And displaying such a lesson specifically for us,
Is yet again a reminder of your extraordinary life!
LO ZANG GYEL TEN DZIN PEY SHEY NYEN JE
GÖN MEY NYAM THAG DAG CHAG NAM KYI KYAB
JIG TEN GÜ PEY MÜN PA SEL WEY LEY
CHOG TRÜL NYI MA ZHÖN NU NYUR JÖN SHOG
To be a master upholding the Sumati’s legacy,
To be a refuge-source for us the destitute and helpless,
To uplift the darkness of decline hovering over the world −
May the rising sun of your reincarnation appear swiftly!
LU MEY KÖN CHOG SUM GYI DEN TOB DANG
YI DAM KHA DRÖ’I NGÖ DRUB MA LÜ DANG
CHÖ SUNG YI ZHIN NOR BU’I TRIN LEY KYI
JE TSÜN LA MEY CHOG TRÜL NYUR JÖN SHOG
By the power of truth in the ever-reliable Three Jewels,
By all the attainments of all the yidhams and dakinis,
By the enlightened activities of the jewel-like Dharmapala,
May our scrupulous Master reincarnate swift and fast!
DOR NA DENG NEY JANG CHUB NYING PÖ’I BAR
JE TSÜN LAMA KHYE KYI TAG KYONG ZHING
GO SUM NYE PEY TSHOG KÜN RAB ZHI NEY
DRO KÜN JANG CHEN GYEL SAR NYUR REG SHOG
In short from now till quintessence Enlightenment,
May we be all sustained by you, scrupulous Master!
May all shortcomings of the three doors subside!
May all migratory beings swiftly arrive at Victor’s land!
Completion Dedication
JANG CHUB SEM CHOG RINPOCHE
MA KYE PA NAM KYE GYUR CHIG
KYE PA NYAM PA MEY PAR YANG
GONG NEY GONG DU PHEL WAR SHOG
Precious supreme Bodhi mind,
May it, where unborn, arise,
And, where born, never decline,
But increase forever more!
TONG NYI TA WA RINPOCHE
MA KYE PA NAM KYE GYUR CHIG
KYE PA NYAM PA MEY PAR YANG
GONG NEY GONG DU PHEL WAR SHOG
Precious view of Shunyata
May it, where unborn, arise,
And, where born, never decline,
But increase forever more!
DAG SOG JI NYE SAG PEY GE WA DI
TEN DANG DRO WA KÜN LA GANG PHEN DANG
KHYE PAR JE TSÜN LO ZANG DRAG PA YI
TEN PEY NYING PO RING DU SEL JEY SHOG
May whatever virtue that I have gathered here,
Bring benefit to all beings and the Dharma,
And may it make Venerable Losang Drakpa’s
Essence teachings specially shine forever!
Prayer by Je Tsongkhapa
KYE WA KÜN TU YANG DAG LA MA DANG
DREL MEY CHÖ KYI PEL LA LONG CHÖ CHING
SA DANG LAM KYI YÖN TEN RAB DZOG NEY
DORJE CHANG GI GO PHANG NYUR THOB SHOG
In all lives may I never be parted
From perfect Gurus and may I enjoy the glory of Dharma.
By perfecting the qualities of the paths and stages,
May I quickly attain the state of Vajradhara!
Dedication of Virtue
GE WA DI YI NYUR DU DAG
LA MA SANG GYE DRUB GYUR NEY
DRO WA CHIG KYANG MA LU PA
DE YI SA LA GO PAR SHOG
Through this virtue may I swiftly
Attain the Guru Deva’s state,
And place each and every being,
Without exception, in that state!
CHÖ KYI GYEL PO TSONG KHA PA
CHÖ TSHÜL NAM PAR PHEL WA LA
GEG KYI TSHEN MA ZHI WA DANG
THÜN KYEN MA LÜ TSHANG WAR SHOG
May all obstacles be pacified
And all good conditions be complete
For the fully pure Dharma system
Of Dharma King, Tsongkhapa, to flourish!
DA DANG ZHEN GYI DÜ SUM DANG
DREL WA TSHOG NYI LA TEN NEY
GYEL WA LO ZANG DRAG PA YI
TEN PA YÜN RING BAR GYUR CHIG
Because of the combined two accumulations
Of myself and others in the three times,
May the Teachings of the Conqueror Tsongkhapa
Losang Drakpa, brightly 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 DRUB TSOL
KON CHOK SUM GYI TRA SHI SHOG
May all be auspicious, day and night!
May auspiciousness increase both day and night
Like the sun rising to its highest in the heavens!
Three Jewels of Refuge, please bless us!
Three Jewels of Refuge, please bestow attainments!
May there be auspiciousness of the Three Jewels!
Dedication for the Guru’s Long Life
JE TSÜN LA MEY KU TSHE RAB TEN CHING
NAM KAR TRIN LEY CHOG CHUR GYE PA DANG
LO ZANG TEN PEY DRÖN MEY SA SUM GYI
DRO WEY MÜN SEL TAG TU NEY GYUR CHIG
May the Venerable Guru’s life be completely stable,
May pure deeds spread to the ten directions,
And may the lamp of Lama Tsongkhapa’s Teachings
Always remain, dispelling the darkness of the ignorance of beings!
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 land encircled by snow mountains,
Source of every benefit and joy,
May Lord Tenzin Gyatso, Chenrezig,
Remain in this life until samsara’s end!
Request for Attainments
HUM!
TÜN PAY NGÖ DRUB MA LÜ PA
DENG DIR DAG LA TSEL DU SÖL
KOR DANG TEN PA LONG CHÖ NAM
GYE PAR TZÖ CHIG SHUGDEN TSEL
HUM!
Grant me here and now,
Appropriate attainments without exception!
Grant increase of the entourage, teachings, and wealth,
O mighty Shugden!
King of Prayers
The King of Prayers
[To be recited only at the end of the last session of the entire retreat]
O lions amongst men,
Buddhas past, present, and future,
To as many of you as exist in the ten directions
I bow down with my body, speech, and mind.
On wave of strength of this king
Of prayers for the exalted sublime ways,
With bodies as numerous as atoms of the world
I bow down to the Buddhas pervading space.
On every atom is found a Buddha
Sitting amongst countless Buddha sons,
I look with eyes of faith to the victorious ones
Thus filling the entire Dharmadhatu.
Of these with endless oceans of excellence
Endowed with an ocean of wondrous speech
I sing praises of the greatness of all Buddhas,
A eulogy to those gone to bliss.
Garlands of flowers I offer them,
And beautiful sounds, supreme perfumes,
Butter lamps and sacred incense,
I offer to all the victorious ones.
Excellent food, supreme fragrances,
And a mound of mystic substances high as Mount Meru
I arrange in a special formation
And offer to those who have conquered themselves.
And all peerless offerings I hold up
In admiration of those gone to bliss;
With strength of faith in sublime ways
I prostrate and make offerings to the conquerors.
Long overpowered by attachment, aversion, and ignorance
Countless evils I have committed
With acts of body, speech, and mind.
Each and every one of these I now confess.
In the perfections of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas,
The arhats, training and beyond,
And in the latent goodness of every living being,
I lift up my heart and rejoice.
O lights into the ten directions,
Buddhas who have found the passionless stage of enlightenment,
To all of you I direct this request:
Turn the incomparable wheel of Dharma.
O masters wishing to show parinirvana,
Stay with us and teach, I pray
For as many aeons as there are specks of dust,
In order to bring goodness and joy to all beings.
May any small merits that I may have amassed
By thus prostrating, making offerings, confessing, rejoicing,
And asking the Buddhas to remain and teach the Dharma,
Be dedicated now to supreme and perfect Enlightenment.
May my offerings be received by all past Buddhas
And by all those now abiding in the ten directions,
And may all the Buddhas who have not yet come
Quickly perfect their minds and reach Buddhahood,
the state of supreme full awakening.
May all Buddha-realms of the ten directions
Remain forever vast and completely pure,
May the world be completely filled with Buddhas
who have attained illumination under sacred trees,
And may they all be surrounded by Bodhisattvas.
May all living beings in the ten directions
Always abide in health and joy.
May they live in accord with the way of Dharma
And may their every wish become fulfilled.
By my living in the ways of enlightenment
May I remember my past lives in all my reincarnations,
And in all cycles of death, migration, and rebirth
May a sensitivity for truth be ever strong in me.
By my living in the footsteps of the Buddhas
May I utterly perfect the sublime ways of the Bodhisattvas,
And may I practice the faultless, undegenerating, stainless,
And pure ways of self control.
May I master all languages that exist, including those of
The gods, yakshas, spirits, and varieties of men,
As well as all forms of communication of living beings,
That I may be able to show the Dharma in every way.
Striving thus and in the transcending perfections
May I never forget the bodhi mind,
And may I totally cleanse from within my mindstream
All negativities and mental veils.
May I gain freedom from karma, delusion, and karmic maras
To be able to live in the world unaffected by its stains
Like an unstained lotus grows in the mud,
And like the sun and moon shine without obstruction in the sky.
For as long as there are Buddha-fields and directions
May I strive to quell the misery of the lower realms,
May I place all beings only in happiness
And bring them all only happiness and joy.
May I strive to complete the ways of enlightenment
And to abide in ways harmonious with the world;
May I expose to others the ways most sublime
And myself abide in them throughout all future aeons.
May my ways and the ways of a Bodhisattva
Always go together hand in hand,
In body, speech, and mind
May I attune to their sublime ways.
May I never be separated from the good friends
Who reveal the path of the sublime ways
And who wish only to benefit me;
May I never disappoint them for even a moment.
May I constantly envision the perfect Buddhas,
The protectors who are surrounded by Bodhisattvas,
And in the future may I never weary
Of devoting myself to them with all my strength.
May I forever uphold the holy Dharma of the Buddhas
And illumine the sublime way of Enlightenment;
May I practice throughout all future ages
The ways of deeds of the sublime path.
Circling in the various realms of existence
May I amass inexhaustible goodness and wisdom,
And may I become an unending treasure of qualities
Such as methods, wisdom, samadhi, and the experience of a Bodhisattva.
In every atom are Buddha-fields numberless as atoms,
Each field is filled with Buddhas beyond conception,
And each Buddha is surrounded by myriad Bodhisattvas:
To all these dwellers in sublime ways I turn my attention.
Thus, in all atoms within the directions
Abide within the space of a single hair
An ocean of Buddhas within an ocean of Buddha-fields
Performing enlightened activities for an ocean of aeons.
Each Buddha with his perfect speech releases
An ocean of sounds with every word he says
To satisfy the infinitely diverse tendencies of beings:
Thus does the speech of a Buddha constantly flow.
All these conquerors past, present, and future
Continually turn the methods of Dharma wheels;
With all the powers of my mind I listen
For the inexhaustible sound of their words.
All future aeons that could possibly be,
Manifest within me in a single instant;
And I myself in a fraction of a moment
Enter into all these aeons of the three times.
All past, present, and future lions among men
I envision with instantaneous wisdom
And by the power of the Bodhisattvas’ examples
I focus upon the objects of their experience.
I manifest Buddha-fields past, present, and future
Upon one single atom of existence,
And then I transform every single atom
Of existence into a Buddha-field.
By this, when the lights of the worlds
Eventually gain bodhi, turn the Dharma wheels;
And reveal the passing to nirvana’s supreme peace,
May I take rebirth in their very presence.
Then may I attain the ten powers:
The power of instant magical emanation,
The power of which is a vehicle with every door,
The power of excellent activity,
The power of all pervading love,
The power of constantly positive energy,
The power of passionless wisdom,
The powers of knowledge, method, and samadhi,
And the power of Enlightenment itself.
May I purify the power of karma,
May I crush the powers of delusion,
May I render powerless the powerful maras,
And may I perfect the powers of sublime ways.
May I purify an ocean of realms,
May I liberate an ocean of sentient beings,
May I see an ocean of truths,
And may I realise an ocean of wisdom.
May I perform an ocean of perfect deeds,
May I perfect an ocean of prayers,
May I revere an ocean of Buddhas,
And may I practice untiringly for an ocean of aeons.
Through my practice of the sublime Bodhisattva ways
May I gain the Enlightenment of Buddhahood
And then fulfill the enlightened and the sublime aspiration
Of the Buddhas past, present, and future.
In order to match the ways of the sage
Called Samantabhadra, the always-sublime one,
Chief amongst the Awakened Ones’ sons,
I now dedicate all virtues that I possess.
Just as the sublime sage Samantabhadra
Dedicated all pure practices of body, speech, and mind
To the attainment of a pure state and pure realms,
So do I now dedicate the fruit of all my efforts.
In order to engage in all sublime virtues
I offer the prayer of Manjushri;
In the future may I never become faint
In striving to perfect the exalted Bodhisattvas’ way.
May my deeds never reach a limit,
May my qualities of excellence become boundless,
And by abiding in immeasurable activity
May I find Buddhahood, the state of limitless manifestation.
Limitless is the extent of space,
Limitless is the number of sentient beings,
And limitless is the karma and delusion of beings
Such are the limits of my aspirations.
One may offer supreme ornaments of the Buddha-fields
Of the ten directions to the conquerors,
And also offer the highest joys of men and gods
For aeons numerous as atoms of the world.
But to read or hear the King of Prayers
With eyes looking toward supreme illumination
And faith shining in one’s heart for even an instant
Gives birth to a far more supreme merit.
Should anyone recite this aspiration of sublime ways
They will pass beyond all states of sorrow,
Rise above all inferior beings, and gain
A vision of Amitabha, Buddha of Infinite Light.
Even in this very lifetime
All sublime joys will be theirs;
The experiences of the all-sublime Samantabhadra,
Without obstructions, will quickly be theirs.
Merely by giving voice to these aspirations
Of the sublime ways of a Bodhisattva,
The effect can only be known by an omniscient Buddha.
Therefore, doubt not that it leads to Enlightenment.
In order to follow the excellent examples set
By the wisdom of the Bodhisattva Manjushri
And the always-sublime Samantabhadra,
All virtues I dedicate to their peerless ideals.
All conquerors passed into the three times
Have praised as supreme this peerless dedication.
Therefore, I also surrender all roots of my activities
To the sublime goals of a Bodhisattva.
When the moment of my death arrives,
May I remain free from the spiritual obscurations;
May I perceive the face of Amitabha
And transmigrate to Sukhavati, the pure land of joy.
Having arrived there, may I fulfill
All aims of this prayer of aspirations
And benefit the countless living beings
Residing throughout the ten directions.
In the joyous mandala of Amitabha Buddha
May I be reborn from a beautiful lotus,
And may I there have the pleasure of gaining
A pure prophecy from Amitabha himself.
Having won this word of prophecy,
By the power of mind may I fill all directions
With many millions of mystical emanations
And bring limitless benefits to the world.
If by reciting this prayer of the sublime ways
I have amassed a tiny fragment of goodness,
May it work immediately to fulfil
All Dharmic hopes of living beings.
Click here to download the PDF version.
Retreat Commentary
Taking Refuge and Generating Bodhicitta
The retreat session begins with the recitation of the refuge formula three times. The following refuge visualisation follows the Lam Rim teachings. In front of you, around the level of your eyes, visualise a large throne supported by eight lions. On top of this large throne are five smaller thrones that look exactly the same. One is in the centre and the remaining four are in the cardinal directions. The central throne is slightly higher than the others. Visualise your Root Guru appearing in the form of Buddha Shakyamuni. His right hand is in the earth-touching mudra and his left hand holds a begging bowl in his lap. The begging bowl contains the nectar of uncontaminated wisdom, which overcomes samsara and cyclic existence. At Buddha Shakyamuni’s heart is Vajradhara, blue in colour with a HUM syllable at his heart. Even though Buddha Shakyamuni does not look like your Guru, you must think strongly that they are actually one and the same.
There are many different visualisations for Taking Refuge. This visualisation is based on a simplified Lam Rim Refuge visualisation. Click on image to enlarge.
Maitreya sits on the smaller throne to Buddha Shakyamuni’s right. Manjushri sits on the smaller throne to Buddha Shakymuni’s left. On the smaller throne behind Buddha Shakyamuni sits the Buddha Vajradhara. On the smaller throne in front of Buddha Shakyamuni sits your Root Guru. His right hand is in the gesture of teaching the Dharma; his left hand is resting in his lap in the gesture of meditative equipoise. His left hand also holds a long-life vase. If your Guru is still alive, he sits on a cushion; if he has already passed from his physical form, then you visualise him sitting on a lotus and moon disc. All the figures are not two-dimensional, they are bright, luminous, alive and moving. As you recite the refuge prayer, light streams forth from all the figures and purifies you of your negativity and increases your good qualities.
The Four Immeasurables
The Four Immeasurables are recited to establish a good motivation that all practices done to benefit oneself do not harm other beings.
The premise on which The Four Immeasurables are practised is that ‘everyone wants to be happy, but happiness cannot be achieved in isolation’. In fact, your happiness depends upon the happiness of all, revealing that all life is interdependent. In order to be happy, one needs to cultivate wholesome attitudes towards others in society and towards all sentient beings.
Therefore, the best way of cultivating wholesome attitudes towards all sentient beings is through contemplative meditation on the Four Immeasurables, which cultivates loving-kindness, compassion, appreciative joy and equanimity towards an immeasurable number of sentient beings.
The practice of the Four Immeasurables is also a powerful antidote to negative mental states such as anger and pride.
After completing this recitation, the entire refuge visualisation dissolves into yellow light, which dissolves into the space between your eyebrows.
Gaden Lhagyama – The Guru Yoga of Lama Tsongkhapa
Or view the video on the server at:
https://video.tsemtulku.com/videos/Malay06-Tsongkhapa.mp4
After completing the Four Immeasureables, proceed to the Guru Yoga of Lama Tsongkhapa. Recite the Migtsema mantra at least 21 times.
A Flute Calling to the Guru — The Guru Yoga Practice of Tsem Rinpoche
The Guru in Buddhism refers to a qualified spiritual guide. ‘Guru’ is a contraction of the Sanskrit term ‘guna ruchi’, which means a collection of good qualities. This reflects the spiritual purpose of a Guru, which is to inspire our own spiritual qualities and practice. ‘Yoga’ literally means ‘to yoke’ or ‘to join with something’.
Hence, Guru Yoga is a meditative practice to merge with the Guru’s mind stream in order to acquire the Guru’s good qualities, to accumulate a tremendous amount of merits, to receive the special blessings of the lineage to be successful in our tantric practice, and ultimately to be able to perceive the Guru as the Buddha himself.
The tantric deity Heruka Chakrasamvara. Engaging in Tsem Rinpoche’s Guru Yoga bestows the blessing of this meditational deity, whose practice usually requires Highest Yoga Tantra initiation. Click on image to enlarge. Click here for more beautiful thangkas.
Acting on special intuition, in October 2019, His Eminence Drubwang Gangchen Rinpoche instructed Lama Thubten Phurbu to compose a special Guru Yoga of H.E. Tsem Rinpoche in conjunction with the tantric deity Heruka Chakrasamvara. By incorporating Rinpoche’s main yidam Heruka into this Guru Yoga practice, we are also tapping into the blessings of Rinpoche’s main meditational deity, thus maximising the benefits, merits and affinity with the lama.
This important supplication is a complete seven-limb prayer with special requests for the Guru’s blessings. All spiritual attainments are impossible without the blessings of the Guru, who is more precious than a wish-fulfilling jewel. Thus, we should always petition the Guru continuously. The prayer also recalls the kindness of our Guru and requests for his blessings so that we can be liberated from the cyclic existence of suffering in Samsara.
As it says in the scriptures, one of the most powerful practices is recalling the Guru by reciting the Guru’s mantra. Likewise, in his commentary to this Guru Yoga practice, Lama Thubten Phurbu said,
“Even though we do not know a lot of practices, if we recite our Guru’s mantra whole-heartedly with sincerity and faith, we can obtain the qualities and attainments of Buddha Heruka, Dorje Shugden, and all the enlightened beings.”
Thus, we should recite Rinpoche’s name mantra as much as possible as part of this Guru Yoga practice.
In his commentary, Lama Thubten Phurbu also described Tsem Rinpoche as being one with Heruka and Dorje Shugden, and therefore a perfect object of refuge. Lama Thubten Phurbu also recognised Tsem Rinpoche’s immaculate motivation and attainments which are visible through his great deeds in Malaysia. By turning what was once barren into a fertile ground for the Dharma to flourish, Lama Thubten Phurbu recognised Tsem Rinpoche’s enlightened qualities as equal to the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas of the ten directions.
The Guru Yoga of Tsem Rinpoche is recommended as a daily practice and can be recited as part of our sadhana. When Rinpoche’s disciples and friends engage in this Guru Yoga practice along with recitations of Rinpoche’s name mantra, it will create the necessary causes and merits for the successful search, recognition and enthronement of Rinpoche’s incarnation. If this is done well, the discovery of the new incarnation will not only benefit the disciples and friends but also the lineage and all sentient beings.
Visualisation
A thangka of H.E. Tsem Rinpoche. Click to enlarge
Visualise Tsem Rinpoche appearing in front of you on a lion throne, wearing the three robes of a monk and a golden pandit’s hat. Rinpoche sits with his legs crossed in the vajra posture. His right hand is in the gesture of teaching the Dharma and his left hand is in the gesture of meditative equipoise holding a vase filled with nectar. At Rinpoche’s heart is Heruka in union with Vajravarahi. At Heruka’s heart is a blue HUM seed syllable on a lotus and sun disc. Around the HUM are all the root and lineage Gurus, yidams, Buddhas, bodhisattvas, pratekyabuddhas, shravakas, viras, dakinis and Dharma Protectors.
At Rinpoche’s forehead is a white OM and at his throat is a red AH. Light from the blue HUM at the heart of Heruka emanates into the ten directions and countless purelands, inviting the energies of all enlightened beings. These energies dissolve into the HUM syllable. Your visualisation now becomes the perfect embodiment of the Three Jewels.
When you reach the mantra recitation section, dissolve the entire visualisation into the blue HUM seed syllable at Heruka’s heart. Then from the blue HUM syllable arises the form of Lama Lobsang Thubwang Dorje Chang, with the HUM at his heart.
Lama Lobsang Thubwang Dorje Chang. Click to enlarge.
This visualisation is of Lama Tsongkhapa. His right hand is in the Dharma teaching mudra, holding the stem of a lotus on which is a flaming wisdom sword. His left hand is in his lap, holding a begging bowl filled with nectar. The left hand also holds the stem of another lotus on top of which rests a Dharma text.
At Tsongkhapa’s heart is Buddha Shakyamuni, with his right hand in the earth-touching mudra. He holds a begging bowl filled with nectar in his left hand, which rests in his lap.
At Buddha Shakyamuni’s heart is Buddha Vajradhara, holding a vajra and bell with his arms crossed at his heart. The blue HUM syllable that was visualised earlier is at Buddha Vajradhara’s heart. This entire visualisation is one and the same with your Guru.
“Lama” refers to your Guru, “Lobsang” refers to Lama Tsongkhapa, “Thubwang” refers to Buddha Shakyamuni, and “Dorje Chang” refers to Buddha Vajradhara. They are one and the same, they are not different, they are in fact of one mind.
Around the blue HUM syllable at Buddha Vajradhara’s heart, which sits on a lotus and sun disc, is Tsem Rinpoche’s name mantra OM AH GURU KIRTI DATSA SHASANAH DHARA VIRYIA SIDDHI HUM HUM. This mantra garland turns in a clockwise direction.
As you recite Rinpoche’s name mantra, lights from the HUM syllable and mantra garland emanate forth and reach you. The lights wash over you from your head down and fill your body, completely washing away all your obscurations and impurities. Your illnesses come out in the form of pus, negative influences in the form of insects, scorpions and snakes, and mental obscurations as dark, smoky liquid. As the obscurations flow out of your body from your lower orifice, the earth below you opens, down to seven levels below the surface. There, is Yama, the Lord of Death, sleeping. He wakes up and the pus, insects, scorpions, snakes and dirty smokey liquid enter his mouth. As he swallows it, it turns into nectar. He is very pleased. Now all your karmic debts and your past actions have been totally purified and transformed into wisdom. Think strongly that you have purified all your negative karma.
At the same time, the lights also grant you blessings, long life, good health, an increase in Dharmic qualities, and so forth. Think strongly that you have received the blessings of Tsem Rinpoche and Rinpoche’s good qualities of body, speech and mind.
When you conclude your mantra recitation, it is very important to visualise Yama happy to receive all of your negative qualities. He lies down and goes back to sleep. Then the ground closes, and between you and the ground appears a double vajra. This seals the ground, meaning Yama cannot come out. This visualisation, according to His Holiness Kyabje Zong Rinpoche, will extend your life.
Continue reciting the rest of Rinpoche’s Guru Yoga prayers, with the lights and nectar from the Guru’s five places merging with your own five places. Then visualise a thumb-size replica of the Guru coming to your crown, facing the same direction you are facing, going down your central channel and merging with the HUM seed syllable at your own heart.
At the end of the prayer, dissolve the visualisation into light, and this light dissolves into you.
Guru Yoga Practice of Tsem Rinpoche (Visualisation Guide)
Dorje Shugden Serkym
Serkym, also called the Golden Drink Offering, is a central part of the Dorje Shugden Kangso. This practice was developed as an extended offering to the Dharma Protector to request for swift assistance. Hence, the serkym offering has become popular and it is commonly practised among modern-day practitioners especially in times of dire need. During retreats, the serkym offering is utilised to request Dorje Shugden to remove obstacles and create the necessary conditions for our retreat to be successful.
A traditional serkym set
Traditionally, tea is used as an offering. However, other beverages like milk or even carbonated drinks can be used as a replacement. The serkym offering is traditionally offered by pouring the beverage into a two-tiered vessel, which consists of a taller vessel placed into a lower bowl. If a Tibetan-style serkym set (which is normally made of brass or copper) cannot be obtained, you can replace it by using a tall glass (such as a wine glass) placed in a glass bowl.
During the serkym offering, the beverage is poured from a pot or jug into the taller vessel until the liquid overflows down into the lower bowl. In Buddhism, the overflowing liquid is highly auspicious as a symbol of abundant merits, virtues, and favourable conditions.
The beverage can either be poured fully into the vessel prior to the recitation of the serkym verses, or it can be poured a little at a time during the recitation of the relevant passages throughout the liturgy. If the latter method is chosen, pour a little of the tea into the taller vessel so that you do not present an empty vessel to the Buddhas. Before starting, consecrate the serkym by circling a lit incense stick three times clockwise around the serkym set while chanting ‘OM AH HUM‘.
While making the serkym offering, visualise Dorje Shugden in front of you and the beverage as divine nectar that expands to fill an entire ocean which represents all the desirable things in the world that pleases the five senses.
Tsem Rinpoche’s Swift Reincarnation Prayer
Abiding in a state of wisdom and compassion, Bodhisattvas are highly attained beings who have developed the spontaneous wish to always be of benefit to others. For this reason, they pray to be reborn in difficult circumstances, or in an environment where they can absorb the suffering of sentient beings. This is a prayer that Tsem Rinpoche repeatedly made in his previous lives, which can be traced back to a direct disciple of Lord Buddha Shakyamuni.
Born on October 24, 1965, Rinpoche took rebirth to fulfil the spiritual responsibilities of his previous lives and to uphold the tradition of the Buddha’s teachings. Having fulfilled the role of his present incarnation, Rinpoche passed into parinirvana on September 4, 2019.
Highly attained beings will return if sincere requests are made. Compelled by compassion, they will not turn away if they see a need for them to return. To create the causes for our precious lama to take rebirth in this realm and once again continue his enlightened deeds in a new perfect form for the benefit of all, on September 5, 2019 the king of our lineage, His Holiness Kyabje Trijang Chocktrul Rinpoche composed a Prayer for the Swift Return of His Eminence the 25th Tsem Rinpoche. Other esteemed masters of our tradition have done the same.
It is now vital for all disciples, monasteries, friends around the world, and upholders of the lineage to recite these prayers and make heartfelt and fervent requests for Rinpoche to swiftly return in an unmistaken incarnation to continue his enlightened activities in this earthly realm. These prayers should be recited strongly and often, and incorporated into your daily practices.
Completion Dedication & King of Prayers
The Completion Dedication reminds us of our Mahayana aim to achieve Enlightenment for the sake of all sentient beings. In doing so, the dedication prayer seals the energies generated from our virtuous activity into merit. It is this spiritual merit that we rely on for our continued and successful spiritual journey. The King of Prayers, used as the final prayer for the entire retreat is not only a dedication prayer; its recitation alone is said to generate a tremendous amount of merit. Tsem Rinpoche recommended reciting the King of Prayers at the end of all retreats for an extremely auspicious end to a very virtuous activity.
For more interesting information:
- The Tsem Rinpoche Relic Stupa Project
- The Promise – Tsem Rinpoche’s inspiring biography now in ebook format!
- My Precious Teachers
- Meeting Kyabje Yongyal Rinpoche in New York
- The Train
- I’m Requesting Ordination in 1987
- Kyabje Zong Rinpoche Cuts My Hair
- My Message to Lama Zopa Rinpoche
- My First Guru in New Jersey
- Kentrul Thubten Lamsang
- Visiting My Parents – Tsem Rinpoche
- VIDEO: (Re)visiting an Extraordinary Life: The Tsem Rinpoche Biography Group in the USA
- Avalokiteshvara, Turkey Swamp, Marc & Me
- The Cowshed That Was My Home in Gaden
- 700 Meet A Buddha
- Dorje Shugden: My Side of the Story
- Tsem Rinpoche’s heritage in China
- Tsem Rinpoche’s Torghut Ancestry | 詹杜固仁波切的土尔扈特血统
- How Geshe Tsultrim Gyeltsen changed my life
- Dharma Work, Attitude & TDL | 佛法工作、态度及图登达杰林佛法中心
- Short sharing about Kyabje Zong Rinpoche | 关于嘉杰宋仁波切的简短分享 | ༧སྐྱབས་རྗེ་ཟོང་རྡོ་རྗེ་འཆང་གི་སྐོར་བགོ་འགྲེམས་མདོར་བསྡུས།
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We are very blessed for being able to learn Buddhism . Learning Dharma and putting into actions remind us of the Buddha’s teachings. The Dharma reveals truths as taught by the Buddha. It also gives us a way to live life that transform our mind and leading us towards achieving enlightenment. Having the opportunity to learn the Buddha’s teachings and cultivate ourselves is indeed very precious. We have to sincerely and consistently practice nor matter what happens and be true to ourselves. The efficaciousness of this all depends on our faith, loyalty and devotion to our Guru. Dharma is beautiful I do agree with it as explained by Rinpoche. Dharma is the moral law combined with spiritual discipline that guides one’s life. And is extremely approachable by everyone and has since changed my life.
Thank you Rinpoche with folded hands
Beautiful article to read with more knowledge , understanding how we can create the cause for Rinpoche’s swift return . Very auspicious retreat but due to MCO not many people could join in the retreat. Anyway reading this details article helps us to understand and the correct way to visualise and so forth. By just recitation our Guru’s mantra whole-heartedly with sincerity and faith, we can obtain the qualities and attainments of Buddha Heruka, Dorje Shugden, and all the enlightened beings as said by Lama Thubten Phurbu. Timely advices by Lama Thubten Phurbu too for us to continue reading, learning, practicing Dharma and putting it in practice .
Thank you for this teaching with clear explanation for us all. May more people read this article and understand better.
Wonderful to see this special and meritorious event. Hope many kecharians and friends will try to participate in this auspicious and meritorious retreat to create the cause for Rinpoche’s swift return. I would if I could for sure! 😍. And thank you very much to writers for the very in detailed explaination of this special retreat. May Rinpoche come back to us to teach and spread Dharma very soon. I miss you and love you very much!😘😘😘💖💖💖🙏🙏🙏🌈🌈🌈
Thank you very much for writing this very good, detailed yet concise explanation on Rinpoche’s Name Mantra Retreat. The details and explanation on the visualisations was very clear. The way it was written was easy to understand and absorbed. Now when we do Rinpoche’s name mantra recitation, we can visualise better and we know the significance of it all. Much appreciated 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾
Thank you for posting this important teaching to guide us all on our journey.