Tsongkhapa Retreat Instructions

FOR A POWERFULLY BLESSED TSONGKHAPA RETREAT

1. PREPARE

• Buddhist Swastika
• Kusha Grass (from a brand new broom). The kusha grass must be placed in the centre of the Buddhist Swastika.

Place the stem of the long kusha grass inwards with the tassels facing outwards 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 Buddha Swastika with the kusha grass on the spot (under the cushion).
• Be Mindful not to step on and cross over the other participants’ cushions.

3. TORMA

• Purchase a clear glass bottle and fill it with biscuits (white area of the diagram). Place it on a place and fill the empty space in the plate (brown area of the diagram) with sweets, candies, etc.
• At the beginning of every prayer session, add some sweets and candies to the torma, and a few drops to each sensory offering and water offering, visualising that you are renewing the offerings.
• The tormas for Tsongkhapa and Setrap should be similar size (large) while the torma for the entourage should be smaller.

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 (see below). 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 -7 beads.
• You have to restart all of the mantras if you fall asleep.

6. Do not move the statues until you have finished the retreat.

7. Do not move the torma until you have finished the retreat – everyday, 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

• 5 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 offering 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, and hence this purification can cause obstacles to arise, hence unnecessary travelling should be minimized.

12. PRELIMINARIES

It is recommended to recite the multiplying mantra, followed by a good motivation and mantra of blessing the feet daily at the beginning of the day, before starting the retreat.

Multiplying Mantra: It was stated in the Sutras that when you recite this mantra seven times (7x) in the morning, all the virtuous actions performed by you during the day, including recitation of mantras, will be multiplied by a hundred thousand times.

OM SAMBHARA SAMBHARA VIMANA SARA MAHA JAVA HUNG
OM MARA MARA VIMANA SARA MAHA JAVA HUNG (7x)

Blessing the feet Mantra: When you recite this mantra three times (3x) and then spit on the soles of your feet, it ensures that you do not create the negative karma when you inadvertently step on and kill any living creature, e.g. ants, during the course of the day. It also helps the sentient being to have a good rebirth.

OM KHE TSARA GHANA HUM HRI SOHA (3x)

PRAYER TEXT FOR TSONGKHAPA RETREAT

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)

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 practicing generosity and the other far-reaching attitudes, may I attain Buddhahood in order to benefit all sentient beings (3x)

FOUR IMMEASURABLES

May all living beings be endowed with happiness and free from suffering.
May they never be separated from the state of happiness,
and may they always remain in a state of equanimity.
(Thus meditating on the Four Immeasurables)

PURIFYING THE PLACE

TAM CHE DU NI SA ZHI DAG
SEG MA LA SOG MAY PA DANG
LAG TIL TAR NYAM BAR DU YE
RANG ZHIN JAM POR NAY GYUR CHIG

Everywhere may the ground be pure,
free of the roughness of pebbles and so forth.
May it be the nature of lapis
and as smooth as the palm of one’s hand.

OFFERING PRAYERS

LHA DANG MI YI SHO PAY DZAY
NGO SU SHAM DANG YI KYI TRUL
KUN ZANG CHO DRIN LA NA MAY
NAM KAY KAM KUYN KYAB GYUR CHIG

May the offering substances both human and divine,
those actual and those which are emanated,
unsurpassed Samantabhadra clouds of offerings,
fill the entire space.

OFFERING CLOUDS DHARINI

OM NAMO BHAGAWATE BENZA SARA PRAMADINYE TATHAGATAYA ARHATE SAMYAK SAM BUDDHAYA TAYATA OM BENZE BENZE MAHA BENZE MAHA TESHA BENZE MAHA VIDDHYA BENZE MAHA BODHICHITTA BENZE MAHA BODHI MANDROPA SAM KRAMANA BENZE SARVA KARMA VARONA BHIKSHU DANA BENZE SOHA

POWER OF TRUTH

KON-CHOG SUM-GYI DEN-PA-DANG
SANG-GYE-DANG JANG-CHUB SEM-PA
TAM-CHE-KYI JIN-GYI-LAB-DANG
TSOG-NYI YONG-SU DZOG-PAY
NGA-TANG CHEN-PO-DANG
CHO-KYI YING NAM-PAR DAG-CHING
SAM-GYI MI-KYAB-PAY TOB-KYI
DE-ZHIN NYI-DU GYUR-CHIG

By the force of the truth from the three Jewels of Refuge
By the firm inspiration from all Bodhisattvas and Buddhas
By the power of all the Buddhas who have fully completed
Their collections of both good merit and insight
By the might of the void
Inconceivable and pure
May all of these offerings be hereby transformed
Into their actual nature of voidness

JE TSONGKHAPA’S YOGA – GANDEN LHA GYAMA

(Invocation)

GA-DEN HLA-JI NGON-JYI THUG-KA NEY
RAP-KAR SHO-SAR PUNG-DEE CHU-ZIN TSER
CHO-KYI GYEL-PO KUN-CHEN LOZANG DRAG
SEY-DANG CHE PA NE-DIR SHEG SU SOL

From the heart of the Lord of the Gaden Devas (Maitreya Buddha) emerges a brilliant white cloud, like a great mass of fresh yoghurt. Atop sits Tsongkhapa all-knowing, King of Dharma; we request your coming to this place along with your great disciples.

(Prostration)

DUN-JYI NAM-KHAR SING-TI PEE-DEE TENG
JE-TSUN LA-MA JYEH-PI DZUM-KAR CHYEN
DAG-LO DE-PE SO-NAM SHING-CHOG TU
TAN-PA JYEH-SHIR KAL-DJAR JUG-SU SOL

My Lord Guru is seated before me upon a lion throne, lotus and moon cushion. His body is white and he smiles blissfully. Please remain many eons and serve as the great merit field for the growth of my mind’s faith, and for the increase of Lord Buddha’s teachings.

(Praises)

SHE-JYEH CHON-KUN JAL-WEY LO-DO THUG
KAL-ZANG NA-WEY JYIN-JUR LIK-SHEY SUNG
DRAG-PI PEL-JYI HLAM-MER DZEY-PI KU
THONG-THO DRAN PI DON DHAN LA-CHAG TSAL

His omniscient wisdom-mind encompasses all that is existent. His voice is a profound teaching, which ornaments the ear of the fortunate pupil. His body’s beautiful radiance evokes wondrous admiration. To Lama Tsongkhapa, whom merely viewing, hearing or contemplating earns one great merit, I make prostration.

(Offering)

YIH-WONG TCHO-YON NA-TSOG ME-TOG DANG
DRI-JEM DUG-PO NANG-SAL DRID-CHAB SOG
NGO-SHAM YIH TUL TCHO-TIN GYA-TSO DI
SO-NAM SHING-CHOG CHE-LA CHO-PA BUL

I present to you, great merit field, Tsongkhapa, beautiful offerings, water, a display of flowers, fragrant incense, butter-lamps, perfumes and more both physical and mental offerings, vast as the clouds and wide as the ocean.

(Confession)

DAG-GI TO-MEY DU-NEH SAG-PA YI
LU-NGAG YIH-KYI DIG-PA CHI-JYI DANG
CHEY-PA DOM-PA SUM-JI MI-TUN SHO
NYING-NEH JO-PA TRAH-PO SO-SOR SHAG

The unwholesome actions of body, speech and mind, which I have accumulated over a measureless period, especially actions contrary to the three vows (Vinaya, Bodhisattva, Vajrayana), I regret extremely and from the depths of my heart, and reveal each and every such action.

(Rejoice)

NIK-MI DU-DIR MANG-THO DRUP-LA TSON
CHO-JYED PANG-PI DAL-JOR DON-YO SHYE
NGON-PO CHEY-KYI LAP-CHEN DZE-PA LA
DAG-CHAG SAM-PA TAG-PEH YI RANG NGO

We totally rejoice in your magnificent achievements, my Lord, who received numerous teachings and performed the practices with utmost diligence, who abandoned the eight worldly objectives and made the most meaningful use of the eighteen opportune conditions during these degenerate times.

(Request to turn the Wheel of Dharma)

JE-TSUN LA-MA DAM-PA CHEY-NAM KYI
CHO-KU KA-LA CHEN-TI TIN-TIK NEY
JI-TAR TSAM-PI DUL-SHIH DZIN-MA LA
ZAB-JI CHO-KYI CHAR-PA WHAP-TU SOL

All you Holy Gurus, unerring in conduct, may you precipitate a rain of realization of Bodhicitta and Sunyata from the clouds of all-knowing compassion, which fills the Dharmakaya sky, providing for the field of disciples precisely what is needed.

(Requesting to remain)

NAM-DAG WO-SAL YING-LEY JING-PA YI
ZUNG-JUG KU-LA CHAR-NUB MI-NGA YANG
THA-MAL HNANG-NGOR ZUG-KU RAG-PA NYI
SEE-THEE BAR-DU MI-NUB TAN-PAR SHUG

May the Vajra body created from the purity of clear light, free of the rising and setting of cyclic existence but visible to the ordinary viewer only in its unsubtle, physical form, stay on unchanging, without waning, until Samsara ends.

(Dedication)

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 SHOG

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.

MIG-TSE-MA MANTRA

MIG-MEY TZE-WEY TER-CHEN CHEN-RE-ZIG
DRI-MEY KHYEN-PI WANG-PO JAMPAL YANG
DU-PUNG MA-LU JOM-DZEY SANG-WEY DAG
GANG-CHEN KE-PEY TSUG-GYEN TSONG-KHAPA
LO-SANG TRAG-PEY SHAB-LA SOL-WA DEB (21x)

(*Actual retreat mantra – recite thus, as many as possible)

Je Tsongkhapa, crown Jewel of the holy masters of the Land of Snows
You are Avalokiteshvara, great goldmine of compassion untainted by ego’s delusion.
You are Manjushri, great master of stainless wisdom.
You are Vajrapani, great subduer of all the gatherings of demons.
At your feet, famed Lobsang Dragpa, I humbly bow and earnestly request that all sentient beings achieve Enlightenment.

TORMA MANTRA

OM AH GURU BENZA DHARA SUMATI KIRTI SIDDHI SAPARIWARA IDAM BALINGTA KAKA KAHI KAHI (3x)

OFFERINGS

OM AH GURU BENZA DHARA SUMATI KIRTI SIDDHI SAPARIVARA ARGHAM PRATĪTSAYE SVAHA
OM AH GURU BENZA DHARA SUMATI KIRTI SIDDHI SAPARIVARA PADYAM PRATĪTSAYE SVAHA
OM AH GURU BENZA DHARA SUMATI KIRTI SIDDHI SAPARIVARA PUPE PRATĪTSAYE SVAHA
OM AH GURU BENZA DHARA SUMATI KIRTI SIDDHI SAPARIVARA DHŪPE PRATĪTSAYE SVAHA
OM AH GURU BENZA DHARA SUMATI KIRTI SIDDHI SAPARIVARA ALOKE PRATĪTSAYE SVAHA
OM AH GURU BENZA DHARA SUMATI KIRTI SIDDHI SAPARIVARA GANDHE PRATĪTSAYE SVAHA
OM AH GURU BENZA DHARA SUMATI KIRTI SIDDHI SAPARIVARA NAIVIDYE PRATĪTSAYE SVAHA
OM AH GURU BENZA DHARA SUMATI KIRTI SIDDHI SAPARIVARA SHABDA AH HŪM SVAHA

(Thus making offerings)

SETRAP MANTRA

OM MAHA YAKCHA TSA SO HA
(One mala or more)

SERKYM OFFERING

Golden drink offering – black tea, milk or yogurt. Composed by H.H. Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche

OM AH HUM (3x)

HUNG NGO DRUB CHAR BEB LA MA YI DAM LHA
TRIN LE DRUB TZE KA DRO CHO KYONG SOG
DO GU TSANG WAY SER KYEM CHO PA DI
BUL LO SUNG KYOB YEL WA ME PAR TZO (T)

Those who pour down the attainments, Gurus, yidam deities,
Performers of activity, dakinis, Dharmapalas, and so forth
This golden drink replete with all one could wish is offered;
Never waver in your protection! (T)

HRI 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 (T)**

HRI! 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! (T)**

KU YI TRUL PA MI ZE MUN PAY ZUG
NEU LU TREN YANG TRUL PO NYAR CHE
DO GU TSANG WAY SER KYEM CHO PA DI
BUL LO DANG WAY DRA WO TSE NE CHO (T)

Body emanation of irresistible dark form,
And your emanated messengers, mongoose, and ‘tsen’,
This golden drink replete with all one could wish is offered;
Cut down hateful enemies! (T)

SUNG TRUL DU KYI ME CHE YO WAY GAR
TRO TUM DRAG SHUL TSEN GO PO NYAR CHE
DO GU TSANG WAY SER KYEM CHO PA DI
BUL LO LOG TAY DE PUNG CHAM LA POB (T)

Speech emanation dancing like fire of time’s end’s flames,
And messenger, wild ‘tsen’ with expression of fierce wrath,
This golden drink replete with all one could wish is offered;
Banish forces with distorted views completely! (T)

BUM TRAG TON DA TSEG PAY LANG TSO CHE
TUG KYI TRUL PA LHA RIG PO NYAR CHE
DO GU TSANG WAY SER KYEM CHO PA DI
BUL LO MI TUN BAR CHE ZHI WAR TZO (T)

With graceful beauty of hundred-thousand-fold autumn moons,
Mind emanation and messenger of deva family,
This golden drink replete with all one could wish is offered;
Pacify negative interferences! (T)

SI SUM YI WANG YE KYIL DUNG GI DRE
NYO JE JE YI GYEL PO PO NYAR CHE
DO GU TSANG WAY SER KYEM CHO PA DI
BUL LO TEN YO LEG TSOG WANG DU DU (T)

Crazer of the three realms’ beings’ minds with sounds
Of right-spiralling conch, and messenger, King of lords,
This golden drink replete with all one could wish is offered;
Powerfully attract all goodness of animate and inanimate worlds! (T)

LHUN DUG GANG RI DUM BU KYO PAY NYAM
YON TEN TRUL PA TER SUNG PO NYAR CHE
DO GU TSANG WAY SER KYEM CHO PA DI
BUL LO SI ZHI GE TSEN GYE PAR TZO (T)

With expression shaking the atoms of massive snow mountains,
Quality emanation and messenger, Guardian of treasures,
This golden drink replete with all one could wish is offered;
Increase all samsaric and nirvanic excellence! (T)

DUG CHEN TRAG GI SHER WAY SIN PO ZUG
TRIN LE TRUL PA TSEN GO PO NYAR CHE
DO GU TSANG WAY SER KYEM CHO PA DI
BUL LO NEL JOR LE LA TSEL MA ZHEN (T)

In form of a raksha, wet with vicious beings’ blood,
Activity emanation and messenger, wild tsen
This golden drink replete with all one could wish is offered;
In yogic activity be not weak of power! (T)

ZHEN YANG LHA LU TSEN DU A TSA RA
MON PA JIG RUNG DREG PAY MAG TSOG NAM
DO GU TSANG WAY SER KYEM CHO PA DI
BUL LO GEL KYEN SOL LA TUN KYEN DRUB (T)

Furthermore, devas, nagas, ‘tsen’, maras and tantrikas,
Tribal natives, and fearsome proud army forces,
This golden drink replete with all one could wish is offered;
Dispel contrary conditions and provide all facilities! (T)

(At the verse below, pour tea till finished:)

GYEL TEN SHE DRUB CHO ZHIN GYE PA DANG
DE TZIN LA MAY KU TSE TRIN LE PEL
NO PAY GEG DOG DANG DRA ZHOM PA DANG
CHOL WAY LE KUN TRIN LE YI ZHIN DRUB

Increase Buddhist Teaching and Practice in accord with Dharma,
Augment life span and spread activities of Gurus who uphold it,
Stop harmful obstructers and conquer hateful enemies,
And accomplish all requested aims with activity as wished!

Note: (T) – Pour tea once (T)** – Pour tea 21x or 108x (as instructed)

(End of black tea)

DISSOLUTION

(Dissolving Je Rinpoche into Ourselves)

PAL-DAN TSA-WEY LA-MA RINPOCHE
DAG-SOG CHI-WOR PE-ME DAN-JUG LA
KA-DRIN CHEN-PO GO-NEY JE-ZUNG TE
KU-SUNG THUG-KYI NGO-DRUP TSAL-DU SOL

Dear worthy root Guru, please ascend the lotus seat atop the head of myself and the other beings, and in your great kindness please remain with us. Bestow upon us the blessings of your body, speech and mind.

PAL-DAN TSA-WEY LA-MA RINPOCHE
DAG-SOG NYING-KHAR PE-ME DAN-JUG LA
KA-DRIN CHEN-PO GO-NEY JE-ZUNG TE
CHO-DANG THUN-MONG NGO-DRUP TSAL-DU SOL

Precious, noble, root Guru, please occupy the lotus seat within our hearts and in your great kindness remain with us. Please grant us your blessings for our temporal success and for the supreme attainment.

PAL-DAN TSA-WEY LA-MA RINPOCHE
DAG-SOG NYING-KHAR PE-ME DAN-JUG LA
KA-DRIN CHEN-PO GO-NEY JE-ZUNG TE
JANG-CHUB NYING-PO BAR-DU TAN-PAR SHUG

Beloved, noble, root Guru, please occupy the lotus seat within our hearts and in your great kindness remain with us. Please stay on until we achieve the great goal of ENLIGHTENMENT.

100-SYLLABLE MANTRA

[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]

(Recite the 100-syllable mantra to stabilise the recitation)

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 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.

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-TOP SHUG

In all my rebirths, may I not parted from perfect Gurus,
Let me enjoy abundance of the Dharma!
Perfecting the qualities of the stages and paths,
May I quickly attain the rank of Vajradhara Buddha.

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 GYR CHIG

By the merits of the three times
Of myself and others
May the doctrine of Lama Tsongkhapa
Blaze forever.

NYIMO DELEK TSEN DELEK
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 day
May the Three Jewels Grant us their blessing
May they help us to achieve all realizations
And sprinkle the path of our life
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 a long life
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 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.

(Thus making prayers of dedication and auspiciousness)

THE KING OF PRAYERS
(Upon completion of the entire retreat)

I bow down to the youthful Arya Manjushri!

O lions amongst humans,
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 waves of strength of this king
Of prayers for exalted sublime ways,
With bodies numerous as atoms of the world,
I bow to the Buddhas pervading space

On every atom is found a Buddha
Sitting amongst countless Buddhas’ spiritual children,
I look with eyes of faith of the victorious ones,
Thus filling the entire sphere of phenomena

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 medicinal substances as high as Mount Meru
I arrange in a special formation
And offer to those who have conquered themselves

All peerless offerings I hold up
In admiration of those gone to bliss
With the 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 eons as there are specks of dust,
In order to bring goodness and joy to all beings

May any small merits that 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.
May all the Buddhas who have not yet come
Quickly perfect their minds and reach Buddhahood, the state of supreme full awakening

May all the 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 be 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 following 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 humans,
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 the 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 living beings only in happiness
And bring them 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 eons

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 even for 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 and 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 a myriad bodhisattvas,
To all these dwellers in sublime ways I turn my attention

Thus 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 eons

Each Buddha, with perfect speech, releases
An ocean of sounds with every word that is said
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 eons that could possibly be
Manifest within me in a single instant,
And I myself in a fraction of a moment
Enter into all these eons of the three times

All past, present and future lions among humans
I envision with the 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 future 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 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 power of delusion,
May I render powerless the powerful negative forces
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 eons

Through my practice of the sublime bodhisattva ways,
May I gain the enlightenment of Buddhahood
And then fulfil the enlightened and sublime aspirations
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’ spiritual children,
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 delusions 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 humans and gods
For eons numerous as atoms of the world

But to read or hear the King of Prayers
With eyes looking towards supreme illumination
And faith shining in one’s heart for even an instant
Gives birth to far more superior merit

Should anyone recite this aspiration of sublime ways,
They will pass beyond all states of sorrow,
Will 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 effects 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 fulfil
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 the living beings