Common tibetan buddhist prayers, mantras and texts.
Taking refuge and generating bodhichitta
SANG.GYEY CHÖ DANG TSOG.KYI CHOG NAM.LA
JANG.CHUB BAR.DU DAG.NI KYAB.SU.CHI
DAG.GI JIN.SOG GYI.PEY SO.NAM KYI
DRO.LA PEN.CHIR SANG.GYEY DRUB.PAR.SHOG [3x]
NAMO GURUBYE
NAMO BUDDHAYA
NAMO DHARMAYA
NAMO SANGHAYA [3x]
Taking refuge
I go to for refuge until I am enlightened
To the Buddha, Dharma, and the supreme assembly.
By my practice of giving and other perfections,
May I become a Buddha to benefit all sentient beings. [3x]
The Four Immeasurable Thoughts
May all sentient beings have happiness and the causes of happiness. (Love)
May all sentient beings be free from suffering and the causes of suffering. (Compassion)
May all sentient beings never be separated from the happiness that knows no suffering. (Joy)
May all sentient beings abide in equanimity,
free from attachment and anger that hold some close and others distant. (Equanimity)
The Seven Limbs
Reverently, I prostrate with my body, speech and mind,
And present clouds of every type of offering, actual and mentally-transformed.
I declare all my negative actions accumulated since beginningless time
And rejoice in the merits of all holy and ordinary beings.
Please remain until samsara ends
And turn the wheel of Dharma for sentient beings.
I dedicate the merit created by myself and others to the great enlightenment.
Long Mandala Offering
OM VAJRA BHUMI AH HUM Great, powerful golden base.
OM VAJRA REKHE AH HUM Diamond-hard fence.
This iron fence encircles the outer ring.
In the center Mount Meru, king of all the mountains,
In the east is the continent Purva-Videha, In the south Jambudvipa,
In the west Apara-Godaniya,
And in the north Uttarakuru.
In the east, are the islands Deha and Videha,
in the south, are Chamara and Apara-Chamara,
in the west, are Satha and Uttara-Mantrina,
in the north, are the islands Kurava and Kaurava.
In the east is the treasure mountain, in the south the wish-granting tree,
in the west the wish-granting cow, in the north is the unsown harvest.
Here are the precious wheel, precious jewel,
precious queen,
precious minister, precious elephant, precious horse,
precious general
and the great treasure vase.
Here are the beauty goddess, garland goddess,
song goddess,
dance goddess,
flower goddess,
incense goddess,
light goddess
and the goddess of perfume.
Here are the sun and the moon.
Here is the precious parasol,
the banner of victory in every direction.
In the center all treasures of both gods and men.
This excellent complete collection, I offer this base to You,
Great Compassionate One, together with your deity- entourage.
Please accept with your compassion,
these offerings made by all suffering beings
and bestow your loving blessings, on me and my countless mothers.
IDAM GURU RATNA-MANDALAKAM NIRYATAYAMI
Short mandala offering
This ground, anointed with perfume, strewn with flowers, Adorned with Mount Meru, four continents, the sun and the moon:
I imagine this as a Buddha-field and offer it.
May all living beings enjoy this pure land!
IDAM GURU RATNA-MANDALAKAM NIRYATAYAMI
Mantras of Lama Je Tsong Khapa [3x or more]
MIG.MEY TZEY.WEY TER.CHEN CHEN.REY.ZIG
DRI.MEY GYEN.PEY WANG.PO JAM.PEL.YANG
DÜ.PUNG MA.LÜ JOM.DZEY SANG.WEY DAG
GANG.CHEN KEY.PEY TSUG.GYEN TSONG.KHA.PA
LO.ZANG DRAG.PEY ZHAB.LA SOL.WA DEB
You are Avalokitesvara, great treasure of unimaginable compassion,
And Manjushri, master of stainless wisdom,
And Vajrapani, Lord of the Secret and destroyer of hordes of maras without exception.
Tsong Khapa, crown jewel of the sages of the Land of Snows,
Lozang Dragpa, I make requests at your lotus feet.
OM AH GURU VAJRADHARA SUMATI KIRTI SIDDHI HUM [7, 21 or 100 x’s]
Common Mantras [3x, 7x or more each]
Guru Shakyamuni Buddha OM MUNI MUNI MAHA MUNI YEY SVAHA
Chenrezig Avalokiteshvara OM MANI PADMEY HUNG
Manjushri OM AH RA PA TZA NA DHIH
Vajrapani OM VAJRAPANI HUM
Green Tara OM TARE TUTTARE TURE SVAHA
Medicine Buddha OM BEKHANDZE BEKHANDZE MAHA BEKHANDZE
BEKHANDZE RANDZA SAMUD GATE SVAHA
Prajna Paramita: OM GATE GATE PARAGATE PARASAMGATE BODHI SVAHA
Dedication Prayers
GEY.WA DI.YI NYUR.DU.DAG
LA.MA SANG.GYEY DRUB.GYUR.NEY
DRO.WA CHIG.KYANG MA.LÜ.PA
KYEY.KYI SA.LA GÖ.PAR.SHOG
By this virtue may I quickly
Attain the state of a Guru-Buddha (Enlightenment),
And then may I lead every being,
without exception, into that state.
JANG.CHUB SEM.CHOG RIN.PO.CHEY
MA.KYEY PA.NAM KYEY.GYUR.CHIG
KYEY.PA NYAM.PA MEY.PAR.YANG
GONG.NEY GONG.DU PEL.BAR.SHOG
May the most precious and supreme bodhicitta
awakening mind
Which has not yet been generated now be generated.
And may the precious mind of bodhicitta which has
been generated
Never decline, but always increase.
Dedicating Merit so that the Teachings of Lama Je Tsong Khapa may Flourish
So that the tradition of Je Tsong Khapa,
A King of the Dharma, may flourish,
May all obstacles be pacified
And may all favourable conditions
abound.
Through the two collections of myself and others
Gathered throughout the three times,
May the Teaching of Lama Je Tsong Khapa
Flourish for evermore.
Dharma Etiquette
Here are some elements of respect and etiquette when receiving teachings from a Lama (Teacher) in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition.
Teacher’s entrance. Stand and bow slightly when the Lama enters the room. Remain standing while s/he prostrates to the Buddhas and his/her own Teachers (visualized on the throne) and takes his/her seat.
Prostration. After the Lama is seated, practicing Buddhists will perform three formal prostrations as a sign of respect to the Lama and teachings. Others may join in or stand quietly. For those wishing to participate, the form is: with palms together touch crown of head / forehead, throat and heart; kneel on hands and knees, touching forehead to grownd very briefly and rising quickly. Perform the entire act three times altogether. At the conclusion, once more touch hands to crown, forehead, throat and heart, pausing briefly at the end for contemplation; then take your seat.
Opening prayers and chants. These are to mark a break from ordinary activities and engender in ourselves good motivation to receive the teaching.
General etiquette. Other than the usual respectful behaviour, such as sitting quietly and alertly during the teaching, there are some points of etiquette specific to Eastern traditions and Buddhism.
Avoid stretching your legs toward the Lama or altar, as pointing the soles of one’s feet is considered disrespectful. Do not place spiritual texts on the floor or rug (O.K. on a folder, pack, pillow, handbag, etc. which is on the floor). When moving about, try not to step directly over such texts or over other people’s cushions.
Dedication. The teaching ends with prayers that dedicate, to the benefit of others, any improvements and insights we may’have gained during the teaching. Again, one may join in or contemplate silently.
Teacher’s exit. As the Teacher stands to leave, stand and bow slightly until s/he is out of the room. Students will again perform three prostrations, except at the last teaching session, where the omission conveys our wish for the Teacher to return.