from Making Life Meaningful by Lama Zopa
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‘‘I am requesting the kind lord root guru, Who is more extraordinary than all the buddhas— Please bless me to be able to devote myself to the qualified lord guru
With great respect, in all my future lifetimes. ‘‘By realizing that the root of happiness and goodness Is correctly devoting myself to the kind lord guru, Who is the foundation of all good qualities, I shall devote myself to him with great respect, Not forsaking him even at the cost of my life.’’ Thinking of the importance of the qualified guru, allow yourself to enter under his control.
1. Be like an obedient son— Act exactly in accordance with the guru’s advice. 2. Even when maras, evil friends and the like Try to split you from the guru, Be like a vajra— Inseparable forever. 3. Whenever the guru gives you work, No matter how heavy the burden, Be like the earth— Bear it all. 4. When devoting yourself to the guru, Whatever suffering occurs (hardship or problems), Be like a mountain— Immovable (your mind should not be upset or discouraged). 5. Even if you are given all the difficult tasks, Be like the servant of a king— Perform them with an undisturbed mind. 6. Abandon pride. Be like a sweeper— Hold yourself lower than the guru. 7. No matter how difficult or heavy the burden, Be like a rope— Hold the guru’s work with joy. 8. Even when the guru criticizes, provokes or ignores you, Be like a faithful dog— Never respond with anger. 9. Be like a boat— Never be upset to come or go for the guru At any time.
‘‘O glorious and precious root guru, Please bless me to be able to practice in this way. From now on, in all my future lifetimes, May I be able to devote myself to the guru like this.’’
If you recite these words aloud and reflect on their meaning in your mind, you will have the good fortune of being able to devote yourself correctly to the precious guru from life to life, in all your future lifetimes.
If you offer service and respect and make offerings to the precious guru with these nine attitudes in mind, even if you do not practice intentionally, you will develop many good qualities, collect extensive merit and quickly achieve full enlightenment.
Note The words in parentheses are not to be read aloud. They are added to clarify the text and should be kept in mind but not recited.
Written by the highly attained lama, Shabkar Tsogdrug Rangdrol. Translated by Lama Zopa Rinpoche at Aptos, California, in February, 1999. Edited by Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive Editing Group at Land of Medicine Buddha, March, 1999. The editors are responsible for any errors.
With every action that you do, generate bodhicitta, as shown in the following examples.
When entering a temple or a room, pray, ‘‘May all mother sentient beings be led into the cities of Liberation and Great Liberation.’’ With bodhicitta, think, ‘‘As I enter this place, I am leading them there.’’
When leaving temples or rooms, think, with bodhicitta, ‘‘May all sentient beings be freed from the prison of samsara. As I leave this place, I am leading them out.’’
When opening a door, think, ‘‘May all the heavy-birth beings be freed from the hell realms by the transcendent wisdom gone beyond. As I open this door, I am freeing them all.’’ When closing a door, think, ‘‘May all doors to the lower realms be shut forever and may no sentient being ever go there again. As I close this door, I am sealing all doors to suffering rebirths.’’
When bathing yourself, think, ‘‘May the stains of all sentient beings’ delusions be completely purified. As I wash myself, I am washing away their stains.’’
When sweeping, think, ‘‘May the dirt of all sentient beings’ greed, ignorance and hatred be completely purified. As I sweep away this dirt, I am eradicating their three poisons.’’
When sitting down, think, ‘‘May all sentient beings reach enlightenment.’’
When sitting cross-legged, think, ‘‘May I lead all sentient beings to enlightenment, which is adorned with four vajra postures.’’
When getting up from sitting cross-legged, think, ‘‘May all sentient beings realize impermanence and death and the transient nature of all causal phenomena.’’
When sitting on a cushion or a bed, think, ‘‘May all sentient beings understand all the teachings of the Buddha in the path of the square (that is, that all the teachings comprise a graded practice that any individual can follow to enlightenment).’’
When prostrating, visualize that all other sentient beings appear in human form and that you are leading them all in prostrations, while thinking, ‘‘May all mother sentient beings be purified.’’ When lying down to sleep, recline in the lion position that Guru Shakyamuni Buddha assumed when he passed away, and think,
‘‘May I lead all sentient beings to nirvana and enlightenment. As I lie down like this, I am leading them to nirvana and enlightenment.’’
When getting up in the morning, think, ‘‘May all sentient beings be free of all delusions. As I arise, I am freeing them all from samsara.’’
When leaving to go somewhere, think, ‘‘May all sentient beings follow the Mahayana path. As I leave to go, I am leading them along it.’’
When reading a book, think, ‘‘May all mother sentient beings realize without confusion the meaning of every word of the Buddha’s profound and extensive teachings. As I read and understand this book, all sentient beings are realizing the teachings in their entirety.’’
When writing, think, ‘‘May all sentient beings, in all their lifetimes, achieve great wisdom, understand even the most subtle points of avoidance and practice, and realize the two truths. As I write, all sentient beings are accomplishing all this.’’
When helping other people, think, ‘‘May all sentient beings be like Avalokiteshvara, who has completed all the holy deeds of a buddha and delightedly takes on the work of others. May I stop the egotistic thought of wanting to progress simply for my own benefit, and never again be lazy or discouraged in the practice of bodhicitta.’’
When putting your heel to the ground, think, ‘‘May all sentient beings attain the stage beyond struggle, completely free of all delusions.’’
When putting cushions on the floor, think, ‘‘May all sentient beings achieve the method and wisdom of the path to enlightenment.’’ When doing up a belt, think, ‘‘May the mental continua of all sentient beings be purified and protected, and through being bound by the three higher trainings, may all sentient beings achieve the two realizations of tantra.’’
When going to a quiet place, think, ‘‘May all sentient beings completely avoid all negative actions by completely avoiding greed, ignorance and hatred.’’
When offering scented flowers to holy objects, think, ‘‘May all sentient beings complete the practice of morality, thereby purifying all their broken precepts, and may they complete the path of the six perfections.’’
When switching on a light or lighting a lamp, think, ‘‘May I switch on all sentient beings’ light of wisdom and illuminate their darkness of ignorance, enabling them to see the ultimate truth, through first having lit the lamp of wisdom within myself.’’ When eating, think, ‘‘May I see the suffering of all present and future sentient beings and feel their hunger and thirst. May all enjoy the undiluted blissful nectar of transcendent wisdom.’’ When taking medicine, think, ‘‘May I become the Buddha of Medicine, who pacifies all pain and whose name, when simply mentioned, alleviates the physical and mental illness that disturbs the practice of the path to enlightenment every day of our lives, and release all sentient beings from every illness.’’ (Before taking the medicine, recite the Chenrezig mantra, OM MANI PADME HUM, the Medicine Buddha mantra, TAYATHA OM BEKANDZE BEKANDZE MAHABEKANDZE RANDZA SAMUDGATE SOHA, or any other specific healing mantra that you know. Then blow on the medicine and, with strong prayers, take it. It is very important to have faith that taking medicine in this way can purify the negative karma that is causing the disease you are treating.)
When looking at statues of the Buddha, think, ‘‘May all sentient beings receive the infinite good qualities of the Buddha’s supreme body, speech and mind.’’
When looking at stupas, think, ‘‘May all sentient beings attain the Buddha’s omniscient mind, which this stupa symbolizes.’’ When talking about or discussing the Dharma, think, ‘‘May all sentient beings understand every word of the bodhicitta teachings and extinguish each and every doubting and unrealized mind the moment it arises.’’
When going to the toilet, think, ‘‘May all sentient beings’ delusions and mental defilements vanish. As I excrete, I am eliminating them completely.’’
When looking at scenery, think, ‘‘May all sentient beings attain the omniscient mind, fully realizing the vast number of varied existences in their absolute pure nature.’’
Translated from Lobsang Yeshe Gyältsen’s Lojong Gönkhyen by Lama Zopa Rinpoche.
<poem> Begin by visualizing the 35 Confession Buddhas in space in front of you. Think of all the negative karma you have created in this and in all previous lives and generate the four opponent powers in your mind. To increase the benefit of each prostration, first prostrate three times while reciting with each prostration:
OM NAMO MANJUSHRIYE NAMAH SUSHRIYE NAMA UTTAMA SHRIYE SVAHA (3x)
Continue to prostrate while reciting the names of the buddhas and the confession prayer.
I, (say your name) throughout all times, take refuge in the guru; I take refuge in the Buddha; I take refuge in the Dharma; I take refuge in the Sangha. (3x)
To the founder, bhagavan, tathagata, arhat, perfectly completed buddha, glorious conqueror Shakyamuni Buddha, I prostrate. To Tathagata Thoroughly Destroying with Vajra Essence, I prostrate. To Tathagata Radiant Jewel, I prostrate. To Tathagata King, Lord of the Nagas, I prostrate. To Tathagata Army of Heroes, I prostrate. To Tathagata Delighted Hero, I prostrate. To Tathagata Jewel Fire, I prostrate. To Tathagata Jewel Moonlight, I prostrate. To Tathagata Meaningful to See, I prostrate. To Tathagata Jewel Moon, I prostrate. To Tathagata Stainless One, I prostrate. To Tathagata Bestowed with Courage, I prostrate. To Tathagata Pure One, I prostrate. To Tathagata Bestowed with Purity, I prostrate. To Tathagata Water God, I prostrate. To Tathagata Deity of the Water God, I prostrate. To Tathagata Glorious Goodness, I prostrate. To Tathagata Glorious Sandalwood, I prostrate. To Tathagata Infinite Splendor, I prostrate. To Tathagata Glorious Light, I prostrate. To Tathagata Sorrowless Glory, I prostrate. To Tathagata Son of Non-craving, I prostrate. To Tathagata Glorious Flower, I prostrate. To Tathagata Pure Light Rays Clearly Knowing by Play, I prostrate. To Tathagata Lotus Light Rays Clearly Knowing by Play, I prostrate. To Tathagata Glorious Wealth, I prostrate. To Tathagata Glorious Mindfulness, I prostrate. To Tathagata Glorious Name Widely Renowned, I prostrate. To Tathagata King Holding the Victory Banner of Foremost Power, I prostrate. To Tathagata Glorious One Totally Subduing, I prostrate. To Tathagata Utterly Victorious in Battle, I prostrate. To Tathagata Glorious Transcendence Through Subduing, I prostrate. To Tathagata Glorious Manifestations Illuminating All, I prostrate. To Tathagata All-Subduing Jewel Lotus, I prostrate. To Tathagata, arhat, perfectly completed buddha, King of the Lord of Mountains Firmly Seated on Jewel and Lotus, I prostrate. (3x)
Recite here the names of the seven Medicine Buddhas.
To Bhagavan, Tathagata, arhat, perfectly completed buddha, Renowned Glorious King of Excellent Signs, I prostrate. To Bhagavan, Tathagata, arhat, perfectly completed buddha, King of Melodious Sound, Brilliant Radiance of Skill, Adorned with Jewels, Moon and Lotus, I prostrate. To Bhagavan, Tathagata, arhat, perfectly completed buddha, Stainless Excellent Gold, Illuminating Jewel Who Accomplishes All Conduct, I prostrate. To Bhagavan, Tathagata, arhat, perfectly completed buddha, Glorious Supreme One Free from Sorrow, I prostrate. To Bhagavan, Tathagata, arhat, perfectly completed buddha, Melodious Ocean of Proclaimed Dharma, I prostrate. To Bhagavan, Tathagata, arhat, perfectly completed buddha, Clearly Knowing by the Play of Supreme Wisdom of an Ocean of Dharma, I prostrate. To Bhagavan, Tathagata, arhat, perfectly completed buddha, Medicine Guru, King of Lapis Lazuli Light, I prostrate. Finally, recite the confession prayer.
All those [you thirty-five buddhas] and others, as many tathagatas, arhats, perfectly completed buddhas as there are existing, sustaining, and residing in all the world systems of the ten directions; all you buddha-bhagavans, please pay attention to me.
In this life and in all the states of rebirth in which I have circled in samsara throughout beginningless lives, whatever negative actions I have created, made others create, or rejoiced in the creation of; whatever possessions of stupas, possessions of the Sangha, or possessions of the Sangha of the ten directions that I have appropriated, made others appropriate, or rejoiced in the appropriation of; whichever among the five actions of immediate (retribution) I have done, caused to be done, or rejoiced in the doing of; whichever paths of the ten non-virtuous actions I have engaged in, caused others to engage in, or rejoiced in the engaging in: whatever I have created, being obscured by these karmas causes me and sentient beings to be born in the hell realms, in the animal realm, and in the preta realm; in irreligious countries, as barbarians, or as long-life gods; with imperfect faculties, holding wrong views, or not being pleased with Buddha's descent. In the presence of the buddha-bhagavans, who are transcendental wisdom, who are eyes, who are witnesses, who are valid, and who see with omniscient consciousness, I am admitting and confessing all these negativities, I will not conceal them nor hide them, and from now on in the future I will abstain and refrain from committing them again.
All buddha-bhagavans, please pay attention to me. In this life and in all other states of rebirth in which I have circled in samsara throughout beginningless lives, whatever roots of virtue I have created by generosity, even as little as giving just one mouthful of food to a being born in the animal realm; whatever roots of virtue I have created by guarding morality; whatever roots of virtue I have created by following pure conduct; whatever roots of virtue I have created by fully ripening sentient beings; whatever roots of virtue I have created by generating bodhicitta; and whatever roots of virtue I have created by my unsurpassed transcendental wisdom: all these assembled and gathered, combined together, I fully dedicate to the unsurpassed, the unexcelled, that higher than the high, that superior to the superior. Thus, I completely dedicate to the highest, perfectly complete enlightenment.
Just as the previous buddha-bhagavans have fully dedicated, just as the future buddha-bhagavans will fully dedicate, and just as the presently abiding buddha-bhagavans are fully dedicating, like thatI too dedicate fully.
I confess all negativities individually. I rejoice in all merits. I urge and implore all buddhas to grant my request: may I receive the highest, most sublime transcendental wisdom.
To the conquerors, the best of humans—those who are living in the present time, those who have lived in the past, and those who will likewise come—to all those who have qualities as vast as an infinite ocean, with hands folded, I approach for refuge. </poem>
Rather than simply stopping when you have finished reciting and prostrating, remain silent for a little while, generating strong faith that the nectar beams emitted by all the holy objects in the merit field and your recitation of the buddhas’ holy names have completely purified you of all defilements, negative karma and downfalls. It is very important to feel very strongly that you have been completely purified and that nothing negative whatsoever is left in your mental continuum. This practice is much more powerful if you conclude by concentrating strongly in this way. The names of the Thirty-five Buddhas are unbelievably powerful; reciting each one once purifies thousands of eons of negative karma. Remember this from time to time while you are prostrating, but especially when you finish the session. In a commentary to the Vajrasattva practice, Pabongka Dechen Nyingpo mentions that at the end, when Guru Vajrasattva declares that your negative karma has now been purified, it is important to generate strong faith that this is so. The same thing applies in the practice of the Thirty-five Buddhas. The strength of your faith determines how much negative karma you have purified. Your mind creates negative karma and your mind purifies it as well.
First, meditate on emptiness: ‘‘In emptiness, there is no I, creator of negative karma; there is no action of creating negative karma; there is no negative karma created.”
With this awareness of emptiness, dedicate the merits: ‘‘Due to all the merits collected by having done prostrations, made offerings, confessed, rejoiced, requested the gurus to have stable lives and to turn the Dharma wheel, may I achieve enlightenment in order to enlighten all sentient beings.”