Ananda, the Bodhisattva, the great being Maitreya, after having made his commitment, in the past when following Bodhisattva conduct, three times a day and three times a night, having hung his robe from one shoulder, knelt with his right knee on the ground and joined his palms, would formulate his aspirations in the following terms:

To all Buddhas I pay homage.
To the Bodhisattvas – rishis endowed with the divine eye,
And also to listeners I pay homage.

To those who reverse the paths to lower realms
And perfectly show the way to higher rebirths,
Who guide us to the state free of ageing and death,
To the Bodhisattvas I pay homage.

All the misdeeds I have committed
Influenced by my negative states of mind,
In the presence of the Buddhas
I confess them.

With the store of merit I have generated
By means of any of the three kinds of activities,
And with the germ of my omniscience
May I attain inexhaustible enlightenment!

In the worlds of the ten directions
Whatever offerings made to the Buddhas,
Known and rejoiced in by the Buddhas,
I too rejoice in.

I confess all wrongdoing.
I rejoice in all merit.
I pay homage to all Buddhas.
May I attain excellent superior wisdom!

I petition the Bodhisattvas
Abiding at the tenth level
In all ten directions,
To attain Buddhahood, supreme enlightenment.

Having attained Buddhahood – precious enlightenment,
And tamed Mara together with his armies,
By way of a remedy for all living beings
May you turn the wheel of the law!

May the sound of the great Dharma drum
Liberate living beings from their suffering!
May you reside, teaching the Dharma
For immeasurable millions of aeons!

Those stuck in the mire of desire
Tightly bound by the twine of attachment,
And restrained by every bond,
I pray the supreme Buddhas to heed.

Those influenced by their mind’s impurities,
The Buddhas do not reject.
May those endowed with love for living beings
Liberate them from the ocean of samsara!

Those now abiding in consummate Buddhahood,
Buddhas of the past and those who have yet to appear,
By following their example,
May I practise Bodhisattva conduct!

Having fully achieved the six perfections
May I liberate the six classes of beings!
Having attained all six supernormal powers
May I attain supreme enlightenment!

Inherently there is nothing that has arisen, nothing that will arise
And nothing now existing, no abiding object
No subject, no thing that exists;
May I realise the emptiness of phenomena!

Ultimately just as there are no Buddhas, no great Rishis,
There are no ordinary beings, there is no life
There are no living beings and nothing living;
May I realise the selflessness of persons!

Free of self grasping and holding as mine
In relation to all phenomena,
By way of a remedy for all beings
Devoid of stinginess, may I practise generosity!

Free of grasping at things as things,
May I spontaneously acquire possessions!
Because all things are subject to dissolution
May I fully achieve the perfection of generosity!

With the ethics engaged in, free of fault,
Endowed with perfect moral discipline,
By means of ethics free of pride
May I fully achieve the perfection of moral discipline!

With patience and non-aversion,
Similar to the elements of earth and water,
Fire and air that is never static,
May I fully achieve the perfection of patience!

By cultivating enthusiastic effort –
Stable, joyful and free of laziness –
With a mind and a body thus endowed with strength,
May I fully achieve the perfection of enthusiastic effort!

With the samadhi similar to a magical illusion,
The samadhi like the well-followed general
And the vajra-like samadhi,
May I fully achieve the perfection of concentration!

By directly realising the three doors of deliverance,
The equality of the three times in emptiness,
And the three kinds of knowledge,
May I fully achieve the perfection of wisdom!

Having attained the state praised by all Buddhas
With light and splendour
By means of the enthusiastic effort perfected as a Bodhisattva,
May I fulfill the aspirations of others and myself!

Practising the Bodhisattva path in this way,
May I who have earned the name Maitreya (‘Love’)
Having completed the six perfections,
Repeatedly return to the summit of the tenth level.

By the virtue generated by this practice, may myself and all other beings,
As soon as we die, be reborn in Tushita
In the palace rich in Dharma
And may we become the main spiritual sons of the
Unvanquished Lord of Dharma Maitreya!

Lord of the tenth level, the Conqueror’s regent, in Jambudvipa
When you enact the attainment of the ten powered state,
Being the first to taste the nectar of your teaching,
May I fully accomplish all Conqueror activities!

As soon as I leave the present life
May I be reborn in Tushita’s Land of Joy
And promptly pleasing the Protector Maitreya
May he prophesize my enlightenment!

Connecting with Je Tsongkhapa by thinking of him with faith, reciting his holy mantra, meditating on his omnipresence and practising his Guru Yoga blesses us with a deep sense of peace and clarity of mind we never thought possible. It is simple, complete and effective for today’s modern individual.

Invocation

GA-DEN HLA-JI NGON-JYI THUG-KA NEY
RAP-KAR SHO-SAR PUNG-DEE CHU-DZIN 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.

Requesting to Stay

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.

Prostration and Praise

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 field of merit, 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 from the depths of my heart, and I 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 realisation of Bodhicitta and Shunyata
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-PA SHUG

May the Vajra body of Tsongkhapa 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-PA 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.

Migtsema (Mantra of Je Tsongkhapa)

This can be recited anytime, anywhere, as many times as possible.  It has the benefits of receiving the blessings of Avalokiteshvara, Manjushri and Vajrapani.

MIG-MEY TZE-WEY TER-CHEN CHENREZIG
DRI-MEY KHYEN-PI WANG-PO JAMPAL YANG
DU-PUNG MA-LU JOM-DZEY SANG-WEY DAG
GANG-CHEN KE-PEY TSUG-GYEN TSONGKAPA
LO-SANG TRAG-PEY SHAB-LA SOL-WA DEB

(Recite 21x or more, depending on time)

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 Drakpa,
I humbly bow and earnestly request that all sentient beings achieve Enlightenment.

(Recite 21x or more, depending on time)

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.

You, whose dragon-thunder-like proclamation of Dharma
arouses us from the stupor of our delusions and frees us from the iron chains of our karma;
Who wields the sword of wisdom hewing down suffering wherever its sprouts appear,
clearing away the darkness of ignorance;
You, whose princely body is adorned with the one hundred and twelve marks of a Buddha,
Who has completed the stages achieving the highest perfection of a Bodhisattva,
Who has been pure from the beginning,

I bow down to you, O Manjushri;
With the brilliance of your wisdom, O compassionate one,
Illuminate the darkness enclosing my mind,
Enlighten my intelligence and wisdom,
So that I may gain insight into the Buddha’s words and the texts that explain them.

Mantra: OM AH RA BA TSA NA DHI

Thus I have heard. At one time the Blessed One was dwelling in Rajagriha on Massed Vultures Mountain together with a great assembly of monks and Bodhisattvas. At that time, the Blessed One was absorbed in the concentration of the countless aspects of phenomena, called Profound Illumination.

At that time also the Superior Avalokiteshvara, the Bodhisattva, the Great Being, was looking perfectly at the practice of the profound perfection of wisdom, looking perfectly at the emptiness of inherent existence also of the five aggregates.

Then, through the power of Buddha, the Venerable Shariputra said to the Superior Avalokiteshvara, the Bodhisattva, the Great Being, “How should a son of the lineage train who wishes to engage in the practice of the profound Perfection of Wisdom?”

Thus he spoke, and the Superior Avalokiteshvara, Great Being, replied to Venerable Shariputra as follows: “Shariputra, whatever son or daughter of the lineage wishes to engage in the practice of the profound Perfection of Wisdom should look perfectly like this: subsequently looking perfectly and correctly at the emptiness of inherent existence also of the five aggregates.”

“Form is empty; emptiness is form. Emptiness is not other than form; form also is not other than emptiness. Likewise, feeling, discrimination, compositional factors and consciousness are empty.”

“Shariputra, like this all phenomena are merely empty, having no characteristics. They are not produced and do not cease. They have no defilement and no separation from defilement. They have no decrease and no increase.”

“Therefore, Shariputra, in emptiness there is no form, no feeling, no discrimination, no compositional factors, no consciousness. There is no eye, no ear, no nose, no tongue, no body, no mind; no form, no sound, no smell, no taste, no tactile object, no phenomenon. There is no eye element and so forth up to no mind element and also up to no element of mental consciousness. There is no ignorance and no exhaustion of ignorance, and so forth up to no ageing and death and no exhaustion of ageing and death. Likewise, there is no suffering, origin, cessation or path; no exalted wisdom, no attainment and also no non-attainment.”

“Therefore, the mantra of the perfection of wisdom, the mantra of great knowledge, the unsurpassed mantra, the equal-to-the-unequalled mantra, the mantra that thoroughly pacifies all suffering, since it is not false, should be known as the truth. The mantra of the Perfection of Wisdom is proclaimed:”

TAYATHA OM GATEY GATEY PARAGATEY PARASAMGATEY BODHI SOHA

“Shariputra, a Bodhisattva, a Great Being, should train in the profound perfection of wisdom like this.”

Then the Blessed One arose from that concentration and said to the Superior Avalokiteshvara, the Bodhisattva, the Great Being, that he had spoken well: “Good, good, O son of the lineage. It is like that. Since it is like that, just as you have revealed, in that way the profound perfection of wisdom should be practiced, and the Tathagatas will also rejoice.”

When the Blessed One had said this, the Venerable Shariputra, the Superior Avalokiteshvara, the Bodhisattva, the Great Being, and that entire assembly of disciples as well as the worldly beings – gods, humans, demi-gods and spirits – were delighted and highly praised what had been spoken by the Blessed One.

Reciting the Mantra

TAYATHA OM GATEY GATEY PARAGATEY PARASAMGATEY BODHI SOHA

(3x, 7x, 21x or more)

Requests to Overcome Hindrances

Great Mother, Prajnaparamita, and all the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas of the ten directions, through the power of your blessings may these true words of mine be achieved. Just as before, when by contemplating the profound meaning of the Perfection of Wisdom and reciting its words, Indra overcame all the harm of maras, non-humans and so forth, in the same way, by my contemplating the profound meaning of the perfection of wisdom and reciting its words:

May all the harm of maras, non-humans and so forth be overcome. (clap)
May they become non-existent. (clap)
May they be pacified. (clap)
 

Whatever method of dedication
that the Buddhas of the three times have taught
I dedicate likewise all the roots of the wholesome merit
I have accumulated for obtaining a proper conduct.

Thus, by the power of the creation of this multitude of merits and virtues,
collected by myself and others,
May we take rebirth in the blissful lotus and
May we see the beautiful faces of the Lord and His entourage.

May we be fortunate to enjoy the Dharma of the Supreme Vehicle.
At the time of receiving the signs for an untimely death,
By seeing clearly the body of Lord Amitayus.

And by destroying the strength of the god of death,
May I attain the state of the deathless Knowledge Holder.
May I and others be transformed into the state of Lord Amitayus.

Whatever is Your body, may my body be like Yours.
Your entourage, your lifespan, your Buddha field, and your supreme signs and
characteristics, whatever there are,
May I be transformed into the same.

Mantra: OM AMI DEWA HRI

Those alluring honeybee eyes in that lotus face,
that long, dark blue hair, glowing with white light,
there before me in a pose of seductive dance.
Grant me, Saraswati, your power of speech.

Those beautiful, playful antelope eyes,
I gaze insatiably upon you, seducer of my mind.
Goddess of speech with a mother’s compassion,
make our speech as one.

More beautiful than the splendor of a full autumn moon,
a voice eclipsing the sweetest melody of Brahma,
a mind as hard to fathom as the deepest ocean,
I bow before the goddess Saraswati.

Mantra: OM SARASIDDHI HRING HRING

Homage to the Youthful One with budding breasts,
Who has one face and two arms, sits in the vajra posture,
Is bold with grace and calm, has a full moon as backrest
And is filled with great bliss.

Homage to the Ultimately Generous One whose right hand,
Showing the mudra Supreme Giving
Easily releases boundless karmas of peace, increase, power and wrath
As well as the eight siddhis and even supreme Buddhahood.

Homage to the Spiritual Mother who gives birth to Buddhas
Past, present and future; whose left hand
Supporting a blue lotus, grants protection
From lions, elephants, fires and all eight terrors.

Homage to the Refuge of the World, who has eyes
In hands and feet gazing at the four doors of freedom
And who leads all living creatures
Toward the isle of blissful liberation.

Homage to she whose face unites
The beauty of a million autumn moons,
Whose wide eyes gaze with compassion
Whose Joyous mouth smiles equally on all.

Homage to she with head adorned by Amitayus, boundless Life,
The mere thought of whom grants life and wisdom,
Whose hand, in the contemplative mudra,
Hold a vase filled with ambrosia of immortality.

Homage to the All-Beautified One whose crown
Steals the light of sun and moon,
Whose sapphire hair is half knotted on top
And half falling freely over her shoulders.

Homage to the Majestic One of precious ornament blazing,
Whose crown, earrings, necklaces, arm-bands,
Bracelets, anklets and belt so elegantly arranged
Surpass the ornaments of men and gods.

Homage to she of celestial raiment,
Whose shoulder-sash and skirt
Hug her body like rainbows
Hug the crystal mountains.

Homage to the goddess before whose lotus feet
Vishnu, Indra, Shiva, Brahma, the antigods, spirits,
Men, semi-humans and all the world
Submit themselves in devotion.

Merely by reciting your mantra,
Those who make offerings at your lotus feet
Gain immortality, wisdom and merit
And attain all desired siddhis; to you I bow down.

The knowledge, compassion and perfect actions of all Buddhas
Appear in the form of the beautiful goddess
I take refuge in you and offer you my prayers;
Pray eliminate all my obstacles and fulfill all my aims.

Quickly release your perfect action of peace,
Calming all interferences to my practices for enlightenment;
Interferences such as the eight terrors,
Sickness, demons and other harmful agents, inner and outer.

Quickly release your perfect action of increase which multiplies
All good qualities, such as life, merit, unapprehending compassion,
The stainless wisdoms of learning, contemplation and meditation,
And the three higher trainings.

Quickly release your perfect action of power,
Which causes gods, men and spirits
To humbly bow before you
And which fulfils all wishes of the mind.

Quickly release your perfect action of wrath,
Which with punishments befitting the evils done
Destroys demons, interferences and hindrances
Hateful opposing Buddhadharma and its holders.

Pray, bestow quick and easy attainment of siddhis
Such as the magic sword, mystic eye-medicine, fast-walking,
The food pill and the precious vase,
And even mahamudra, the highest siddhi.

In brief, from now until enlightenment
I respectfully make offerings at your lotus feet
I need seek no other refuge
Out of compassion gaze upon me and quickly grant protection.

By the meritorious energy of this practice
May the transcended, perfect Tara
Look upon me forever with pleasure
And never leave me, even for a moment.

May all sentient beings after death take rebirth
Before Amitayus in Sukavati, Land of Pure Joy,
May they live in the ways of the great Bodhisattvas
And come to equal Avalokiteshvara, Lord of Compassion.

May I realise the oceans of Sutras and Tantras
To be able to pass them on to others;
And until samsara be emptied may I strive
To uphold the victory banner of practicing exactly as taught.

Mantra: OM TAREE TU-TAREE TUREE MAMA AYU-PUNYE-JANA PUTIM KURU SOHA

The Colophon: This praise of exalted White Tara, supreme mother of all Buddhas, was written by the monk Gyalwa Gendun Drub while he was residing in the Hermitage of Great Awakening at the Tegchen Potreng.

A unifying aspect of Mahakala is his wrathful demeanor which is about his inner quality of immense compassion like that of a mother displaying a fierce disposition to deter her child from being hurt by playing with fire.

This ferocity also shows his swift nature in response to our heartfelt prayers. Every pore of his body emits jets of flames engulfing his entire body with a spectacular aureole of obstacle-cleansing pure flames.

One of the more popular forms of Mahakala is Four-Faced Mahakala, the Lord of Stainless Wisdom and an emanation of Manjushri, Buddha of Wisdom. His four faces and four arms indicate his realization of the four noble truths.

One arm brandishes the wisdom sword of Manjushri indicating the sword-like capacity of his practice to cut asunder delusions and obstacles. Another hand wields a tantric staff which ends with a trident, representing the transmutation of ignorance, pride and anger, the root causes of our suffering.

Mahakala’s three characteristic bulging eyes stare at opponents with a ferocity that knows no bounds. He holds the skull cup and ritual chopper, symbolizing his immense power of protection for practitioners on their turbulent voyage of spiritual practice.

Propitiated, relied upon and trusted by great masters such as Nagarjuna, Arya Chandrakirti, Lama Tsongkhapa and Kyabje Zong Dorje Chang, four-faced Mahakala is invincible in protecting one’s inner space from maras and from outer interferences. He is the main protector of the Chakrasamvara tantras.

Mahakala’s blessings are especially well-known for quelling difficulties and obstacles arising form anger and depression.

Short mantra:

OM SHRI MAHAKALA HUNG PHET

Long mantra:

OM MAHAKALA KALA BIKALA RATRITA DOMBINI CANDALI RAKSHISI SINGHALI DEVIBHYO HUNG PHET

Invoking the luminous wisdom energy of the Buddha Manjushri to illuminate the mind, the Jamphel Tsenchoe puja brings excellent communication skills, a strong memory and mental clarity.

It is essential for students/ academics and those in the arts and communication field. This puja is often done by monks in order to deepen their understanding of the Dharma scriptures.

Benefits:

• Understanding and learning
• Communication skills
• Mental clarity
• Sharp insight
• Powerful memory
• Deeper understanding of Dharma

This puja is available in the Kechara Puja House in both Small and Medium puja sizes, depending on the scale of the problem. Click here for more information.

Literally meaning “64 Offerings”, this puja calls upon the fierce energies of Kalarupa for protection and smooth flowing in one’s life journey, both secular and spiritual.

This puja is one of the few that are regularly done for protection and smoothness for spiritual practice in general.

Benefits:

• Protection from black magic
• Dispels harmful energies and spirits
• Development of wisdom
• Overcomes anger, fear, pride and jealousy

This puja is available in the Kechara Puja House in both Small and Medium puja sizes, depending on the scale of the problem. Click here for more information.