OM

DOR JÉ CHANG CHEN TÉLO NARO DANG 
Great Vajradhara, Tilopa, Naropa, 

MARPA MILA CHÖ-JE GAMPOPA 
Marpa, Milarepa, and Lord of the Dharma, Gampopa, 

DÜSUM SHÉ JA KÜN KHYEN KARMAPA 
Knower of the three times, omniscient Karmapa ,

CHÉ ZHI CHUNG GYE GYÜ PA DZIN NAM DANG 
Lineage holders of the four great and eight lesser schools: 

DRI TAK TSAL SUM PALDEN DRUKPA SOK 
Drikung, Taklung, Tsalpa, glorious Drukpa and others; 

ZAB LAM CHAK GYA CHÉ LA NGA NYÉ PÉ 
You who have thoroughly mastered the profound path of Mahamudra, 

NYAM MÉ DRO GÖN DAKPO KAGYÜ-LA 
Unrivaled protectors of beings, the Dakpo Kagyü, 

SOLWA DEB SO KAGYÜ LAMA NAM 
I pray to you, the Kagyü lamas, 

GYÜ PA DZIN NO NAM TAR JIN GYI LOB 
Grant your blessing that we may follow your tradition and example. 

ZHEN LOK GOM GYI KANG PAR SUNG PA ZHIN 
Detachment is the foot of meditation, it is taught. 

ZÉ NOR KÜN LA CHAK ZHEN MÉ PA DANG 
Attachment to food and wealth disappears 

TSEN DIR DÖ TAK CHÖ PAY GOM CHEN LA 
To the meditator who gives up ties to this life; 

NYE KUR ZHEN PA ME PAR JIN GYI LOB 
Grant your blessing that attachment to owner-ship and honor cease. 

MÖ GÖ GOM GYI GO WOR SUNG PA ZHIN 
Devotion is the head of meditation, it is taught. 

MEN NGAK TER GO JÉ PAY LAMA LA 
The lama opens the door to the profound oral teachings; 

GYÜN DU SOLWA DEB PAY GOM CHEN LA 
To the meditator who always turns to him 

CHÖ MIN MÖ GÜ KYÉ WAR JIN GYI LOB 
Grant your blessing that uncontrived devotion be born within. 

YENG MÉ GOM GYI NGÖ ZHIR SUNG PA ZHIN 
Unwavering attention is the body of meditation, it is taught. 

GANG SHAR TOK PAY NGO WO SO MA DÉ 
Whatever arises, is the fresh nature of thought; 

MA CHÖ DÉ KAR JOK PAY GOM CHEN LA 
To the meditator who rests there in naturalness, 

GOM JA LO DANG DRAL WAR JIN GYI LOB 
Grant your blessings that meditation is free from intellectualization. 

NAM TOK NGO WO CHÖ KUR SUNG PA ZHIN 
The essence of thought is dharmakaya, it is taught. 

CHI YANG MA YIN CHIR YANG CHAR WA LA 
They are nothing whatsoever, and yet they arise in the mind; 

MA GAK ROL PAR CHHAR WAY GOM CHHEN LA 
To the meditator who reflects upon the unobstructed play of the mind 

KHOR DÉ JER MÉ TOK PAR JIN GYI LOB 
Grant your blessing that the inseparability of samsara and nirvana be realized. 

KYÉ WA KÜN TU YANG DAK LAMA DANG 
Through all my births, may I not be separated 

DRAL MÉ CHÖ KYI PAL LA LONG CHÖ CHING 
From the perfect Lama and so enjoy the glory of the dharma. 

SA DANG LA GYI YÖN TEN RAP DZOK NÉ 
May I completely accomplish the qualities of the path and stages 

DOR JÉ CHANG GI GO P'HANG NYUR TOP SHOK 
And quickly attain the state of Vajradhara (ie. enlightenment/awake-ness). 

This 'Short Dorje Chang' prayer is said by all Kagyu practitioners at the beginning of the meditation session.  It is an invocation for protection and guidance from the lineage, but it also serves as motivation to remind us of the benefits and the objective of meditation.

~text here is borrowed from UKKFM site and is possibly largely the translation by Michele Martin.

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