I go for refuge to the Buddha, I go for refuge to the
Dharma, I go for refuge to the Sangha. (3x)
SETTING THE MIND TOWARDS ENLIGHTENMENT (a prayer from the
Mahayana tradition):
By virtue of giving and so forth, may I become a
Buddha for the benefit of all sentient beings. (3x)
4 IMMEASURABLES
May all sentient beings have equanimity, free from attachment,
aggression and prejudice. May they be happy, and have the causes
for happiness. May they be free from suffering and causes for
suffering. May they never be separated from the happiness that is
free from suffering. (3x)
7-LIMBED PRAYER
Respectfully I prostrate with body, speech and mind; I present clouds of every type of offerings, actual and imagined; I declare all my negative actions done since beginningless time, and rejoice in the merit of all Aryas and ordinary beings. Please, remain until cyclic existence ends and turn the
wheel of Dharma for all sentient beings. I dedicate the virtues of
myself and others to the great Enlightenment.
VISUALISATION (From Pearl of Wisdom, part 1)
Every aspect of the following visualisation is made of light - transparent,
intangible and radiant. At the level of your forehead, about five or six
feet in front of you, visualise a large golden throne adorned with jewels and
supported at each corner by a pair of snowlions. On the throne is an open
lotus, and on that are two discs - the sun and moon disc. Seated on this is Shakyamuni Buddha, who has purified
all defilements and attained all perfect realisations. He is the embodiment of
all enlightened beings. His body is made of golden light and he wears the
saffron robes of a monk. He is seated in the vajra posture (feet on top of
opposite thighs). The palm of his right hand rests on his right knee, the
fingers touching the moon cushion to symbolise his great control. His left
hand rests in his lap in the meditation pose, holding a bowl filled with nectar,
which is medicine for curing our disturbing attitudes and other hindrances.
Feel that this is the real Buddha in front of you. Buddha's face is very
beautiful; his smiling, compassionate gaze is directed towards you and
simultaneously encompasses all sentient beings. He is free of all
judgmental, critical thoughts and accepts you just as you are. His eyes are
long, narrow and very peaceful. His lips are red and his earlobes long.
His hair is blue-black and each hair is individually curled to the right.
Each feature of his body represents an aspect of his omniscient mind.
Rays of light emanate from each pore of Buddha's body and reach every corner
of the universe. These rays are composed of countless miniature Buddhas,
some going out to help sentient beings, others dissolving back into the Buddha's
body after having finished their work.
Around you are seated all sentient beings in human form - friends, strangers
and enemies. You are all facing the Buddha together.
PURIFICATION
Feel the presence of the living Buddha and take refuge in him, recalling his
perfect qualities and his willingness and ability to help you.
Make a request from your heart to receive his inspiration and blessings to
help you and others become free from all your negative energy, disturbing
attitudes, misconceptions and problems. Request to receive all the
realisations of the path to enlightenment so that you may be peaceful and happy
and be able to make your life beneficial for others.
Recite the following three times in Tibetan or English:
To the guru and founder, the endowed transcendent destroyer, the one
gone beyond, the foe destroyer, the completely perfected, fully awakened
being, the glorious conqueror, the subduer from the Shakya clan. I
prostrate, go for refuge and make offerings. Please bestow upon me your
inspiration.
The Buddha accepts your request. A stream of purifying white light, which
is the nature of the enlightened mind of wisdom and compassion, flows from the
Buddha's heart and enters your body through the crown of your head. The light
also flows into all the sentient beings, whom you have visualised sitting around
you. Just as the darkness in a room is instantly dispelled the moment a light is
switched on, so too is the darkness of your negative energy dispelled as the
radiant white light enters you.
Continue with the visualisation while reciting the Buddha's mantra as many
times as you wish:
TAYATA OM MUNI MUNI MAHA MUNIYE SOHA
Feel that the negative energy, problems and subtle obscurations of yourself
and others have been completely purified. Your body is filled with light and is
very blissful. Concentrate on this for a while.
RECEIVING INSPIRATION AND BLESSINGS
Visualise that a stream of golden light, the essence of which is the
excellent qualities of the Buddhas' body, speech and mind, descends from the
Buddha's heart and flows into you and into all sentient beings around you via
the crown of the head. These infinite good qualities permeate every part of you.
Concentrate on this blissful experience of receiving the blessings and
inspirations of the Buddha while reciting:
TAYATA OM MUNI MUNI MAHA MUNIYE SOHA
Feel that you have received the infinite excellent qualities of the Buddha.
You have unbiased love and compassion for all beings, just as the Buddha does.
Feel that you have actualised the six perfections: generosity, ethics, patience,
joyous effort, concentration and wisdom. It is the same for all sentient beings
around you. Feel blissful and satisfied. Concentrate on this for some time.
ABSORPTION
Make a determined aspiration to live your life according to the loving and
compassionate thought to become a Buddha for the benefit of all sentient beings.
Think that Guru Shakyamuni Buddha is extremely pleased with your noble
aspiration and will guide you so that you can actualise it.
Visualise that the throne absorbs into the lotus, and the lotus into the sun
and moon discs. They, in turn, absorb into the Buddha, who now comes above
your head, facing the same way as you do. He melts into light and dissolves
into you, thus blessing, inspiring and transforming your mind. Feel that not
even the slightest bit of selfishness remains and that your mind has become the
loving, compassionate though aspiring to attain enlightenment only for the
benefit of others.
REAPPEARANCE
At your heart centre appears a small Buddha, made of light. Be mindful of
the Buddha at your heart as you do all the daily activities of your life.
DEDICATION
By this virtue may I soon reach a Guru-Buddha-state, and lead each and every being to that state of
Buddhahood.
May the precious Bodhicitta not yet born, arise and grow may that born have no decline but increase forever more.
