– a guru yoga prayer
Lama khyenno! Lama, be aware of me!
Lord of all the Buddha families, lama of great kindness, be aware of me!
Grant your blessings that the enemy of self-clinging may be tamed;
Grant your blessings that the darkness of ignorance may be dispelled;
Grant your blessings that the wild demons of thought may be quelled;
Grant your blessings that primordial nature may be realised.
Although lacking full realization of the essence of precious human birth,
I understand that my birth is like a wish-fulfilling gem.
Although not yet free of the enemy of habitual patterns of dualistic clinging,
I understand that this cherished body remains fettered.
Although lacking full realization of the law of cause and effect,
I understand that noble deeds give rise to noble results.
Wherever beings are born in the six realms of cyclic existence, high or low,
I perceive as flaming fires and filthy mud.
Although unable to become a solitary yogi wandering from cave to cave,
I give rise to renunciation through seeing the futility of samsara.
Although lacking the vast bodhicitta activity to benefit others,
I nurture the commitment to not abandon sentient beings.
This child meditated ceaselessly on the only father Mahaguru –
Despite lacking full realization of form and emptiness inseparable being Lama Nirmanakaya,
all beings encountered are seen as the Mahaguru.
Thus the purpose of this child Jigme’s life is fulfilled.
This child recited countless mantras of the only father Mahaguru –
Despite lacking full realization of sound and emptiness inseparable being Lama Sambhogakaya,
all sounds are heard as mantra, the voice of the guru.
Thus the purpose of this child Jigme’s life is fulfilled.
This child prayed one-pointedly to the only father Mahaguru –
Despite lacking full realization of thought and emptiness inseparable being Lama Dharmakaya,
all thoughts arise as the Mahaguru.
Thus the purpose of this child Jigme’s life is fulfilled.
* * * * * * *
My fortunate friends and sangha, connected through the karma and aspirations of previous lives –
Abide here, praying one-pointedly to the Three Jewels, Three Roots and Three Kayas gathered together as one in our only father Mahaguru,
and through the hook of his compassion meeting with the ring of your faith
you are liberated by understanding your mind and the Guru’s to be inseparable.
Striving with the mindfulness of hearing, analysis and meditation,
you are set on the victorious ones’ perfect path of bodhicitta –
remember the alchemy of transforming brass into gold.
Abandon those seemingly virtuous actions tainted with the eight worldly concerns!
Abandon those undertakings of peace and wellbeing enacted without compassion!
Abandon wrong meditation with gaping mouth and goggling eyes!
Having an excellent, stainless heart of love for all beings, and
dissolving attachment and aversion into equanimity – this you must achieve.
In brief, if you throw far away all thoughts of the next life,
and carelessly engage in trivial, ignorant activities,
it is like returning empty-handed from the isle of jewels.
Therefore strive to realize the essence of your precious human birth.
In the supreme pureland of Zangdok Palri,
in the center of a five-colored rainbow palace radiant with light –
our only mother, chief of the dakinis Dechhen Gyalmo (Queen of Great Bliss),
and our only father, the Mahaguru Padma Gyalpo (King of the Lotus)
and surrounding them the hosts of rigdzins, dakas and dakinis –
in front of this great assembly I pray:
In all lifetimes may all sentient beings equal to the sky be reborn as your fortunate retinue!
This was written during the making-up-for-omissions time for guru yoga mantra recitation. Visualizing in the sky before me my lama who embodies the three great kindnesses, my mind and the lama’s enlightened mind blended. Resting there for a while and presenting whatever understanding I had before my lama, certain verses came to mind as the expression of that understanding. I, Jigme Trogyal, wrote them down at that moment, then later added the final four verses to encourage those who sincerely wish to practice guru yoga.
Translated at Chagdud Gonpa Khadro Ling, Brazil , January 2005