1. Taking Refuge

Namo! Lama, in your perfect form, you embody all the sugatas;

Your very nature is that of the Three Jewels: Buddha, Dharma and Sangha.

Until enlightenment is fully realized,

We and all beings of the six realms take refuge in you.

(three times)

2. Arousing the Awakened Mind of Bodhichitta

We arouse the bodhichitta, the heart of the awakened mind, and, for the sake of all living beings,

When we have accomplished the enlightened state of the master,

We vow to liberate them all, through the enlightened actions

Of teaching each and every one according to their needs.

(three times)

3. The Seven Branch Offering

Approach now, gurus, devas, and dakinis:

Take your seats on these cushions of lotus, sun and moon.

We offer homage, while devotion fills our body, speech and mind.

We make offerings, outer, inner and secret.

We confess all impairments and breakages of vows, all our harmful actions and obscurations.

We rejoice that the secret mantrayana is being accomplished in practice.

We request you to turn the wheel of the secret mantra teachings, which ripen and liberate.

Remain with us without passing into nirvana, we pray.

We dedicate all merit so that sentient beings attain the essence of enlightenment.

May we all realize our true vajra nature!

4. The Main Visualization

Before us in the sky, in a shimmering sphere of light, white and blue, yellow, red and green,

Floats a throne held aloft by lions, with cushions of lotus, sun and moon.

There you preside, the actual presence of all the buddhas of the three kayas,

Root master, in the form of the Lotus-born Guru.

Your complexion is white, tinged with red, your expression slightly wrathful,

Wearing the lotus hat, gown, and Dharma robes, with

A magnificent dark red cape of shining brocade.

Your right hand holds a five-pointed vajra;

Your left a skull-cup containing the vase of long-life.

A khatvanga cradled in your left arm,

You are seated in the vajra posture.

From the mandalas of your wisdom body, speech and mind

Appear infinite gurus, devas, dakinis and dharmapalas;

All send out and gather back brilliant, dazzling light,

And all become actually present, here.

Visualizing this, recite ‘The Prayer in Seven Chapters’ and ‘The Prayer to Guru Rinpoche that Spontaneously Fulfils All Wishes’, ‘The Seven Line Prayer’, and ‘The Prayer which Removes All Obstacles from the Path’, along with prayers taken from the earlier and later terma treasures, and prayers of any kind that carry the blessing of the vajra speech of the saints of the past. Recite them with an intense longing and yearning, and an all-consuming devotion.

If you can not manage this much, then it will be all right simply to recite ‘The Prayer to the Three Kaya Guru’ and  ‘The Prayer to Guru Rinpoche that Spontaneously Fulfils All Wishes’. Whatever you do, at the end call out to Guru Rinpoche and invoke his wisdom mind by chanting the Vajra Guru mantra as much as possible.

5.  Empowerment and Dissolution

From the three syllables OM AH HUNG at the three centres of the master,

Rays of light burst out, one after another, and then all together.

Streaming into our three centres, where they dissolve,

Granting us the four empowerments, purifying our four obscurations, and

Making us a suitable vessel to practise the four paths.

Finally, the master dissolves into us, merging inseparably,

And in that state,

We gaze into our original face: the dharmakaya, beyond the ordinary mind.

6.  Dedication of Merit

Through the positivity and merit of this, may I swiftly

Accomplish the realization of the master of Orgyen, and so

May I bring each and every single living being

To that perfect state as well!

So, seal the practice with prayers of dedication.

To fit the exact requirements in the request made by the great incarnate treasure revealer Chokgyur Dechen Lingpa, this was composed by the favourite servant of the lake-born guru, Khyentséi Wangpo Pema Ösel Dongak Lingpa. May all things be well!

| Translated by Rigpa Translations