Sukhāvatī Aspirations

• Prayer of Transference by Dezhung Tulku Ajam

This simple practice of the transference of consciousness, or phowa ('pho ba), in the form of a prayer was written by Dezhung Tulku Ajam and is also preserved within the collected writings of Jamyang Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö (1893–1959).

• Aspiration for Rebirth in Sukhāvatī by Dodrupchen Jigme Tenpe Nyima

These verses of aspiration to take rebirth in Amitābha's pureland of Sukhāvatī are extracted from the author's longer compilation of practices called The Easy Route to the Supreme Realm (zhing mchog bgrod pa'i bde lam).

• Prayer to Buddha Amitābha by Dodrupchen Jigme Tenpe Nyima

A four-line prayer to Amitābha, the Buddha of Boundless Light, aspiring to take rebirth in his blissful paradise of Sukhāvatī.

• A Sukhāvatī Prayer and Aspiration by Dudjom Lingpa

Taken from the visionary revelation known as the Net of Wisdom (ye shes drwa ba), this is a brief aspiration for rebirth in Sukhāvatī (bde ba can).

• Prayer to Buddha Amitābha by Fifteenth Karmapa

A short prayer of invocation and aspiration addressed to Amitābha, the Buddha of Limitless Light, and Avalokiteśvara, the embodiment of compassion. The prayer concludes with the mantra oṃ amitābha hrīḥ.

• Lamp Aspiration Prayer (from the Tsok Offering 'A Rain of Blessings') by Fourteenth Karmapa

This brief prayer of aspiration to accompany the offering of a butter lamp (mar me'i smon lam) is part of the feast offering (tshogs mchod) for the Accomplishing the Land of Great Bliss (bde chen zhing sgrub) cycle of practices based on the original Namchö (gnam chos) revelation of Tertön Mingyur Dorje (1645–1667).

• Prayer of Aspiration by Gatön Ngawang Lekpa

As he was approaching death, Gatön Ngawang Lekpa composed this four-line prayer to Ga Rabjampa Kunga Yeshe (1397–1470) requesting his assistance in order to reach the pureland of Sukhāvatī.

• Brief Sukhāvatī Aspiration by Gyalse Shenpen Thaye

Two verses: the first a prayer to Atiśa as an emanation of Padmasambhava and the second an aspiration for rebirth in the pure land of great bliss.

• Aspiration for Rebirth in Sukhāvatī by Jamyang Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö

This three-verse aspiration for rebirth in Amitābha's pureland of Sukhāvatī was composed on the 22nd day of the eleventh month of the Earth Dog year (January 1, 1959).

• Aspiration for the Land of Great Bliss by Jamyang Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö

Extracted from a longer prayer entitled Aspiration Written in Sadness During the Water Snake Year, this is an aspiration to take rebirth in Amitābha's paradise of Sukhāvatī, the Land of Great Bliss.

• Aspiration to Be Reborn in the Realm of Sukhāvatī by Jigme Lingpa

This prayer to be reborn in Sukhāvatī draws upon the Array of Amitābha Sūtra (amitābhavyūhasūtra, Toh 49) for its elaborate descriptions of the blissful realm. As with many of Jigme Lingpa's writings, the text is beautiful yet opaque in places, and the translation thus relies upon Rigdzin Gargyi Wangchuk's (1858–1930) commentary entitled Gateway to the Realm of Great Bliss (bde chen zhing gi 'jug ngogs).

• Prayer of Aspiration Towards Sukhāvatī by Katok Situ Chökyi Gyatso

This short prayer of aspiration for rebirth in Buddha Amitābha's pure-land of Sukhāvatī incorporates the so-called 'seven branches' (saptāṅga; yan lag bdun) of paying homage, offering, confession, rejoicing, requesting the turning of the wheel of Dharma, exhortation to remain, and dedication of virtue.

• Sukhāvatī Aspiration by Mipham Rinpoche

A short prayer incorporating the four causes of rebirth in Sukhāvatī, namely: 1) visualizing the pure realm, 2) accumulating merit and purifying obscurations, 3) generating bodhicitta, and 4) making prayers of aspiration and dedicating all sources of virtue towards rebirth in Sukhāvatī.

• Brief Sukhāvatī Aspiration by Palyul Choktrul Jampal Gyepe Dorje

A four-line prayer requesting the blessings of the guru in order to transfer one's consciousness to Sukhāvatī.

• Prayer of Aspiration Towards Sukhāvatī by Shamar Chökyi Wangchuk

This short prayer of aspiration towards Sukhāvatī (bde smon) incorporates the so-called 'seven branches' (saptāṅga; yan lag bdun) of devotional practice.

• Brief Sukhāvatī Aspiration by Tertön Mingyur Dorje

Part of the Namchö (gnam chos) revelation, this extremely popular prayer of aspiration for rebirth in Sukhāvatī derives from a vision in which Buddha Amitābha appeared to Tulku Mingyur Dorje, when the latter was just twelve years old, in 1657.

• Dedication from Vajravārāhī Cycle of Namchö revealed by Mingyur Dorje by Tertön Mingyur Dorje

Sometimes classified as a Sukhāvatī aspiration (bde smon), this well-known prayer for the dedication of virtue (dge ba bsngo ba) is attributed to Buddha Amitābha, who spoke to Tulku Mingyur Dorje in a vision in 1657.

• Prayer for the Land of Great Bliss Practice by Fourteenth Karmapa

A lineage prayer for the Accomplishing the Land of Great Bliss (bde chen zhing sgrub) cycle of practices based on the original Namchö (gnam chos) revelation of Tertön Mingyur Dorje (1645–1667) and compiled by Karma Chakme (1613–1678).

• Amitābha Series

• Aspiration Prayers

• Dying and the Bardos

• Transference (Phowa) Series