Translations by Rigpa Translations

TranslatorsRigpa Translations

English (118)


Rigpa Translations

Rigpa Translations is the translation team associated with Rigpa, an international network of Tibetan Buddhist centres and groups.

Texts translated into English by Rigpa Translations

Apang Tertön

Āryaśūra

Atiśa Dīpaṃkara

Bengar Jampal Zangpo

Buddha

Popularly known as 'The Teachings Blaze' (bstan 'bar ma), this prayer for the spread of the teachings (bstan rgyas smon lam) is especially popular in the Gelug tradition. The first verse appears to be taken from the Pratimokṣa-sūtra (so sor thar pa'i mdo), while the remainder of the prayer, from the second verse onwards, is to be found in Atiśa Dīpaṃkara's Great Compendium of the Sūtras (Mahāsūtrasamuccaya; mdo kun las btus pa chen po).

So popular and influential is Samantabhadra’s “Aspiration to Good Actions” (bzang spyod smon lam) from the Gaṇḍavyūha chapter of the vast Avataṃsaka Sūtra, it is known as the king of all aspiration prayers. It is included in the Dhāraṇī section of the Kangyur (Toh 1095) and the Miscellaneous section of the Tengyur (Toh 4377).

Extracted from Samantabhadra’s “Aspiration to Good Actions” (bzang spyod smon lam, Toh 1095), this is the section on the seven branches (yan lag bdun pa; saptāṅga): 1) prostration, 2) offering, 3) confession, 4) rejoicing, 5) imploring the buddhas to turn the wheel of dharma, 6) requesting the buddhas not to enter nirvāṇa, and 7) dedication. This section is commonly recited as part of the preliminaries to other practices.

Chatral Rinpoche

Chokgyur Dechen Lingpa

This aspiration prayer is said to have been spoken by Guru Padmasambhava when revealing the Vajradhātu maṇḍala in the temple of Samye. The text was revealed by Chokgyur Lingpa and transcribed by Jamgön Kongtrul. Generally, it is known as Mönlam Chokchu Düzhima (Aspiration of the Ten Directions and Four Times), a name which derives from the prayer's first four syllables.

This famous prayer to Guru Padmasambhava for the elimination of all obstacles on the spiritual path is the outer practice of The Guru's Heart Practice: Dispelling All Obstacles on the Path (bla ma'i thugs sgrub bar chad kun sel), a joint revelation of Chokgyur Dechen Lingpa and Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo.

Popularly known as Dü Sum Sangye (Dus gsum sangs rgyas), this short prayer to Guru Padmasambhava was discovered as a treasure (gter ma) by Chokgyur Dechen Lingpa. As indicated in the colophon, it was—and still is—regarded as especially pertinent for the current time.

As stated in the colophon this prayer to the Guru of Oḍḍiyāna is extracted from a biography which Chokgyur Lingpa revealed as a treasure (gter ma) at Karmé Damchen Drak (karma'i dam can brag).

The author mentions that he wrote this general long-life prayer with teachers such as the Karmapa and Shamarpa particularly in mind, and that he was instructed to compose a practice incorporating both Guru Padmasambhava and Vajrakīla—although several other long-life deities are also invoked, including Tārā.

Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche

Do Khyentse Yeshe Dorje

Dodrupchen Jigme Trinle Özer

Drimé Ösal Lingpa

Dudjom Rinpoche

The root text of the Dudjom Tersar preliminary practices, including the outer preliminaries, i.e., the four contemplations that turn the mind from saṃsāra, and the inner preliminaries of taking refuge, generating bodhicitta, offering the maṇḍala, meditation on Vajrasattva, guru yoga and transference (phowa).

This daily 'hand-clapping' (thal rdeb) practice of the lion-faced ḍākinī Siṃhamukhā/Siṃhavaktrā (seng gdong ma) is particularly associated with the elimination of adversity, threats and dangers.

Kyabje Dudjom Rinpoche composed this four-line prayer of aspiration spontaneously on the occasion of his first teaching of “Hitting the Essence in Three Words” in the West, to an assembly of thirteen students in Paris, 1976.

A four-line prayer for the long life of the Seventh Dzogchen Rinpoche, Jikmé Losal Wangpo.

A popular practice of Vajrakīlaya in standard form, consisting of refuge and bodhicitta, visualization, mantra recitation, dissolution, dedication of merit, and prayer for auspiciousness.

In this commentary on the famous prayer to Guru Padmasambhava popularly known as Dü Sum Sangye (referred to here as the Vajra Verses Prayer) Dudjom Rinpoche explains the outer, inner and secret significance of every line.

Dudjom Rinpoche tells us that he wrote this prayer to Guru Rinpoche "for the peace and happiness of the world, at a time when we are all afflicted both physically and mentally by all kinds of outer and inner circumstances."

Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche

Fifth Dalai Lama

Fourteenth Dalai Lama

Guru Chökyi Wangchuk

Jamgön Kongtrul Lodrö Thaye

Jamyang Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö

A four-line prayer to Orgyen Dorje Chang—the Vajradhara of Oḍḍiyāna—to purify habitual patterns and realize the clear light of rigpa.

This prayer was composed in 1956, the Fire Monkey year, at Samye, while Jamyang Khyentse was offering a tsok feast in the presence of the special ‘Looks Like Me’ image of Guru Padmasambhava (gu ru nga 'dra ma) .

Jamyang Khyentse offered these words of heart-advice, encapsulating the entire Buddhist path, to Khandro Tsering Chödrön, his spiritual consort.

In response to a question from his spiritual consort, Khandro Tsering Chödrön, Jamyang Khyentse explains the essence of the path in just a few lines. (Khandro's question is in the form of an acrostic poem, the opening syllables of its four lines being the first four syllables of the Tibetan alphabet).

Written in 1934/35, this short prayer identifies our own pristine awareness, or rigpa, as Guru Padmasambhava, the Lake-born Vajra (mtsho skyes rdo rje).

A short, four-line prayer to Yeshe Tsogyal, "the foremost of ḍākinīs" and "Great Bliss Queen".

A prayer to the lineage of Rigdzin Tsadrup (rig 'dzin rtsa sgrub), the Root Practice of the Vidyādhara Padmasambhava, which was revealed by Tertön Sogyal (1856–1926) and which Padmasambhava is said to have transmitted to Nanam Dorje Dudjom.

A four-line prayer to Guru Padmākara, the embodiment of all gurus, chosen deities and ḍākinīs, for the pacification of obstacles and the spontaneous fulfilment of all wishes.

Written in 1956, this is a prayer to Guru Padmasambhava and his consorts, especially Mandāravā and Yeshe Tsogyal.

It was while he was staying in Lhasa in the mid-1950s that Jamyang Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö composed this prayer for the long life of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

A very short, six-line prayer to Guru Padmākara for the elimination of obstacles and fulfilment of wishes.

Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo

This brief prayer to Guru Padmākara, which Khyentse Wangpo says came to him spontaneously, includes requests to dispel all obstacles and fulfil all wishes.

These verses to be recited before and after prayers to Guru Padmasambhava, especially the famous Prayer in Seven Chapters (le'u bdun ma), include the practices of taking refuge and arousing bodhicitta, a seven-branch offering, the generation and dissolution of a visualisation, and the dedication of merit.

This song for the gaṇacakra feast (tshogs glu) invoking Vajrayoginī and calling upon her to grant the experience of great bliss was composed at the request of Jamgön Jampa Phuntsok.

A non-sectarian (ris med) prayer to 25 of the most important figures in Tibetan Buddhism, five for each of the five major traditions: Nyingma, Sakya, Kagyü, Kadam and Geluk.

A brief prayer to the lineage of Zabtik Drolchok, the practice of Green Tārā which was revealed as a mind terma by Chokgyur Dechen Lingpa.

This is a complete set of practices, including taking refuge, generating bodhicitta, visualization, invocation, seven-branch offering, heartfelt prayer—addressed to Guru Padmasambhava, his various manifestations and twenty-five disciples—mantra recitation, and dissolution.

This practice for invoking longevity is extracted from The Heart-Essence of Perfect Immortality (yongs rdzogs 'chi med snying thig), which belongs to the Chokling Tersar.

A prayer to the Precious Guru of Oḍḍiyāna as the embodiment of all sources of refuge (skyabs gnas kun 'dus) in order to avert all forms of obstacle and hindrance, on the outer, inner and innermost (or 'secret') levels.

Written in 1850, this is a prayer to the guru, who is understood to be inseparable from Guru Padmasambhava and the true nature of mind, and an aspiration to be reborn in the Lotus Light pure realm, if not already liberated during this life or when clear light dawns at the moment of death.

Jetsün Drakpa Gyaltsen

Jigme Lingpa

Jigme Lingpa explains why the tenth day of each month is dedicated to Guru Padmasambhava and the benefits of recalling his twelve most significant deeds, which are commemorated on these days throughout the year.

A heartfelt prayer for invoking Guru Padmasambhava—"the great guru of Oḍḍiyāna"—as the embodiment of all sources of refuge and pledging to entrust oneself to him completely in all situations and circumstances, but especially in times of difficulty, during this current degenerate age.

An addition to the standard practice of confession and fulfilment in Yumka Dechen Gyalmo, specifically for the purpose of accumulating gaṇacakra offerings as a means to turn back the summons of the ḍākinīs (mkha' 'gro'i bsun zlog).

This prayer of aspiration to be reborn in Guru Padmasambhava's heaven of Zangdok Palri (zangs mdog dpal ri), the Copper-Coloured Mountain of Glory, includes detailed descriptions of its wonderful features and extraordinary qualities. The text is a terma (gter ma) revelation and part of the Longchen Nyingtik cycle.

Sacred song and dance are important elements of the gaṇacakra, and this song by Jigme Lingpa, which is now widely-known and recited, was composed specifically for the gaṇacakra feast. The song concludes with the aspiration that all those gathered together may attain the rainbow body as a result of the feast offering.

Jigme Lingpa himself describes this text as "a prayer invoking and imploring Guru Rinpoche, coupled with an aspiration prayer suitable for daily recitation based on the root words of the way to attain liberation through the experiences of the bardo states." It was inspired by a sense of sorrow and renunciation when, one morning during a retreat near Samye, Jigme Lingpa glimpsed Mount Hepori in the distance and thought about the great events that had taken place there during Padmasambhava's lifetime, little or no trace of which remained.

Khangsar Tenpé Wangchuk

Khenchen Jigme Phuntsok

Khenchen Ngawang Palzang

Lhatsün Namkha Jigme

Lhodrak Namkha Gyaltsen

Longchen Rabjam

Minling Chung Rinpoche

Mipham Rinpoche

A simple four-line prayer to the Lotus-born Guru of Oḍḍiyāna for the elimination of all obstacles and the spontaneous fulfilment of all aspirations.

This popular guru yoga is based on the famous Seven-Line Prayer (tshig bdun gsol 'debs) to Guru Padmasambhava, which was first revealed in the thirteenth century by Chökyi Wangchuk (1212–1270).

This brief windhorse invocation (rlung rta'i gsol bsdus) is a shorter version of The Swift Fulfilment of All Wishes ('dod dgu myur stsol); both texts were composed on the same day in 1903.

A brief gaṇacakra liturgy to be recited when accumulating tsok offering on a large scale.

This short text in verse, written in 1902, outlines the twelve major deeds of Guru Padmasambhava, which are to be commemorated in the course of a year—a different deed being recalled on the tenth day of each month.

This brief rite of offering and requesting Gesar to carry out activity was written in 1880. As with the other texts in this section of Mipham's works Gesar appears not only as powerful warrior-figure but as an enlightened emanation of Guru Padmasambhava.

A short prayer to the eight manifestations of Guru Padmasambhava, eight vidyādharas, eight bodhisattvas, and eight maṇḍalas of Kagye (bka' brgyad). It was composed in 1897.

This popular prayer, which Mipham wrote in 1896, is addressed to the eight sugatas, eight bodhisattvas, eight goddesses of auspiciousness, and eight guardians of the world. It is recited at the outset of any virtuous project, or indeed any activity of any kind, in order to bring about auspiciousness, success and good fortune.

This prayer of magnetizing (dbang du bsdud pa) all appearance and existence, which Ju Mipham wrote in 1879, focuses on nine deities associated with magnetizing: Padmasambhava in the form of Padmarāja or Pema Gyalpo (padma rgyal po), Vajradharma (rdo rje chos), Amitābha, Avalokiteśvara in the form of Padmapāṇi, Hayagrīva, Guhyajñāna, Vajravārāhī, Kurukullā and the King of Desire ('dod pa'i rgyal po). It was made popular in recent years by the late Khenchen Jigme Phuntsok.

Nāgārjuna

Nubpa Rigdzin Drak

Nyangral Nyima Özer

Nyoshul Khenpo Jamyang Dorje

Orgyen Tobgyal Rinpoche

Patrul Rinpoche

Pema Lingpa

Sachen Kunga Nyingpo

Sakya Paṇḍita Kunga Gyaltsen

Sakya Trichen

Shakya Shri

Tertön Mingyur Dorje

Tertön Sogyal

Pith instructions on liberating thoughts, translated from a rare manuscript in the library of Dudjom Rinpoche Jigdral Yeshe Dorje.

A short ḍākinī sādhana focusing on Yeshe Tsogyal with Red Vajravārāhī at her heart. In these two, the text says, all ḍākinīs are essentialized.

This short prayer for the flourishing of the teachings (bstan rgyas smon lam) was spoken by a ḍākinī in a vision.

A simple rite for offering golden libation (gser skyems) to the dharma protectors of Tertön Sogyal's own tradition (rang lugs).

For this prayer from the Vajrakīlaya cycle known as Yang Zab Nyingpo (Deepest Heart-Essence), the practitioner assumes the form of the deity Vajrakīlaya and prays to Guru Padmākara and consort, who are visualized above the head.

From the Vajrakīlaya cycle known as Yang Zab Nyingpo (Deepest Heart-Essence), this is the descent of blessings (byin 'bebs).

This brief Vajrakīlaya sādhana, complete with tsok offering, was revealed as a terma at Katok Monastery.

Thangtong Gyalpo

Trulshik Rinpoche

Tulku Bakhal Mukpo

Tulku Zangpo Drakpa

The first chapter from The Prayer in Seven Chapters (le'u bdun ma), is the Prayer to the Three-Kāya Guru, supplemented by supplications to the other masters of the lineage.

The second chapter from The Prayer in Seven Chapters (le'u bdun ma), given to King Tri Songdetsen, is to be recited in the evening, the time of wrath.

The third chapter from The Prayer in Seven Chapters (le'u bdun ma), given to Lady Yeshe Tsogyal, is to be recited before first light, the time of increase or enrichment.

The fourth chapter from The Prayer in Seven Chapters (le'u bdun ma), given to the monk Namkhai Nyingpo, is to be recited at dawn, the time of pacification.

The fifth chapter from The Prayer in Seven Chapters (le'u bdun ma), given to Nanam Dorje Dudjom, is to be recited in the afternoon, the time of magnetizing and power.

The sixth chapter from The Prayer in Seven Chapters (le'u bdun ma), given to Prince Mutri Tsenpo, is to be recited in the darkness of midnight.

The seventh chapter from The Prayer in Seven Chapters (le'u bdun ma) was given to the king of Gungthang and is to be recited at midday, during rest.

Vajrāyudha

Yangthang Rinpoche

This website uses cookies to collect anonymous usage statistics and enhance the user experience.
Decline
Accept