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Dedication Prayers from Various Teachers - Contents

1. Before dedication, by Lama Zopa Rinpoche

2. Dedication Prayers for Retreat and Daily Life, by Lama Zopa Rinpoche

3. Dedication Prayers by Venerable Sarah

4. Dedication, Aspiration, and Benediction, by Tulku Thondup

5. Dedication Prayers, by Jason Espada, with Traditional Prayers (2013)

6. Dedication Prayers by Lama Zopa Rinpoche II

7. Dedication Prayers by Lama Zopa Rinpoche III

8. The King of Prayers

9. The Lam Rim Dedication Prayer

10. From A Guide to the Bodhisattva’s Way of Life, Chapter Ten

11. Dedication by Shantideva

 !2

Before dedication

A preceding reflection from the teachings of Lama Zopa Rinpoche:

‘All phenomena – including the I, the action of dedicating, the merits that
are dedicated, the goal of enlightenment to which they are dedicated, and
the sentient beings for whom they are dedicated – are completely empty of
existing from their own side. With the continual awareness of this, I now
impute labels, and dedicate…’
 !3

Dedication Prayers for Retreat and Daily Life, by Lama Zopa Rinpoche

Due to the merits of the three times collected by me, the buddhas,
bodhisattvas, and all other sentient beings, may bodhichitta - cherishing
others, letting go of oneself, letting go of the I, which is the source of all the
happiness and success of myself and all other sentient beings - be
generated within my own mind and in the minds of all sentient beings
without even a second's delay. May that bodhichitta which has already been
generated increase.

Due to the merits of the three times collected by me, the buddhas,
bodhisattvas, and all other sentient beings, may all the father - mother
sentient beings have happiness; may the three lower realms be empty
forever; may all bodhisattvas' prayers succeed immediately; and may I be
able to cause all this to happen by myself, alone.

Due to the merits of the three times collected by me, the buddhas,
bodhisattvas, and all other sentient beings, may His Holiness the Dalai
Lama, the Buddha of Compassion, and all other holy beings, all our
virtuous friends, have stable lives, and may all their holy wishes succeed
immediately.

Due to the merits of the three times collected by me, the buddhas,
bodhisattvas, and all other sentient beings, may I be able to offer skies of
benefit to all sentient beings as Lama Tsongkhapa does by having within
me the same qualities that Lama Tsongkhapa has, from now on, in all my
future lifetimes.

Due to the merits of the three times collected by me, the buddhas,
bodhisattvas, and all other sentient beings, which are totally non-existent
from their own side; may the I, which is also totally non-existent from its
own side; achieve Guru Shakyamuni Buddha's enlightenment, which is
also totally non-existent from its own side; and lead all sentient beings,
 !4

who are totally non-existent from their own side; to that enlightenment,
which is totally non-existent from its own side, by myself alone, who is also
totally non-existent from its own side.

I dedicate all my merits in the way greatly admired by the buddhas and
bodhisattvas of the three times and realized by Samantabhadra and
Manjushri.

May I be able to completely actualize Lama Tsongkhapa's teaching, which

unifies sutra and tantra, within my mind and spread these teachings in the
minds 6f all sentient beings. Thus, may Lama Tsongkhapa's teachings
flourish forever.

Due to all the merits of the three times collected by me, all the buddhas and
bodhisattvas, and all sentient beings, may any sentient being who hears me,
touches me, remembers me, thinks about me, talks about me (whether
praising or criticizing), abuses me, treats me badly or makes any connection
with me - simply by having made that connection - may they never ever be
reborn in the lower realms. May those sentient beings immediately be
liberated from all disease, spirit harms, negative karma and defilements,
develop faith in refuge and karma, and quickly achieve enlightenment, by
actualising the whole path, especially bodhichitta. By my hearing that
someone is sick may it immediately cause that person to completely recover
and have the most meaningful life by practicing the Mahayana path. By my
hearing somebody has died may it cause that person to immediately be
reborn in a pure land where they can get enlightened.

Due to the merits of the three times created by me, the buddhas,
bodhisattvas, and all other sentient beings, may I, the members of my
family, all the students and benefactors of this organization, and all the rest
of the sentient beings meet only perfectly qualified Mahayana gurus in all
our future lifetimes. From our side may we see them only as enlightened
beings. May we do only actions most pleasing to the holy minds of the
virtuous friends. May we be able to fulfill all their holy wishes immediately.
 !5

Due to all the merits of the three times collected by me, the buddhas,
bodhisattvas, and all other sentient beings, may whatever I experience,
good or bad, suffering or happiness, sickness or health, praise or blame, gain
or loss, good reputation or bad reputation, long life or death, even being
born in the hell realms, whatever I experience, may it only be of benefit to
sentient beings - that which causes all sentient beings to achieve
enlightenment by myself alone.

Due to the merits of the three times collected by me, the buddhas,
bodhisattvas, and all other sentient beings wherever I am - whatever
universe, world, country, area, or place - just by my being there, may the
sentient beings who are in that universe, world, country, area, or place
never be reborn in the lower realms. May they immediately be liberated
from all disease, spirit harm, negative karma, and defilements and may they
achieve enlightenment quickly by actualizing the whole path, especially
bodhichitta. May wars, famine, sickness, and natural disasters immediately
be stopped, and may these things never be experienced again. May I also
become wish-fulfilling for sentient beings, able to fulfill all their wishes
according to Dharma.

Due to the power of the blessings of the eminent buddhas and

bodhisattvas, the power of infallible dependent arising , and the power of
my pure special attitude, may all my pure prayers succeed immediately.

By pacifying all the signs of obstacles

And by perfecting every single required condition,
May the Dharma tradition of the Dharma king Tsongkhapa
Be preserved and developed.

Due to the two types of merit collected

Over the three times by myself and others
May the teaching of the far-famed
Victorious One's pure wisdom blaze forth
 !6

Dedication by Venerable Sarah

Dedicate the merit

for all those who are sick, and suffering

and all those involved in wars

fighting, killing

depression

those who’ve lost their jobs

those who’ve lost their money

those who’ve lost their hope

who feel hopeless

those in hospitals now

those who are sick,
those who are dying,
those with operations

those who are suffering mental sicknesses -

all sentient beings

to be never separated from Medicine Buddha

and may they quickly achieve enlightenment

in order to free all beings

and may all the prayers the Medicine Buddhas made be actualized right
now
 !7

Dedication, Aspiration and Benediction, by Tulku Thondup, from the audio

cd ‘Boundless Healing’, lightly edited.

So now let us dedicate, and make boundless the aspirations of this

meditation.

Let us dedicate all these merits that we have created by this meditation to
all mother beings, as a cause of happiness, peace and joy for them, and as a
cause of their attainment of Healing Buddha’s blessings, peace and joy.

By the power of the Buddhas,

Healing Buddha,
and by the power of the infinite Buddhas
that we have prayed to in the sky
and prayed to in our body,

by the power of all these Buddhas,

and by the power of all the Pure Lands,

and by the power of the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha,

by the power of the meditation we have done,

by the power of the merits that we have created,

and by the power of the Ultimate Nature, Absolute Truth,

by the power of interdependent causation,

May all mother beings have happiness, peace and joy

May they always be with Healing Buddha’s blessing light,
blessing energy, and blessing sound, without separation
 !8

And may we always be with Healing Buddha’s blessing light,

blessing energy, and blessing sound, without separation,
day and night, awake or asleep,
in good times and bad times

And may we always be the source of Healing Buddha’s blessings

for all mother beings, especially those with whom we have close
connections, and we have special responsibilities

And by the power of all the Buddhas,

May all our prayers be answered
May all our wishes be fulfilled

(Benediction)

Now think and feel that Buddhas in the sky, and Buddhas in our body, give
us their benediction. In one thunderous voice, filling the universe, they say
to us:

‘May your prayers be answered

May your wishes be fulfilled

‘May you be healed of your old illness

ills of your mind, and your body

‘And may you always be with Healing Buddha’s

blessing light, blessing energies, and blessing sound’

Think and feel that we have accomplished the healing activities, the
blessings of the Healing Buddha.
 !9

Dedication Prayers, by Jason Espada, with Traditional Prayers (2013)

By this merit,
and the merit of any other good I have done,

together with all the blessings and virtue

of all the ten-directions three times
Buddhas and Bodhisattvas,
Saints and Sages,
Yidams,
Saviors, Great World Teachers,
Realized Beings,
Lamas, Monks and Nuns,
Yogis and Yoginis,
Arhats and Ajaans,
Contemplatives of all Traditions,
and all excellent practitioners,

by all these limitless skies of merit,

together with all the virtue and pure good wishes of family, friends,
and noble, kind hearted people everywhere,

along with all the wonderful, positive energy of the natural world,
and the blessings of celestial beings,
angels and ancestors, guardians and protectors,

by the merit and positive energy of all the good that exists,
by all the virtue of the Ultimate Nature,
Universal Goodness,
Universal Love and Compassion,

by all this merit,

 !10

May the benefit of beings everywhere effortlessly arise

May all beings benefit.

May all beings have happiness,

and the causes of health and happiness.

May this bring healing wherever it is needed.

May this bring about the firm establishment

of true health and happiness for us all.

By the virtue of this practice, by all this merit,

may we all be completely free from all illness, spirit harm,
and from all of the afflictive emotions forever

May we all be completely free from all samsaric states forever

May we all know freedom

May all beings completely realize the Dharmakaya, and,

May this be the medicine that frees everyone from suffering

(a prayer by the Noble Spiritual Friend Lama Zopa Rinpoche)

By this merit, may all those who are unhappy in any way,
(confused, angry, anxious, afraid, attached,
sad or depressed, with distorted views),
instantly
be completely freed from those states.

May they be comforted,

and may they have perfect peace,
wisdom, strength and lasting joy.
 !11

By all merit and positive spiritual energy,

may all those who are suffering from pain or illness
immediately be totally freed from that pain,

May they immediately be completely healed,

and may they all be firmly established in true and lasting health and
happiness
well being and strength,
comfort and ease.

By all this merit,

may all those who want to go on retreat
have the opportunity to do so without delay;
May they all have the resources they need,
may they find all suitable conditions,
and, without obstacles,
may their retreat go exceedingly well
May they have all excellent realizations

By all this merit,

May health increase everywhere
May ethics, and meditation and wisdom increase in me and in the world
May loving kindness and compassion increase, and
May peace and harmony increase everywhere

By all this merit,

may all those who work to heal receive all they need
May their healing qualities increase limitlessly,
and may they remain without pride

By all this merit,

may all monasteries,
monks, nuns, and lay practitioners,
Dharma Centers, hospitals, clinics,
 !12

schools and social service centers

have everything they need to serve beings most effectively

May monastics and the laity everywhere all keep completely pure ethics,
develop the supreme good heart, and wisdom,
and may all their good works effectively flourish forever

By all this merit,

may all beings have all they need in their lives
May those who need a job find a good job,
and may they prosper
May those who need a place to live find a good place to live
May those who need food and drink find good food and drink
May those who need a friend find a friend

By all this virtue,

May we all have everything we need to be truly happy

By all this merit,

May everything we see, hear, think about and dream be auspicious

By all this merit, may all the pure positive wishes we have for each other
be completely fulfilled,
instantly, and effortlessly,
just as in a Pure Land

(the following two prayers I have heard and admired from Lama Zopa
Rinpoche)

By all this virtue

May those I hear about that are sick immediately be healed

May all those who have come to my attention

who have any illness,
 !13

or who are unhappy, or in need in any way

be blessed
May they be healed
May they all benefit
May they all have happiness
and all the completely actualized causes of health and happiness

and,

May those I have heard about who have passed away be reborn in a Pure
Land, without taking birth any place else

May their families be comforted

May they all know blessed peace

By all this merit,

May those I hear about who are experiencing difficulties
be free from those difficulties,
and may all fortunate circumstances come to them right away

May the spiritual energy that arises

from my devotion to the Enlightened Ones,
be dedicated to dispelling the misery of living beings without exception

May the supreme jewel, bodhicitta

arise where it has not yet arisen
Where it has arisen, may it not diminish
May it ever grow and flourish

By this merit,
and the merit of any other good I have done,
together with all the blessings and virtue
of all the ten-directions three times
Buddhas and Bodhisattvas,
 !14

Saints and Sages,

Yidams,
Saviors, Great World Teachers,
Realized Beings,
Lamas, Monks and Nuns,
Yogis and Yoginis,
Arhats and Ajaans,
Contemplatives of all Traditions,
and all excellent practitioners,

by all these limitless skies of merit,

together with all the virtue and pure good wishes of family, friends,
and noble, kind hearted people everywhere,

along with all the wonderful, positive energy of the natural world,
and the blessings of celestial beings,
angels and ancestors, guardians and protectors,

by the merit and positive energy of all the good that exists,
by all the virtue of the Ultimate Nature,
Universal Goodness,
Universal Love and Compassion,

by all this merit,

May warfare cease,

may all injury be healed,
and all danger pacified

May we all produce the conditions

for countless generations, starting now,
to experience genuine peace
 !15

May we all cherish one another

and this world we live in

May we all be supremely respectful, considerate,

kind, and gentle to ourselves
and to each other

May our intentions equally penetrate

every being and place
with the true merit of Buddha’s Way.

without grasping or clinging to anything at all,

may it be this way

By all this merit,

may all those to whom I am connected
by good or bad karma,
have every happiness
May they all know freedom,
and may they be free of all suffering

May they receive all joys, and all good fortune,

and may they and their loved ones,
all have good health, wisdom,
long life,
well being, and strength,
comfort and ease

By this merit,
may family members and friends who are estranged
be reconciled,
and may there always be peace between them, from now on
 !16

May all the prayers of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas

be completely realized now
and may all of my prayers succeed immediately

By this virtue,
May those who are in need in any way whatsoever
receive every benefit
May all have happiness
and all the actualized complete causes of health and happiness

{at this point, a review of the names and circumstances of those particular
individuals that you wish to pray for can be inserted here}

By all this virtue,

May those who are in need in any way whatsoever
receive every benefit
May all have happiness
and all the fully actualized complete causes of health and happiness

By all this merit,

and by following the example of my
Guides of Great Virtue,
may I not withhold any gift whatsoever
from any being in any place,
wishing them all a great abundance of joys!

By all the limitless good that exists,

may all the needs of all living beings everywhere be completely fulfilled

By all this merit, for every one of us,

when this life is over,
may we each be born immediately in a Pure Land,
and in all our lives
 !17

May we never be separate from qualified teachers,

and from conducive environments, with all the supportive conditions for
continuing our practice of the Dharma

May I always go wherever I can bring the greatest benefit to others,

By all this virtue

May I attain the complete realization of all practice
that I bring all others to that same state

May we all individually attain the complete realization of our spiritual

practice,
freedom, genuine, stable happiness,
health and peace, and all good things,
wisdom, compassion, and ability

By all this merit,

May all holy teachers live long, and guide us until samsara ends.
And may there be peace and joy in all the world.
 !18

Dedication Prayers by Lama Zopa Rinpoche

II.

Due to all the past, present, and future merits collected by me and the
merits of the three times collected by all the buddhas, bodhisattvas, and
other sentient beings, may any sentient being just by seeing me, touching
me, talking about me, remembering me, or dreaming about me never ever
be reborn in the lower realms from that time forward. May they
immediately be liberated from all disease, spirit harms, negative karma,
and defilements.

May anyone who sees me, touches me, talks about me, or remembers me
immediately be cured of cancer, AIDS, coma, arthritis, migraine, and other
heavy diseases. May those possessed by spirits be immediately released
from the harm of those spirits. May anyone who is dying immediately stop
experiencing terrifying emotions and karmic appearances and feel
incredible bliss in their heart. May they then be born in a pure land of
Buddha, where there is no suffering of rebirth, old age, sickness, or
emotional problems. Totally free from all suffering and its causes, may they
become enlightened there.

III.

Due to all the past, present, and future merits collected by me, all the three
times' merits collected by numberless sentient beings and numberless
buddhas, may bodhichitta be actualized in one’s heart.

Due to all the past, present, and future merits collected by me, all the three
times' merits collected by numberless sentient beings and numberless
buddhas,
may the bodhicitta, the source of all success for oneself, and happiness up
to enlightenment, and the source of success and happiness for all the
 !19

numberless hell beings, numberless hungy ghosts, numberless animals,

numberless human beings, numberless suras and asuras, to be actualized in
the heart of oneself and all sentient beings.

May it be generated in the hearts of all sentient beings, especially the

supporters, those who are serving the organization in the past, present, and
future, (especially those serving Kadampa Center), in the hearts of our
family members; for bodhichitta to be generated and in those whose hearts
it has been generated may it increase.

May the supreme jewel bodhichitta

That has not arisen, arise and grow;
And may that which has arisen not diminish
But increase more and more.

Due to all the past, present, and future merits collected by me, all the three
times' merits collected by numberless sentient beings and numberless
buddhas, may bodhichitta be actualized in the hearts of all the leaders of
the world, especially in those countries where there is unbelievable
suffering, may bodhichitta be generated in their hearts…

May the supreme jewel bodhichitta

That has not arisen, arise and grow;
And may that which has arisen not diminish
But increase more and more.

Due to all the past, present, and future merits collected by me, all the three
times' merits collected by numberless sentient beings and numberless
buddhas, may bodhichitta be actualized in the hearts of all the people who
follow different religions, may this world be filled with perfect peace
and happiness, may whatever we do never harm and may it become only
the cause of perfect peace and happiness.
 !20

May the supreme jewel bodhichitta

That has not arisen, arise and grow;
And may that which has arisen not diminish
But increase more and more.

Every single understanding of Buddhism that we have, every single

purification we do every day by doing the practice, every single merit we
collect, every time we generate bodhichitta and it becomes cause of
enlightenment, every time we meditate on lam rim and plant seeds of
enlightenment, all this is due to the kindness of His Holiness the Dalai
Lama; and, secondly, due to the kindness of Lama Yeshe. So pray for His
Holiness the Dalai Lama to have a stable life and all his wishes to be
successful; and pray for whatever wishes Lama Yeshe had to become
successful; for Lama Osel to be like sunshine in the world, especially for
young people, to turn their minds toward enlightenment.

Pray to actualize immediately all the prayers that Chenrezig made for Tibet
in the presence of the buddhas and bodhisattvas.

Due to all the past, present, and future merits collected by me, all the three
times' merits collected by numberless sentient beings and numberless
buddhas, may all the father and mother sentient beings have happiness,
may the lower realms be empty forever… May I be able to cause all this by
myself, alone.

Whatever suffering other sentient beings have may it ripen upon me.
Whatever happiness I have may it ripen upon other sentient beings.

Due to all the past, present, and future merits collected by me, all the three
times' merits collected by numberless sentient beings and numberless
buddhas, may oneself and one’s own family members, all the students in
the organization, all the supporters who have served the organization in
past and
 !21

are serving now, everyone in this world; may we be guided by Lama

Tsongkhapa being the Mahayana direct guru in all our lifetimes, never be
separated from the pure path admired by all the buddhas.

Due to all the past, present, and future merits collected by me, all the three
times' merits collected by numberless sentient beings and numberless
buddhas, which exist but totally do not exist from their own side, may the I
who exists but who totally does not exist from its own side, achieve Guru
Shakyamuni Buddha’s enlightenment, which exists but totally does not exist
from its own side, and lead all sentient beings who exist, but who totally do
not exist from their own side to that Guru Shakyamuni Buddha’s
enlightenment which totally does not exist from its own side by myself
alone who totally does not exist from its own side.

May the organization, the FPMT, be most beneficial to sentient beings, to

spread the lam rim teachings, cause the sentient beings to have lam rim
realizations, and in particular the Kadampa Center (center wherever we
are) to be most beneficial and to spread the lam rim teachings, the cause
of realizations, in the hearts of sentient beings, and for oneself to spread the
lam rim realizations in the hearts of all sentient beings.

May Lama Tsongkhapa’s teachings, which unify sutra and tantra and are
like refined gold, spread in the hearts of everyone in this world.
 !22

The King of Prayers - The Prayer of Ways High and Sublime

O lions amongst men,

Buddhas past, present, and future,
To as many of you as exist in the ten directions
I bow down with my body, speech, and mind.

On waves of strength of this king

Of prayers for exalted sublime ways,
With bodies as numerous as atoms of the world
I bow down to the buddhas pervading space.

On every atom is found a buddha

Sitting amongst countless buddha sons,
I look with eyes of faith to the victorious ones
Thus filling the entire dharmadhatu.

Of these with endless oceans of excellence

Endowed with an ocean of wondrous speech
I sing praises of the greatness of all buddhas,
A eulogy to those gone to bliss.

Garlands of flowers I offer them,

And beautiful sounds, supreme perfumes,
Butter lamps and sacred incense,
I offer to all the victorious ones.

Excellent food, supreme fragrances,

And a mound of mystic substances high as Mount Meru
I arrange in a special formation
And offer to those who have conquered themselves.

And all peerless offerings I hold up

In admiration of those gone to bliss;
 !23

With the strength of faith in sublime ways

I prostrate and make offerings to the conquerors.

Long overpowered by attachment, aversion, and ignorance

Countless evils I have committed
With acts of body, speech, and mind.
Each and every one of these I now confess.

In the perfections of the buddhas and bodhisattvas,

The arhats, training and beyond,
And in the latent goodness of every living being,
I lift up my heart and rejoice.

O lights into the ten directions,

Buddhas who have found the passionless stage of enlightenment,
To all of you I direct this request:
Turn the incomparable wheel of Dharma.

O masters wishing to show parinirvana,

Stay with us and teach, I pray,
For as many eons as there are specks of dust,
In order to bring goodness and joy to all beings.

May any small merits that I may have amassed

By thus prostrating, making offerings, confessing, rejoicing,
And asking the buddhas to remain and teach the Dharma,
Be dedicated now to supreme and perfect enlightenment.

May my offerings be received by all past buddhas

And by all those now abiding in the ten directions,
And may all the buddhas who have not yet come
Quickly perfect their minds and reach buddhahood, the state of supreme
full awakening.
 !24

May all the buddha-realms of the ten directions

Remain forever vast and completely pure,
May the world be completely filled with buddhas who have attained
illumination under sacred trees,
And may they all be surrounded by bodhisattvas.

May all living beings in the ten directions

Always abide in health and joy.
May they live in accord with the way of Dharma
And may their every wish become fulfilled.

By my living in the ways of enlightenment

May I remember my past lives in all my reincarnations,
And in all cycles of death, migration, and rebirth
May a sensitivity for truth be ever strong in me.

By my following in the footsteps of the buddhas

May I utterly perfect the sublime ways of the bodhisattvas,
And may I practice the faultless, undegenerating, stainless,
And pure ways of self-control.

May I master all languages that exist, including those of

The gods, yakshas, spirits, and varieties of men,
As well as all forms of communication of living beings,
That I may be able to show the Dharma in every way.

Striving thus and in the transcending perfections

May I never forget the bodhi mind,
And may I totally cleanse from within my mindstream
All negativities and mental veils.

May I gain freedom from karma, delusion, and karmic maras

To be able to live in the world unaffected by its stains
Like an unstained lotus grows in the mud,
 !25

And like the sun and moon shine without obstruction in the sky.

For as long as there are buddha-fields and directions

May I strive to quell the misery of the lower realms,
May I place all beings only in happiness
And bring them all only happiness and joy.

May I strive to complete the ways of enlightenment

And to abide in ways harmonious with the world;
May I expose to others the ways most sublime
And myself abide in them throughout all future eons.

May my ways and the ways of a bodhisattva

Always go together hand in hand.
In body, speech, and mind
May I attune to their sublime ways.

May I never be separated from the good friends

Who reveal the path of the sublime ways
And who wish only to benefit me;
May I never disappoint them for even a moment.

May I constantly envision the perfect buddhas,

The protectors who are surrounded by bodhisattvas,
And in the future may I never weary
Of devoting myself to them with all my strength.

May I forever uphold the holy Dharma of the buddhas

And illumine the sublime way of enlightenment;
May I practice throughout all future ages
The ways of deeds of the sublime path.

Circling in the various realms of existence

May I amass inexhaustible goodness and wisdom,
 !26

And may I become an unending treasure of qualities

Such as methods, wisdom, samadhi, and the experience of a bodhisattva.

In every atom are buddha-fields numberless as atoms,

Each field is filled with buddhas beyond conception,
And each buddha is surrounded by myriad bodhisattvas:
To all these dwellers in sublime ways I turn my attention.

Thus, in all atoms within the directions

Abide within the space of a single hair
An ocean of buddhas within an ocean of buddha-fields
Performing enlightened activities for an ocean of eons.

Each buddha with his perfect speech releases

An ocean of sounds with every word he says
To satisfy the infinitely diverse tendencies of beings:
Thus does the speech of a buddha constantly flow.

All these conquerors past, present, and future

Continually turn the methods of Dharma wheels;
With all the powers of my mind I listen
For the inexhaustible sound of their words.

All future eons that could possibly be,

Manifest within me in a single instant;
And I myself in a fraction of a moment
Enter into all these eons of the three times.

All past, present, and future lions among men

I envision with the instantaneous wisdom
And by the power of the bodhisattvas’ examples
I focus upon the objects of their experience.

I manifest buddha-fields past, present, and future

 !27

Upon one single atom of existence,

And then I transform every single atom
Of existence into a buddha-field.

By this, when the future lights of the worlds

Eventually gain bodhi, turn the Dharma wheels,
And reveal the passing to nirvana’s supreme peace,
May I take rebirth in their very presence.

Then may I attain the ten powers:

The power of instant magical emanation,
The power which is a vehicle with every door,
The power of excellent activity,
The power of all-pervading love,
The power of constantly positive energy,
The power of passionless wisdom,
The powers of knowledge, method, and samadhi,
And the power of enlightenment itself.

May I purify the power of karma,

May I crush the powers of delusion,
May I render powerless the powerful maras,
And may I perfect the powers of sublime ways.

May I purify an ocean of realms,

May I liberate an ocean of sentient beings,
May I see an ocean of truths,
And may I realize an ocean of wisdom.

May I perform an ocean of perfect deeds,

May I perfect an ocean of prayers,
May I revere an ocean of buddhas,
And may I practice untiringly for an ocean of eons.
 !28

Through my practice of the sublime bodhisattva ways

May I gain the enlightenment of buddhahood
And then fulfill the enlightened and sublime aspiration
Of the buddhas past, present, and future.

In order to match the ways of the sage

Called Samantabhadra, the always-sublime one,
Chief amongst the awakened ones’ sons,
I now dedicate all virtues that I possess.

Just as the sublime sage Samantabhadra

Dedicated all pure practices of body, speech, and mind
To the attainment of a pure state and pure realms,
So do I now dedicate the fruit of all my efforts.

In order to engage in all sublime virtues

I offer the prayer of Manjushri;
In the future may I never become faint
In striving to perfect the exalted bodhisattvas’ way.

May my deeds never reach a limit,

May my qualities of excellence become boundless,
And by abiding in immeasurable activity
May I find buddhahood, the state of limitless manifestation.

Limitless is the extent of space,

Limitless is the number of sentient beings,
And limitless is the karma and delusions of beings
Such are the limits of my aspirations.

One may offer supreme ornaments of the buddha-fields

Of the ten directions to the conquerors,
And also offer the highest joys of men and gods
For eons numerous as atoms of the world.
 !29

But to read or hear the King of Prayers

With eyes looking toward supreme illumination
And faith shining in one’s heart for even an instant
Gives birth to a far more superior merit.

Should anyone recite this aspiration of sublime ways

They will pass beyond all states of sorrow,
Rise above all inferior beings, and gain
A vision of Amitabha, Buddha of Infinite Light.

Even in this very lifetime

All sublime joys will be theirs;
The experiences of the all-sublime Samantabhadra,
Without obstructions, will quickly be theirs.

Merely by giving voice to these aspirations

Of the sublime ways of a bodhisattva,
The effects can only be known by an omniscient buddha.
Therefore, doubt not that it leads to enlightenment.

In order to follow the excellent examples set

By the wisdom of the bodhisattva Manjushri
And the always-sublime Samantabhadra,
All virtues I dedicate to their peerless ideals.

All conquerors passed into the three times

Have praised as supreme this peerless dedication.
Therefore, I also surrender all roots of my activities
To the sublime goals of a bodhisattva.

When the moment of my death arrives,

May I remain free from the spiritual obscurations;
May I perceive the face of Amitabha
 !30

And transmigrate to Sukhavati, the pure land of joy.

Having arrived there, may I fulfill

All aims of this prayer of aspirations
And benefit the countless living beings
Residing throughout the ten directions.

In the joyous mandala of Amitabha Buddha

May I be reborn from a beautiful lotus,
And may I there have the pleasure of gaining
A pure prophecy from Amitabha himself.

Having won this word of prophecy,

By the power of mind may I fill all directions
With many millions of mystical emanations
And bring limitless benefits to the world.

If by reciting this prayer of the sublime ways

I have amassed a tiny fragment of goodness,
May it work immediately to fulfill
All Dharmic hopes of living beings.

Colophon: Thus is the complete Great King of Prayers, The Prayer of Ways
High and Sublime.

Translated by Glenn H. Mullin with Thepo Tulku.

 !31

The Lam Rim Dedication Prayer

From my two collections, vast as space, that I have amassed

From working with effort at this practice for a great length of time,
May I become the chief leading Buddha for all those
Whose mind’s wisdom eye is blinded by ignorance.

Even if I do not reach this state, may I be held

In your loving compassion for all my lives, Manjushri
May I find the best of complete graded paths of the teachings
And may I please all the Buddhas by practicing.

Using skillful means drawn by the strong force of compassion,

May I clear the darkness from the minds of all beings
With the points of the path as I have discerned them:
May I uphold Buddha’s teachings for a very long time.

With my heart going out with great compassion

In whatever direction the most precious teachings
Have not yet spread, or once spread have declined,
May I expose this treasure of happiness and aid.

May the minds of those who wish for Liberation

be granted bounteous peace.
And the Buddha’s deeds be nourished for a long time
By even this Graded Course to Enlightenment completed due to
The wondrous virtuous conduct of the Buddhas and their Sons.

May all human and non-human beings who eliminate adversity

And make things conducive for practicing the excellent paths
Never be parted in any of their lives
From the purest path praised by the Buddhas.
 !32

Whenever someone makes effort to act

In accordance with the ten-fold Mahayana virtuous practices
May he always be assisted by the mighty ones
And may oceans of prosperity spread everywhere.
 !33

From A Guide to the Bodhisattva’s Way of Life - Chapter Ten - Dedication

1. May all sentient beings be graced with the Bodhisattva way of life by the
virtue I have obtained while reflecting on A Guide to the Bodhisattva Way of
Life.

2. Through my merit, may all those in all directions who are afflicted by
bodily and mental sufferings obtain oceans of joy and contentment.

3. As long as the cycle of existence lasts, may their happiness never decline.
May the world attain the constant joy of the Bodhisattvas.

4. As many hells as there are in the worlds, may beings in them delight in
the joys of contentment in Sukhavati.

5. May those afflicted with cold find warmth. May those oppressed with
heat be cooled by oceans of water springing from the great clouds of the
Bodhisattvas.

6. May the forest of sword-leaves become for them the splendor of a

pleasure-grove; and may the swordlike Salmali trees grow as wish-fulfilling
trees.

7. May the regions of hell become vast ponds of delight, fragrant with
lotuses, beautiful and pleasing with the cries of white geese, wild ducks,
ruddy geese, and swans.

8. May the heap of burning coal become a mound of jewels. May the
burning ground become a crystal marble floor; and may the mountains of
"the crushing hell" become temples of worship filled with Sugatas.

9. May the rain of burning coal, lava, and daggers from now on become a
rain of flowers; and may mutual battling with weapons now become a
playful flower-fight.
 !34

10. By the power of my virtue, may those whose flesh has completely fallen
off, whose skeletons are of the color of a white jasmine flower, and who are
immersed in the river Vaitarani whose water is like fire, attain celestial
bodies and dwell with goddesses by the river Mandakini.

11. May the horrifying agents of Yama, crows, and vultures suddenly watch
here in fear. Those looking upward behold blazing Vajrapani in the sky and
wonder: "Whose is this brilliant light that dispels darkness all around and
generates the joy of contentment?" May they depart together with him,
freed of vice through the power of their joy.

12. A rain of lotuses falls mixed with fragrant waters. It is seen to

extinguish the unceasing fires of the hells. May the beings of the hells,
suddenly refreshed with joy, wonder, What is this? and may they see
Padmapani.

13. Friends, come, come quickly! Cast away fear! We are alive! A radiant
vanquisher of fear, a certain prince in a monastic robe, has come to us. By
his power every adversity is removed, streams of delight flow, the Spirit of
Awakening is born, as is compassion, the mother of protection of all beings.

14. Behold him whose lotus-feet are worshiped with tiaras of hundreds of
gods, whose eyes are moist with compassion, on whose head a stream of
diverse flowers rains down, with his delightful summer palaces celebrated
by thousands of goddesses singing hymns of praise. Upon seeing
Manjughosa before them, may the beings of the hells immediately cheer.

15. Through my virtues, may the beings of the hells rejoice upon seeing the
unobscured clouds of Bodhisattvas, headed by Samantabhadra and bearing
pleasant, cool, and fragrant rains and breezes.
 !35

16. May the intense pains and fears of the beings of the hells be pacified.
May the inhabitants of all miserable states of existence be liberated from
their woeful states.

17. May the animals' risk of being eaten by each other disappear. May the
pretas be as happy as the people in Uttarakuru.

18. May the pretas always be satiated, bathed, and refreshed by the streams
of milk pouring from the hand of noble Avalokitesvara.

19. May the blind always see forms, and may the deaf hear. May pregnant
women give birth without pains, as did Mayadevi.

20. May they acquire everything that is beneficial and desired by the mind:
clothing, food, drink, flower garlands, sandal-paste, and ornaments.

21. May the fearful become fearless and those struck by grief find joy. May
the despondent become resolute and free of trepidation.

22. May the ill have good health. May they be freed from every bondage.
May the weak become strong and have affectionate hearts for one another.

23. May all regions be advantageous to all those who travel on roads. May
the purpose for which they set out be expediently accomplished.

24. May those who journey by boat succeed as they desire. May they safely
reach the shore and rejoice with their relatives.

25. May those who find themselves on wrong paths in dreary forests come
upon the company of fellow travelers; and without fatigue, may they
journey without fear of bandits, tigers, and the like.
 !36

26. May deities protect the dull, the insane, the deranged, the helpless, the
young, and the elderly, and those in danger from sickness, the wilderness,
and so on.

27. May they be free from all lack of leisure; may they be endowed with
faith, wisdom, and compassion; may they be possessed of stature and good
conduct; and may they always remember their former lives.

28. May they be inexhaustible treasuries just like Sky-treasure. Free of

conflict or irritation, may they have an independent way of life.

29. May beings who have little splendor be endowed with great
magnificence. May unattractive wretches be endowed with beauty.

30. May the women in the world become men (if they wish to). May the
lowly obtain grandeur and yet be free of arrogance.

31. Through this merit of mine, may all beings without exception abstain
from every vice and always engage in virtue.

32. Not lacking the Spirit of Awakening, devoted to the Bodhisattva way of
life, embraced by the Buddhas, and free of the deeds of Maras,

33. May all beings have immeasurable life spans. May they always live
happily, and may even the word "death" disappear.

34. May all quarters of the world be delightful with gardens of wish-
fulfilling trees, filled with the Buddhas and the Children of the Buddhas,
and be enchanting with the sounds of Dharma.

35. May the ground everywhere be free from stones and rocks, smooth like
the palm of the hand, soft and made of lapis lazuli.
 !37

36. May the great assemblies of Bodhisattvas sit on all sides. May they
beautify the earth with their own resplendence.

37. May all beings unceasingly hear the sound of Dharma from the birds,
from every tree, from the rays of light, and from the sky.

38. May they always encounter the Buddhas and the Children of the
Buddhas. May they worship the Spiritual Mentor of the World with endless
clouds of offerings.

39. May a god send rain in time, and may there be an abundance of crops.
May the populace be prosperous, and may the king be righteous.

40. May medicines be effective, and may the mantras of those who recite
them be successful. May dakinis, raksasas, and other ghouls be filled with
compassion.

41. May no sentient being be unhappy, sinful, ill, neglected, or despised;

and may no one be despondent.

42. May monasteries be well established, full of chanting and study. May
there always be harmony among the Sangha, and may the purpose of the
Sangha be accomplished.

43. May monks (and nuns) who wish to practice find solitude. May they
meditate with their minds agile and free of all distractions.

44. May (monks and) nuns (monastics) receive provisions and be free of
quarrels and troubles. May all renunciates be of untarnished ethical
discipline.
 !38

45. May those who are of poor ethical discipline be disgusted and become
constantly intent on the extinction of their vices. May they reach a fortunate
state of existence, and may their vows remain unbroken there.

46. May they be learned and cultured, receive alms, and have provisions.
May their mind-streams be pure and their fame be proclaimed in every
direction.

47. Without experiencing the suffering of the miserable states of existence

and without arduous practice, may the world attain Buddhahood in a
single divine body.

48. May all sentient beings worship all the Buddhas in many ways. May
they be exceedingly joyful with the inconceivable bliss of the Buddhas.

49. May the Bodhisattvas' wishes for the welfare of the world be fulfilled;
and whatever the Protectors intend for sentient beings, may that be
accomplished.

50. May the Pratyekabuddhas and Sravakas be happy, always worshiped by

the lofty gods, asuras, and humans.

51. Through the grace of Manjughosa, may I always achieve ordination and
the recollection of past lives until I reach the Joyous Ground.

52. May I live endowed with strength in whatever posture I am. In all my
lives may I find plentiful places of solitude.

53. When I wish to see or ask something, may I see the Protector
Marijunatha himself, without any impediment.

54. May my way of life be like that of Manjusri, who lives to accomplish the
benefit of all sentient beings throughout the ten directions.
 !39

55. For as long as space endures and for as long as the world lasts, may I
live dispelling the miseries of the world.

56. Whatever suffering there is for the world, may it all ripen upon me. May
the world find happiness through all the virtues of the Bodhisattvas.

57. May the teaching that is the sole medicine for the suffering of the world
and the source of all prosperity and joy remain for a long time,
accompanied by riches and honor.

58. I bow to Manjughosa, through whose grace my mind turns to virtue. I

salute my spiritual friend through whose kindness it becomes stronger.
 !40

A Dedication Prayer, by Shantideva

May all beings everywhere,

Plagued by sufferings of body and mind,
Obtain an ocean of happiness and joy
By virtue of these merits.

May no living creature suffer,

Commit evil or ever fall ill.
May no one be afraid or belittled,
With a mind weighed down by depression.

May the blind see forms,

And the deaf hear sounds.
May those whose bodies are worn with toil
Be restored on finding repose.

May the naked find clothing,

The hungry find food.
May the thirsty find water
And delicious drinks.

May the poor find wealth,

Those weak with sorrow find joy.
May the forlorn find hope,
Constant happiness and prosperity

May there be timely rains

And bountiful harvests.
May all medicines be effective
And wholesome prayers bear fruit.
 !41

May all who are sick and ill

Quickly be freed from their ailments.
Whatever diseases there are in the world,
May they never occur again.

May the frightened cease to be afraid

And those bound be freed.
May the powerless find power
And may people think of benefiting each other.

For as long as space remains,

and for as long as sentient beings remain,
until then, may I too remain,
to dispel the suffering of the world