THE MANDALA OFFERING PRAYER OF DOLMA,
THE MOTHER OF COMPASSION
(In the green form, which symbolizes the Perfection of Wisdom.)
This is a Treasure of the Mind, the deep prayer of Dolma. It is the Mandala Offering Prayer, the two oblations, both the higher and ordinary, are contained in this.
Among the Saviour Buddhas and their spiritual sons, the Bodhisattvas most wonderful in the mercy of her actions, is Dolma, the Mother of the Buddhas. To her I pay my respects.
This prayer is according to the custom of the Kriya and Carya Yogas. Of the deep pujas called Zabtig, which were found by the terton named Chogyur Lingpa, this is the most profound. Large offerings are therefore not needed.
There are two ways of making the offerings:
1. Put an image or painting of Jetsun Dolma and the scriptures of the Buddha on a clean altar table. In front of it two water bowls, flowers and incense (white torma), a conch shell with water, the Offering Mandala, rice (for throwing in blessing), all together.
2. If possible, bathe and wear clean clothes. In any case do not eat meat (or in the case of a lay person, also do not drink wine) before doing puja in the morning.
Let the transcendent Bodhicitta arise in the mind.
Recite the Refuge Prayer and the Bodhicitta Prayer (Semkye)
In the heavens in front of us think of the real Dolma sitting, the essence of the Buddhas, I and all beings go to her for refuge.
After the Enlightenment Thought has risen, may we put our feet on the deeper path.
Make the offerings:
To honoured Holy Dolma and the Buddhas of the Ten Directions, of the Past, Present and Future, and to their spiritual sons, the Bodhisattvas, with devotion I bow. Flowers, incense, butter lamps, perfumes, sacramental food, music and other things we offer. In my heart I imagine limitless offerings. All we offer to the Holy Mother.
From beginning less time until now, for all the ten sins, for the five heavy sins, and for the craving which rules our mind, I am penitent.
In the merit of the Buddha’s disciples, of the solitary Enlightened Ones and the Bodhisattvas, in the merit of all people whatsoever, I rejoice. Of whatever virtuous things they have done or will do, in the Past, Present or Future, in that merit I rejoice.
Whatsoever teaching suits the minds of men- -of Mahayana, the Hinayana, or ordinary moral teaching . . to help them, we beseech you, turn the Wheel of Dharma until the Wheel of the Suffering of the World is empty and Nirvana is reached.
Be merciful, with your kindly eyes look on all that lives. They are drowning in a sea of suffering. Whatever merit I have collected, may all beings share it and may it be the seed of their attaining Buddhahood without delay, in a short time, may I be able to save all.
* (Now purify and bless the Offerings by sprinkling the ceremonial water on them and reciting the mantra:)
OM VAJRA AMRITA KUNDALI HANA HANA HUNG PHAT
OM SWABHAVA SHUDDHA SARVA SWABHAVA SHUDDHO HAM
May all these things be pure, as in their nature they are pure.
The world has become the Buddhafield of Amitabha, the Buddha of Boundless Light. He is beautiful of form, decorated with deva jewels, limitless. All divine offerings, as a meditation imagine them, I make many offerings, uncountable, beyond the range of thought. I offer the Vajra waters for bathing and drinking, Vajra flowers, incense, lights, perfumes, grains and Vajra music (make this offering mentally).
OM VAJRA SAPHARANA KHOM: All is limitless.
(Now make the outer offering to the Triple Gem):
The Lama, the Buddhas and their spiritual sons of the Four Times are in the sky before us.
VAJRA SAMANZA: WE INVOKE THEM.
Of all beings to the last one they become the Protectors. All the army of delusion, the maras, are defeated. All those holy ones of perfect learning and knowledge without exception, all the Buddhas and their circle, we call here to us:
PADME KAMALAYE STOM: (* sit on the Lotus Throne).
From as many worlds as there are in the universe, from the ten directions, come numberless Tathagatas, the unconquered, lion-like. To all, to the last one, I pay sincere tribute with my body, voice and mind. By the power of reciting the prayer of the Buddha's life, Buddhas numberless, come in reality from my mind in forms as many as the motes of dust on the earth. I bow in devotion before them. To the Buddha I bow again and again.
On each grain of dust are the Buddhas without numbers, surrounded by the Bodhisattvas, their spiritual sons. Every single Dharmadhatu, all space, is full of them, the Victorious Ones, and beyond that a great number of those who study the Secret Teachings. In numberless languages and tones they praise the Virtues of all the Buddhas.
All the Tathagatas I praise, with cymbals, garlands, saffron water, sacred flowers, the ceremonial I canopy, perfect butter lamps and pure incense. To the Buddhas I am making this offering.
Ceremonial robes and-rare perfumes, a pile of butter and barley flour, as high as a mountain; all I gather together, clean, pure and holy, and all these precious things I am offering to the Buddhas.
Imagine all the offerings, transcendent, immense, vast, as much as we can give to all the Enlightened Ones, I give it. All the six perfections and good actions with deep faith also I am offering to the Buddhas and prostrating before them.
(Here: The Purification Prayer)
In the grip of craving, hatred and ignorance, all sins of body and voice, and beyond that, the mind, which I have committed, caused others to commit, or been happy seeing others do: for all I am penitent. For each of them I make this atonement.
I rejoice in all the virtues of the Buddhas of the Ten Directions, of the Bodhisattvas and the Solitary Enlightened Ones, I rejoice in the virtues of those on the Four Spiritual Paths, in the virtues of all ordinary people who acquire great punya, I rejoice.
Those who bring light to this dark world, the Buddhas in the Ten Directions, those who reached stage by stage the Eleventh Bhumi Level of the completely Enlightened Ones, the unattached, to those, our Protectors, I pray: “Turn the Wheel of the Truth Transcending.” To those who say I am going into Nirvana, the Great Peace , we fold our hands and beseech them: “For the sake of the happiness and benefit of all beings, stay with us for aeons numberless as the motes of dust in the universe.” I bow before you, make the offerings and am penitent. I rejoice in the virtues of all, and from my heart I pray to you to give us Teachings. What little merit I have gathered, I share it with all that lives, that all may become enlightened.
OM AH HUM
Of myself and all sentient beings beyond thought, this body, all material possessions, all virtues; the Four Quarters of the Universe, Mount Meru, the sun, moon, all the wealth of the Gods, beyond thought, the prayers of the Kuntuzangpo Bodhisattva as vast as the cloud mass . . all I am offering, continuously without stopping.
To the Triple Gem, and the Lama in his three forms as Spiritual Guide, Protector and the Yogini (known as the Three Roots), to the celestial Protectors, the Guardians of the Dharma, and the Keepers of the Spiritual treasures, a great ocean: with devotion I make offerings always. Those who make the holy offerings increase their merit (punya). May all our merit, transcendent, increase.
OM GURU DHEWA DAKINI SARVA RATNA MANDALA BHUNZA
MEGHA AH HUNG.
(Offer the mandala)
NAMO: Honour to the Buddhas, all Dharma, the community of lamas and monks and nuns (the Sangha). Honour to the Lama, the Yidam Protectors and the Yoginis of the sky. Honour to the Protectors and Guardians, the Keepers of the spiritual treasure; all are the essence of the Knowledge Transcendent.
THIS IS THE OFFERING PRAYER TO DOLMA.
By your very nature you show different forms, always changing. Beautiful you are in the mercy of your actions, becoming for all the great refuge and protector. To you who are the all-knowing and compassionate, I bow down: from my heart I take refuge in you.
I offer myself and all my material possessions. I pray that to me and to all beings endless you may show always the mercy of your refuge. Calm all our unrest and cure our sickness. May our life and merit increase. Whatever we pray for - numberless are our aspirations. . may we attain to the realization of all that is good.
(Make offerings to the Holy Mother and praise here three times.)
(By the prayer I make) in a moment I myself become the revered and holy Mother we are invoking. In her heart is the moon, on which the green TAM is standing . . from this a brilliant light is radiating. It calls all the Dolma emanations, twenty-one, from the Buddha fields.
The Buddhas, a great ocean spreading like a cloud, I call to come to me.
They appear in the sky before me.
TAM: the unborn, the light-void, the Dharmadhatu. Unceasingly that holy body of transcendent knowledge manifests itself. Whatever forms I invoke appear miraculously like a net of light.
ARYATARA TSA
In compassion for us and all sentient beings, by the power of your miracles, now, at this time, when I am making offering, 0 Bhagawati, Enlightened One, come here to us.
PADMA KAMALAYE SATOM (sit on the Lotus throne)
To you I make offerings, both actual, and in my mind and like a cloud, I offer the prayers of the Kuntuzangpo Bodhisattva, as great an offering as the vast Dharmadhatu. O Holy Arya Tara with your circle: to you I make the offering.
OM ARYA TARE SAPARIWARA VAJRA ARGHOM – PADHYOM – PUPPE – DHUPE – ALOKE – GENDHE – NAUWEEDIYE – SHABDH – TRATITSA SWAHA (Bell)
(We offer the two waters, for drinking and bathing, flowers, incense, lights, perfumes, grain, (cakes), music (in imagination).
OM AH HUNG
All good thing, the treasures of the three spheres, my body, wealth, virtues, all to you, the Merciful One, I am offering them. Because of this, pour your blessings on me.
OM SARVA TATHAGATA RATNA MANDAL BUNZA HO
(offer the mandala) (Sa zhi po chu . . . with mudra) If possible see “Garland”).
HYMN TO TARA
O most revered One, Holy Dolma, to you I bow down.
To you I bow, the one who brings immediate realisation.
The glance of your eyes is quick like lightning.
The Protector of the Three Worlds (Chenrezi) has a mouth like the water-born lotus;
You are the one who was born from its heart.
I bow to you, of the colour of the autumn moon; full of face, made of a hundred moons.
From you emerges the light of a thousand stars. Radiant, flaming with glory: I bow before you.
Wearing yellow and blue lotuses, with hands like water-lilies; lotuses in your hands
always adorned with flowers.
Generous, full of energy, patient in ascetic practice, full of the peace of meditation. Enduring all; with mind one-pointed; the essence of perfect activity.
To you I bow, the crest jewel of the Tathagatas, those who have gone beyond.
You who conquer all that is evil, who attain every perfection; always upholding the Bodhisattvas.
To you I bow: TUTTH TARA with the Hung letter in your heart.
You who fulfill all wishes, as many as will fill the sky.
Treading under your feet the six spheres of the Wheel of Existence in whom is no idleness;
able to summon all the siddhis.
Before you bow Sakra, Kng of the Gods; the Fire Gods (Agni Deva); Brahma; the Gods of the air; Mahesh.
In front of you even the unhappy spirits, the ghosts, the scent-loving spirits and the Yakshas sing praises.
To you I bow who are called Saviour, PHAT, the remover of difficulties.
You who defeat the enemies of the higher mind, all delusions: with your right leg curved and the left outstretched, trampling them all under your feet.
Flaming with fiery light, Mother always flaming.
Honour to the TURE, the greatly awesome, always defeating delusions formidable.
That face lovely as the water-born Lotus, half-smiling, half angry, you are showing it to us.
All the enemies within you slay to the last one.
I bow to you who are adorned with the mudra (gesture) of offering the 3 lotuses,
with your fingers joined on your heart.
Always adorned with the mandalas most excellent that are offered you; always radiant in lights of many colours.
I bow to you remaining in the splendour of great joy, wearing the crest ornament of light and necklaces of many coloured jewels.
Smiling, always smiling, your name is TUTTH TARE the one who saves
You who show your power over the world and its illusions,
To you I bow who are protected by the Guardians of the Four Quarters.
Great is your power, you who naturally attract all towards you.
From the angry smiling face in a moment emerges the HUNG letter.
You are the saviour of the poor and miserable, all.
Honour to you whose head ornament is the crescent moon, always shining radiantly in your jewels.
The Buddha of Boundless Light is in the knot of hair on your head:
You are always beautiful in that glow(ing light).
I bow to you, flaming like the fire at the end of an aeon.
Mother, in the circle of blazing light.
Your right leg is straight and your left leg curved:
You we circle in the great bliss of our mind.
Completely defeating the armies of Mara, the deluder.
To you I bow: you who call on the earth to witness your enlightenment,
Touching it with the palm of your hand.
The soles of your feet press the ground, controlling evil.
You of the letter HUNG are angry, clenching your teeth.
Controller of the seven spheres, O Mother, to you I bow,
Bringing happiness, virtue and peace.
Mother, you are the essence of that action that comes from deep meditation
Remaining always, perfect, in SWAHA OM, the mantra.
You whose nature it is to destroy sin,
To you I bow, who defeat the King of the maras encircling me.
You immobilise our enemies completely; your mantra of 10 letters we put in our hearts..
Dolma, the saviour, coming from the HUNG in out mind.
To you I bow; TURE, stamping your foot.
In the form of the HUNG letter, you are the essence of the seed mantra.
Even the Mandara mountain you can pierce, you who am shake the worlds.
To you I prostrate, who takes the form of all the heavenly ones.
You who hold in your hands the disc of the moon, with the deer on it.
When we say the two TARAS and PHAT all poisons without exception are cleansed.
You are the one the mountain gods respect: whoever among gods or men prays to you, he has protection.
Wearing the armour of the perfections, brilliant with the light of the first Bhumi.
Mother, who clears away strife and bad dreams. To you I bow.
Like the full moon and the sun are your two eyes, brilliant with light.
Saying both TARA and TUTTH TARA, all bad diseases you send away.
To you I bow thrice: the power to make all completely calm is yours.
You are that most excellent one who controls all evil and mischievious spirits with the TURE mantra.
This mantra, the root of all virtue, I praise, and Dolma in her twenty-one emanations.
(end of the Hymn to Tara)
To you I bow, Dolma, who brings immediate realisation. By TUTH TARE all fears are removed.
TURE: she is the one who takes us across the ocean of suffering, giving us all we wish.
When you say SWAHA, at your feet I bow
OM: imagining all offerings in my mind, making real ones too;
Making the offering of countless prayers as the Boclhisattva Kuntuzangpo did, to you
In the sphere of the Dharmadhatu appearing in full beauty.
0 Holy Dolma and your circle. to you I make the offering.
OM ARYA TARE SAPARIWARA VAJRA ARGHOM – PADHYOM – PUPPE – DHUPE – ALOKE – GENDHE – NAUWEEDIYE – SHABDH – TRATITSA SWAHA (Bell)
OM the Vajra waters I offer, pure, for drinking and bathing, flowers, incense and lights, perfumes, and cakes, sweet music. SWAHA.
(offer the mandala)
OM AH HUNG
All that lives in the three spheres, all material things; all wealth; my own body and possessions;
Whatever virtues I have - - I offer all to you, whose nature is merciful.
Accept this offering and give us your blessing.
OM SARVA TATHAGATA RATNA MANDALA PUNTZA HO.
Your right hand is in the gesture of giving realization; the gesture of your upper hand gives us protection.
Myself and those who come to you for shelter - - save us from fear.
(Repeat the HYMN TO TARA three times if you can.
********************************************
Streams of nectar fall from her body.
On the crown of my head and that of those she protects, it falls, enters and fills our bodies.
Blessings, all, are in us.
(again, if you can, repeat the Hymn to Tara, 3 – 7 more times)
Remaining in perfect devotion to the Divine Mother, the one who, with a pure mind, recites this in the morning and evening has freedom from fear, is cleansed of all sins and is at peace. All evil things are destroyed.
The initiations of a hundred Buddhas come to us. Even more – we can attain the Fully Perfect Enlightenment of the Buddha.
All sins are purified completely; may we attain liberation from the three states of suffering.
Immediately, may the power of countless millions of the Victorious Ones become ours.
Beyond that, May we attain the goal of Buddhahood.
Whoever does the Dolma prayer is formidable to all harmful things in the place where he stays; to the dangers of the journey; to those who give poisons in food or drinking water.
Even remembering the name of Dolma completes the purification. Bad influences of the spirits and sickness due to impure foods are completely removed.
* If you want to help others, say this prayer two, three or seven times.
* If you want a child you will get it.
* If you want wealth, that will come too.
Whatever your wish will be fulfilled; all hindrances will be removed.
First purify the offerings by sprinkling them with the lustral water:
OM VAJRA AMRITA KUNDALI HANA HANA HUNG PHAT
Then think of all as void:
OM SHABHAVA SHUDDHA SARVA DHARMA SWABHAVA SHUDDO HAM
Out of the void appears the OM letter, and from this emerge jewels and numberless precious things.
OM AH HUM appears on them, and from this emerges the Torma Cakes and the nectar of the transcending Knowledge, limitless,
OM AH HUM (repeat three times)
Then offer the cakes and the nectar to Dolma, the Mother.
OM ARYA TARE SAPARIWARE EEDOM BALINGTA KHA KHA KHAHEE KHAHEE
Make the offering and all the Divine Beings come:
OM AKARO MUKAM SARVA DHARMANANDE NUPINA TUTTH TE AH HUNG PHAT SWAHA
(repeat three times)
OM. By this sacred offering of the Torma Cakes,
with your great transcending wisdom, look at me.
With the great bliss arising eat this offering:
Bestow on us siddhis, every single one. (Bell)
OM ARYA TARE SAPARIWARA VAJRA ARGHOM – PADHYOM – PUPPE – DHUPE – ALOKE – GENDHE – NAUWEEDIYE – SHABDH – TRATITSA SWAHA (Bell)
Om to Holy Dolma and her circle I offer the Vajra Waters for drinking and bathing, flowers, incense, lights, perfumes, cakes (grain), and music.
Om to Holy Dolma, from the Lotus race of Amitabha, the Buddha of Boundless Light,
Born from the mouth of Chenrezi, the Protector of the World,
Possessing the activity of all the Buddhas – Holy Dolma, to you I bow down and I praise you.
All yidams, the high ones, I praise: every atom in numberless universes and heavens praises you. Always in devotion, my body is bowing before you. With perfect faith I prostrate and praise you – (fold your hands in namaskar)
Venerable Holy Mother with all your circle of your great mercy and compassion, listen to me.
Whatever I pray to you, may it be accomplished by your blessing, and may no hindrances arise: this is my prayer.
May the teachings of the Dharma be excellent; may it increase.
Those who hold the Dharma in their hands, may their lotus feet remain in this world.
May those who create obstacles around us be at peace. May all difficulties end.
May the realizations of the teaching and the Buddha activity increase.
May sickness and hunger disappear, fighting and quarrelling be at rest.
In the place where the Dharma resides may wealth become more and more.
May the rulers who protect the Dharma be well, their subjects free from trouble.
Inside and outside their countries, may all be full of happiness.
From the sixteen fears, from sudden death, from bad dreams and bad omens,
From all the sorrows of the Three Lower States, in this life and all our future lives:
May all be saved.
May love life be ours; may all be saved.
May bad thoughts not arise; may I get the full understanding of the Dharma I study.
From now on until enlightenment is reached look on me as your only child:
Look on me ceaselessly with your eyes of mercy.
Bless me that you are always one and indivisible with me.
[Pray any special prayer that you wish for here].
Dolma appears in front of me: She dissolves in light, and this is absorbed in me.
By the blessing of being one with her, I myself become the Arya Tara, like a reflection. Everything becomes void within me.
* meditate carefully and really think that the Dolma body and yours are one;
* have the confidence that you are her, and reciting the 10 syllable mantra – repeat many times)
OM TARE TUTTH TARE TURE SWAHA
Say the purificatory Mantra of the 100-syllables (yig gya; Tibetan.)
OM VAJRA SATTVA SAMAYA / MANU PAHLAYA / VAJRA SATTVA TWE NOPA THI THA / DRIDO ME BHAWA / SUTO KHYO ME BHAWA / SUPO KHYO ME BHAWA / ANURAKTO ME BHAWA / SARVA SIDDHI MEM PRAYATSA / SARVA KARMA SU TSA ME / TSI TAM SRIYA / KURU HUNG HA HA HA HA HO BHAGAVAN / SARVA TATHAGATA / VAJRA MAHMA MUNTSA VAJRA BHAWA / MAHA SAMAYA SATTVA AH.
Say a few times: OM VAJRA SATTVA HUNG
(Completing the prayer.)
If any offerings are incomplete; whatever I have done wrong; whatever today is wrongly done - for all of that forgive me. By this all faults are confessed and purified.
DEPARTURE PRAYER
OM You who work for the weal of all,
Bestow on me whatever I ask of you.
Now return to the land of the Buddhas
When we call you, come again to us.
VAJRA MU (she returns)
May my mind and the mind of the Divine Beings be one.
May the real Dharmadhatu be within me.
By virtue of this, I
Having attained to the Holy Dolma, may all beings
To the last one, reach her Buddhafield.
Share the merit:
By this merit may I become enlightened.
Having become enlightened may I defeat all evil.
Through the endless storm of birth, illness, old age and death
May I help all beings to cross the ocean of life.
She who is the Wish-fulfilling Gem, who bestows on us all we think of without difficulty,
Venerated One, O Dolma, grant that of your mercy from you,
The Buddhas and their spiritual sons may I never be separate.
MAY ALL BE AUSPICIOUS.
(Say any other Tashi Prayers and offer flowers).
SARVA MANGALA
The above is the long prayer. If you wish to do the short prayer, it may be abridged as follows. If you have an image of the Holy Dolma (Arya Tara) that is very good; if not, imagine everything in your mind. Offer the mandala, and make offerings as we have explained earlier. Begin again with the section that says; “In a moment I myself become that revered and Holy Mother” . . up to ARYA TARA TSA. Then say the Hymn to Tara if you have time; otherwise do the mantra. (OM TARE TUTTH TARE TURE SWAHA). In short prayer do not recite Departure Prayer.
NOTE:
If you have an image or picture of Dolma which is especially sacred to you, do not do the Departure Prayer, instead say this:
From today, Holy Mother, be one with this image:
As long as Samsara lasts may your spirit remain in it.
Good health, long life, power like a King:
Bestow on us the perfect virtues of the Buddha.
OM SUPRATITSA VAJRA YE SWAHA.
End the short prayer with the ending prayers . .
“May my mind” etc and up to “May all be auspicious.”
Translated by Anila (Sister) K.T. Khechog Palmo, Lama Karma Thinley and Sresmo Chimey Wangmo, Dalhousie, India (HP) in 1967.