Mahakala Puja
This plainsong puja of Mahakala was compiled by Lama Chimé at Coorain in 2013/14. It is derived from the Black Cloak sadhana and other texts and teachings received from the late Ven. Namgyal Rinpoche and the late Ven. Kalu Rinpoche.
The Practice Mahakala protects the ‘Sasana’, the vows and disciplines of peace. Like all the teachings of arising yoga, the form is continually evolving in response to cultural context.
INTRODUCTION
Mahakala is an expression of Chenrezig, the archetypal form of all compassion. ! Mahakala means a very powerful, able and determined expression of compassionate energy. ! Mahakala practice rises to the challenge of disastrous ignorance.
! Mahakala practice is courageous in seeking mastery of all that is dark and harmful in the world.
! OM MAHAKALA KALAYE HUM PE (drum and bells)
! SAMAYA PRAYER !
Courage now, on and on! Enduring diamond HUM become the inner lamp; Destroy the grip of inner fear, lest it harm my family, my kind, my lineage: This power of the heart and mind can cut the roots of horror even as they start to strike. ! Onward now, go on, go on! Ancient healing power, Chenrezig, Mahakala! Preserve our own deep offerings; direct us now, compassionate. May our own vows and practices protect our discipline.
OM MAHAKALA KALAYE HUM PHAT OM AH HUM HA HO HRIH SARVA MANGALAM !
! Uncertain times confront us all – every creature, every place.
! All our own responses, arising from the deep, Can be empowered by compassion and thus protect and discipline The outcome of expression. Mahakala is able to make wisdom from adversity.
This seed of deeper understanding germinates Wherever there is need, releasing energy.
! HUM HUM HUM KULU KULU LINEAGE
Ancient, potent, healing power, reveal yourself, be known; Transcend unhelpful circumstance; Illuminate commitment, enthusiasm, courage; Engender thought and dedication, willingness and helpful hands. Wherever there is dire need, rise to meet the challenge.
Look now, all around! There are abusive states, real in the world. There are misguided passions, active now and unrestrained, Careless of all life, immersed in selfish wants.
! Chenrezig, Mahakala can cut the roots of fear; Chenrezig Mahakala can tame the darkest energy and burn the fog of apathy. This practice, Mahakala, rewards intelligence and interrupts the wrong – HUM PE!
! Practice for yourself; add meaning of your own ! OM MAHAKALA KALAYE HUM PE! ! (drum and bells)
! Mahakala mastery disciplines reaction And severs, utterly, the roots of ill and harm. Mahakala intervenes against all kinds of slavery And breaks the shackle chain.
! Acknowledge and support these actions, sorely needed in the world. Invoke, call up the practice; liberate psychology! Chenrezig Mahakala, awaken and appear! Direct the power of compassion; Illuminate the need; evoke benevolence!
Negative, dark energy can damage and disrupt and foster animosity. Dangerous patterns can endure, poison time and place, Harden hearts and cause wrong views to dominate. This can happen in a personal life; this can happen in the world. When rage and turmoil storm, then, Mahakala Spread like sunrise on the sea! Overcome the violations; guard the harmony! Ray of light, bridle, rope – be strong, endure and hold! Deep blue locus manifest! Purify and govern! ! Clear all danger from the path; find the will; Reveal what must be done.
! Lama, lama Bodhicitta; one to one, all to all, Continuous, unbroken, active synergy: Garner wisdom and authority, vitality and power; Realise, renew, enact!
KULU, KULU LINEAGE
Collective compassion is able to face, quell, control and transcend All forms of harm and ignorance. ! Invoke the Mahakala Buddha. Engage the fearless heart and mind.
Say HUM! Say HO!
This wisdom, Mahakala, can understand and overcome Careless, wanton states and break the lock of bigotry. Eminent, bright radiance, blue black clarity, Fearless in the midst of deep time force and energy, Transform the lower worlds.
! Charge our many hearts with clear determination; Find right understanding; map the common ground.
The mind that goes awry, losing sanity – that mind can be healed! Within each human birth there is a truth, a torch of certainty, A light that can reveal a way to live more graciously.
! Bodhi, bodhicitta, great blessing in the human birth, essential understanding,
! OM AH HUM! SAMAYA! HUM! HUM! HUM! !
Remember the blessing; take memory into practice. Call the tiger to your side; ride the horse of intellect; Wear the struggles of experience, like ornaments, with pride. Find the source within, the power in the human birth.
! Such undeluded energy, like a windblown fire, can burn away the dross. Mahakala has strong legs and Mahakala has sure feet; They are well able to trample down demonic thoughts and deeds! !
! Sight and inner vision become full of energy; Teeth are bared; hair and eyebrows upward blaze; The body of passion is fully awake, focused and engaged.
OM MAHAKALA KALAYE HUM PHAT OM MAHAKALA KALAYE HUM PHAT OM MAHAKALA KALAYE HUM PHAT !
Mahakala energy; Mahakala wisdom: Bless us now and always, HUM!
! Delusion has the power to destroy and deform; Greed despoliates the world; hatred is a disease. !
! Remember the purpose of practice! Remember why the Teachings are created!
Renew always the vow for peace; strengthen practice in accord; Encourage the peace throughout the world; offer helping hands.
! The rush of ill will; the flood of greed; the trap of deluded views – All this can be restrained and one day overcome. Within is all around, the same. Even acts of violent harm can be contained and brought within a vow, A fierce determination, to lessen the harm from these terrible conditions, These illnesses of heart and mind. All the causes of these states can be discerned and healed When practice builds the peace within.
! Dance on ignorance; wield the insight blade That cuts away mistaken views in order to reveal All that must be seen and done. Wear the blue-black robe, adorned with symbols that illuminate Warding off the blows of wrong.
! Recognise both good and ill – all that’s gone before. Awaken to the work at hand; stand firm in the globe of fire! The wisdom light illuminates wherever there is need.
! What power practice yields! Enduring love and work All this is Mahakala! Courage, practice, vow. OM MAHAKALA KALAYE HUM PHAT
! Courage, Mahakala, on and on again
OM AH HUM HA HO HRIH; OM MANI PADME HUM SARVA MANGALAM PEACE TO ALL THE WORLD (drum and bells) !
! INVOCATION
Chenrezig Mahakala paramount protector Control the means of violence and willful harm to innocence. Bring an end to rampant greed, stop despoliation; Restrain the dread and injury. Purify the harm wrought by deluded views; Reveal the lie, expose the great deceit. Within it is the same without Everyone can understand; everyone can act.
Everywhere array the company of peace. ! Call up the energy; slough off apathy! Stamp the ground, stir the dust, plant your feet! Grim and glaring sight, red rolling eyes and curled lip, Gnashing teeth, ferocious dance, All contained by discipline.
Nothing hidden here, within is all around; We call you Mahakala! Come here, we pray, be here.
! OM MAHAKALA KALAYE HUM PE OM MAHAKALA KALAYE HUM PE OM MAHAKALA KALAYE HUM PE (drum and bells) !
! Recognise the terrible want, the blind voracious lust; Desires that commodify, pillage and enslave. Mahakala bring the fire! Burn the mask! Make a wind to drive away conceit, End the careless ruin! Wield the force of sacred words; make good law endure; Undo the lie, reveal what must be done. ! ! ! !
Dedicated people, determined, understanding, Well informed, skillful application; Arise where you are needed.
! OM MAHAKALA KALAYE HUM PE! HUM HUM HUM! ! HUM
Imagine in your heart an imminent potential Embryo of energy, alive to many realms,
! Resilient compassion takes many forms To suit the many different needs:
! White to temper pride; green to ease fierce jealousy; Yellow to gladden yearning want; sky blue to free entangled thought; Red to quell consuming greed; blue-black to pacify The realms where hatred rules.
Chenrezig in this last place, Reveals the power, Mahakala.
! OM MAHAKALA KALAYE HUM PE OM MAHAKALA KALAYE HUM PE OM MAHAKALA KALAYE HUM PE ! (drum and bells)
BODHICITTA PRAYER
magine now, above your head – Buddha Aksobya: Clear, reflective mind, white light wisdom mirror, A tranquil place and purpose, like a sacred grove. ! The blessings of the natural world are recognized and valued here. Air, water, earth and energy; living world, Gaia. ! AH LA LA HOH! May gratitude and offering be accepted and enjoyed. May the way of compassion be wise with its power.
! Bodhicitta, right intention, knowledge, teaching, dialogue: Contribute and bestow, expand and liberate The power, peaceful mind; ! Bodhicitta, right intention, knowledge, teaching, dialogue; Alive and realised. Purify delusion, confusion and fixated views.
! In thought and word and deed, this intent is deeply felt; Faith and aspiration grow in confidence.
OM MANI PADME HUM Now the light of all experience can illuminate the path. The suffering in the world becomes the cause of practice.
NAMO LAMA HUM HO SOLIDARITY ! OM MAHAKALA KALAYE HUM PHAT OM MAHAKALA KALAYE HUM PHAT OM MAHAKALA KALAYE HUM PHAT
! Skill and means be with us now; light of peace, compound; Become the inner lamp, grace the sacred ground.
SHARING THE BLESSING ! By the great benefit of this practice, may I quickly attain To the state of Mahamudra, living freedom, and as I do so, Support all others in this way. !
SARVA MANGALAM BLESSINGS FALL LIKE RAIN ! SADDHU SADDHU SADDHU GOOD, GOOD, GOOD
