Tara Practices
Four Mandala Offerings to Chittamani Tara
Tara Practices
Tara Practices
Endnotes
1. Additional offering verse extracted from a more extensive version of this practice, accord-
ing to the instructions of Lama Zopa Rinpoche.
2. Each of the respective heartfelt requests to Tara after each of the four mandala offerings
has been added according to instructions from Geshe Ngawang Drapa, Tse Chen Ling
Center, San Francisco. Geshe Dragpa has mentioned that this is how the practice is
traditionally done, however, this is not definitive. Which requesting verses are added
depends on the chant master or monastery, and may also be adjusted according to the
occasion or special purposes for which the puja is being performed. The practice of
adding a heartfelt request is an oral instruction and is not in the actual text.
3. Additional offering verse extracted from a more extensive version of this practice, accord-
ing to the instructions of Lama Zopa Rinpoche.
Colophon
Composed by Trijang Rinpoche of Gaden, at the request of Tsering, the son of officer
Nyemo (a district of central Tibet), who is endowed with faith and a superior virtuous
attitude.
Translated from the Tibetan by Fabrizio Champa Pelgye at the request of the Education
Department of the Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition. Edited with
standard prayers added by Ven. Constance Miller, Education Services, September 2001.
2 Tara Practices 4
Four Mandala Offerings to Chittamani Tara
Through the merits of these virtuous actions
May I quickly attain the state of Arya Tara
And lead all living beings, without exception,
Into that enlightened state.
Verse of Auspiciousness
Like a wish-fulfilling tree and a fortune-jeweled vase,
You are the wish-fulfilling treasure granting all desires and fulfilling all
hopes.
O conquerors’ Mother Tara and all conquerors with your children, Take care of me and grant the auspicious signs of increasing virtue. Author’s Dedication Due to the virtue of these efforts, may I and all migratory beings Be cared for by the supreme goddess, the mother of all conquerors. Without being discouraged, may I free migratory beings as far as the lim- its of space And realize the sphere of the glorious goddess.
Four Mandala Offerings to Chittamani Tara
Contents
The Abbreviated Four-Mandala Ritual of Tara Chittamani Tara Practices Tara Practices
Ge wa di yi nyur du dag
Phag ma dröl ma drub gyur nä
Dro wa chig kyang ma lü pa
De yi sa la gö par shog
Verse of Auspiciousness
Pag sam shing dang nor bu bum zang zhin
Re kong dö gu jo wai yi zhin ter
Gyäl yum dröl ma gyäl wa sä chä kyi
Je zung ge tsän phäl wäi tra shi shog
4 Tara Practices 4
Notes regarding this practice:
When performing this puja, one should set up the altar with the following items:
• a picture of Chittamani Tara
• 3 red-colored, tear drop-shaped tormas made with the 3 white and 3 sweet substances
• 4 mandalas, or 4 bowls of rice representing the 4 mandalas
• 4 sets of 7 offering bowls, placed from right to left as one faces the altar. In the food offering bowls of these sets one should place small red tormas (cookies, biscuits, etc. are also acceptable).
NOTE: When seating monks and nuns in the front, it is customary to seat monks on the left
side of the throne (when facing the throne) and nuns on the right.
During “big pujas” (these are defined as self-initiations or long pujas and pujas with extensive
offerings, etc.) one can offer a stick of incense for the lama or geshe to hold during the verses of
invocation.
One should have dorje, bell, and inner offering, and a small bowl of flower petals or rice.
One should have a mandala set for the mandala offerings.
NOTE: Throughout the preceding text, small symbols of bells or other instruments and hand mudras appear in the margins to help the practitioner know when one should play these instruments or when to do certain mudras. It is hoped that these small indications will be helpful to those not yet familiar with these aspects of tantric practice. Other symbols and their meanings are:
lotus mudra prostration mudra show the dorje
Practice tips
Please note that Praises in Twenty-one Homages is chantable in English.
Four Mandala Offerings to Chittamani Tara
Confession of Faults in the Recitation Recite the hundred-syllable mantra:
OM PADMASATTVA SAMAYA MANUPALAYA / PADMASATTVA
TVENOPATISHTHA / DRIDHO ME BHAVA / SUTOSHYO ME BHAVA /
SUPOSHYO ME BHAVA / ANURAKTO ME BHAVA / SARVA
SIDDHIM ME PRAYACCHA / SARVA KARMA SUCHA ME /
CHITTAM SHRIYAM KURU HUM / HA HA HA HA HOH /
BHAGAVAN / SARVA TATHAGATA / PADMA MA ME MUNCHA /
PADMA BHAVA MAHA SAMAYA SATTVA AH HUM PHAT
And the prayers:
With all my actions performed here,
With whatever I could not find
Or was not able to do,
Please be patient.
Please also be patient
With the rituals
I have performed incorrectly
Or with omissions.
If you have an image of the deity, request the deity to abide in it:
For the benefit of migratory beings,
Please abide in this image,
Granting wealth, highest goodness,
And long life free from sickness.
OM SUPRATISHTHA VAJRAYE SVAHA
(toss flower petals or rice to the merit field)
OM firmly abiding vajra one SVAHA
If you don’t have an image, request the deity to depart:
The wisdom beings return to their natural abodes.
The commitment beings absorb into me.
Dedicate the virtues and sing the auspicious verses in the following way.
Four Mandala Offerings to Chittamani Tara 5
The Abbreviated Four-Mandala
by Kyabje Gaden Trijang Rinpoche
From the enlightened activities of all the victorious ones
the TAM syllable melts into a turquoise flow.
By the swirls of a musical show appears your youthful great body.
With respect, I pay homage to she who liberates from the fears of
existence and peace.
With your compassion, please take care of me.
Confession of Faults in the Recitation
Recite the hundred-syllable mantra:
OM PADMASATTVA SAMAYA MANUPALAYA / PADMASATTVA
TVENOPATISHTHA / DRIDHO ME BHAVA / SUTOSHYO ME BHAVA /
SUPOSHYO ME BHAVA / ANURAKTO ME BHAVA / SARVA
SIDDHIM ME PRAYACCHA / SARVA KARMA SUCHA ME /
CHITTAM SHRIYAM KURU HUM / HA HA HA HA HOH /
BHAGAVAN / SARVA TATHAGATA / PADMA MA ME MUNCHA /
PADMA BHAVA MAHA SAMAYA SATTVA AH HUM PHAT
And the prayers:
Ma nye yong su ma she dang
Gang yang nü pa ma chhi pa
Dir ni ja wa gang gyi pa
De kün khye kyi zö dzä rig
Lhag pa dang ni chhä pa dang
Chho gäi yän lag nyam pa dang
Dag gi je ngä chi chhi pa
De yang zö par dzä du söl
If you have an image of the deity, request the deity to abide in it:
Dir ni ten dang lhän chig tu
Dro wäi dön du zhug nä kyang
Nä me tshe dang wang chhug dang
Chhog nam leg par tsäl du söl
OM SUPRATISHTHA VAJRAYE SVAHA
(toss flower petals or rice to the merit field)
OM firmly abiding vajra one SVAHA
If you don’t have an image, request the deity to depart:
Ye she pa rang zhin gyi nä su sheg
Dam tshig pa rang nyi la thim par gyur
Dedicate the virtues and sing the auspicious verses in the following way.
6 Tara Practices
Dag dang dro wa nam khäi tha dang nyam päi sem chän tham chä dü di
nä zung te ji si jang chhub nying po la chhi kyi bar du
Päl dän la ma dam pa nam la kyab su chhi wo
Dzog päi sang gyä chom dän dä nam la kyab su chhi wo
Dam päi chhö nam la kyab su chhi wo
Phag päi ge dün nam la kyab su chhi wo (3x or 7x)
Taking Refuge and Generating Bodhichitta
Sang gyä chhö dang tshog kyi chhog nam la
Jang chhub bar du dag ni kyab su chhi
Dag gi jin sog gyi pe di dag gi
Dro la phän chhir sang gyä drub par shog (3x)
Special Generation of Bodhichitta
Khyä par ma sem chän tham chä kyi dön du nyur wa nyur war yang dag
par dzog päi sang gyä kyi go phang rin po chhe chi nä kyang thob par ja /
dei chhir du je tsün ma phag ma dröl mäi näl jor nyam su lang war gyi wo
Sem chän tham chä de wa dang de wäi gyu dang dän par gyur chig
Sem chän tham chä dug ngäl dang dug ngäl gyi gyu dang dräl war gyur
chig
Sem chän tham chä dug ngäl me päi de wa dang mi dräl war gyur chig
Sem chän tham chä nye ring chhag dang nyi dang dräl wäi tang nyom la
nä par gyur chig
Make sure your mind is infused with the four immeasurable thoughts.
Four Mandala Offerings to Chittamani Tara
Then, joining the palms of the hands:
Venerable Arya and your retinue, Please bless me with the affection Of your non-referential compassion, So I may be able to fulfill all my wishes without obstacles. Let the teachings and practice of the victorious ones in general And the doctrine of Losang in particular spread to the ten directions. Let the Sangha who uphold the doctrine be harmonious And may their enlightened activities increase.
Please pacify conflicts, famine, and sickness in this country; Increase the Dharma and good fortune; Expand the power of Dharma rulers; And grant happiness to the central and border areas. Please protect us from temporary and ultimate fears, Such as the eight and sixteen great fears,
Spirits, plagues, nightmares, and bad omens, As well as the sufferings of samsara, the unfortunate states, and so forth. May life, prosperity, and merits increase; May all negative thoughts be pacified. Please grant your blessings that realizations of the three principles of the path
And two stages may quickly be completed. From now until the essence of enlightenment I have no other refuge than you. Bless me and care for me As a mother does for her only child.
Four Mandala Offerings to Chittamani Tara
I and all sentient beings as vast as space, from now until we reach the
essence of supreme enlightenment,
Go for refuge to the glorious pure lamas;
Go for refuge to the perfectly enlightened victorious ones;
Go for refuge to the pure Dharma;
Go for refuge in the superior Sangha. (3x or 7x)
Taking Refuge and Generating Bodhichitta
I go for refuge until I am enlightened.
To the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Supreme Assembly.
By my practice of giving and other perfections,
May I become a buddha to benefit all sentient beings. (3x)
Special Generation of Bodhichitta
In particular, in order to benefit all my mother sentient beings quickly
and more quickly, I must achieve the precious state of perfect and com-
plete buddhahood; therefore, I am going to undertake the yoga of vener-
able Arya Tara.
May all sentient beings have happiness and the causes of happiness.
May all sentient beings be free from suffering and the causes of suffering.
May all sentient beings be inseparable from the happiness that is free from suffering.
May all sentient beings abide in equanimity, free from desire for friends and hatred for enemies. Make sure your mind is infused with the thought of the four immeasurable thoughts. For notes and instructions regarding how to set up for this practice, please turn to pg. 49 of this section.
If you have received well the initiation of Tara Chittamani in the tradition of highest yoga tantra, have taken her as your yidam, and wish to carry out in your daily practices the abbre- viated four-mandala ritual, first arrange the offerings in accordance with the scriptures. Then, sit on your cushion and within the frame of an exceptional virtuous mind [[[take refuge]] and generate bodhichitta]:
42 Tara Practices
Then, joining the palms of the hands:
Je tsün phag ma khor dang chä
Mig me thug je tser gong la
Dag gi ji tar söl wäi dön
Geg me drub par jin gyi lob
Gyäl tän chi dang lo zang tän
Shä dang drub pä chhog chur gyä
Tän dzin ge dün de dang chä
Thug thün thrin lä phel war dzö
Jong dir nä mug thrug tsö zhi
Chhö dang tra shi gong du phel
Chhö dän gyäl pöi nga thang gyä
Gyäl kham tha wü de war dzö
Gyä dang chu drug jig chhen dang
Dön rim mi lam tshän tä ngän
Khor wa ngän song dug ngäl sog
Nä kab thar thug jig lä kyob
Tshe päl long chö sö nam phel
Mi gei tog pa kün zhi zhing
Lam tso sum dang rim nyi kyi
Nyam tog nyur du thar chhin dzö
Di nä jang chhub nying pöi bar
Khyö min kyab nä zhän me pä
Bu chig po la ma yi zhin
Je zung jin gyi lab tu söl
Self-Generation
Rang nyi kä chig gi je tsün ma phag ma dröl mäi kur zheng par gyur
Blessing the Inner Offering
Cleanse with:
OM VAJRA AMRITA KUNDALI HANA HANA HUM PHAT
OM SVABHAVA SHUDDHA SARVA DHARMA SVABHAVA SHUDDHO HAM
Tong pa nyi du gyur
Tong päi ngang lä YAM lä lung/ RAM lä me / AH lä ye she kyi ka pa la
yang shing gya chhe wäi nang du sha nga dü tsi nga zhu wa lä jung wäi
ye she kyi dü tsii gya tsho chhen por gyur
Consecrate the inner offering by reciting three times:
Cleanse with: (sprinkle the offerings with inner offering using the left ring finger)
OM VAJRA AMRITA KUNDALI HANA HANA HUM PHAT
Purify into voidness with:
OM SVABHAVA SHUDDHA SARVA DHARMA SVABHAVA SHUDDHO HAM
Tong pa nyi du gyur Tong päi ngang lä KAM lä thö päi nö nam kyi nang du HUM lä chhö dzä nam rang zhin tong nyi nam pa chhö dzä so söi nam pa chän je lä wang po drug gi chö yül du zag pa me päi de wa khyä par chän ter war gyur OM ARGHAM AH HUM (greeting water) OM PADYAM AH HUM (foot washing water) OM VAJRA PUSHPE AH HUM (flowers) OM VAJRA DHUPE AH HUM (incense) OM VAJRA ALOKE AH HUM (light) OM VAJRA GANDHE AH HUM (perfume) OM VAJRA NAIVIDYA AH HUM (food offering) OM VAJRA SHAPTA AH HUM (music) < = >
Four Mandala Offerings to Chittamani Tara
Cleanse with: (sprinkle the torma with inner offering using the left ring finger)
OM VAJRA AMRITA KUNDALI HANA HANA HUM PHAT
OM SVABHAVA SHUDDHA SARVA DHARMA SVABHAVA SHUDDHO HAM
All becomes empty.
From within emptiness, from YAM, wind; from RAM, fire; from AH, a transcendental wisdom skullcup, vast and big. In it, from the melting of the five meats and five nectars comes a huge ocean of transcendental wisdom nectar.
Consecrate with:
The gurus and hosts of deities [of the venerable Arya Tara] partake (of the
torma) by drawing it up through the light straw of their vajra tongues:
Offer it by saying three times:
OM ARYA TARE SAPARIVARA IDAM BALIM TA KHA KHA KHAHI
KHAHI (3X)
Make offerings with:
OM ARYA TARE SAPARIVARA ARGHAM (PADYAM, PUSHPE, DHUPE,
ALOKE, GANDHE, NAIVIDYA, SHAPTA ) PRATICCHA HUM SVAHA
Present inner offerings by adding the three syllables: (offer with ring finger of left hand)
OM ARYA TARE SAPARIVARA OM AH HUM
Devas and titans bow down With their crowns at your lotus feet. I prostrate to the liberating mother, Who liberates from all misfortunes.
Four Mandala Offerings to Chittamani Tara
Self-Generation
arise as venerable Arya Tara.
Cleanse with:
OM VAJRA AMRITA KUNDALI HANA HANA HUM PHAT
OM SVABHAVA SHUDDHA SARVA DHARMA SVABHAVA
SHUDDHO HAM
All becomes empty.
From within emptiness, from YAM, wind; from RAM, fire; from AH, a
transcendental wisdom skullcup, vast and big. In it, from the melting of
the five meats and five nectars comes a huge ocean of transcendental wisdom nectar.
Consecrate the inner offering by reciting three times:
Cleanse with: (sprinkle the offerings with inner offering using the left ring finger)
OM VAJRA AMRITA KUNDALI HANA HANA HUM PHAT
OM SVABHAVA SHUDDHA SARVA DHARMA SVABHAVA SHUDDHO HAM
They all become empty. From within emptiness, from KAM, skullcup ves-
sels. Inside these, from HUM the offering substances, whose nature is
emptiness and who appear in their individual aspects. As the objects of
enjoyment of the six senses, they give rise to special uncontaminated bliss.
OM ARGHAM AH HUM (greeting water)
OM PADYAM AH HUM (foot washing water)
OM VAJRA PUSHPE AH HUM (flowers)
OM VAJRA DHUPE AH HUM (incense)
OM VAJRA ALOKE AH HUM (light)
OM VAJRA GANDHE AH HUM (perfume)
OM VAJRA NAIVIDYA AH HUM (food offering)
OM VAJRA SHAPTA AH HUM (music)
40 Tara Practices
Cleanse with: (sprinkle the torma with inner offering using the left ring finger)
OM VAJRA AMRITA KUNDALI HANA HANA HUM PHAT
OM SVABHAVA SHUDDHA SARVA DHARMA SVABHAVA SHUDDHO HAM
Tong pa nyi du gyur Tong päi ngang lä YAM lä lung/ RAM lä me / AH lä ye she kyi ka pa la yang shing gya chhe wäi nang du sha nga dü tsi nga zhu wa lä jung wäi ye she kyi dü tsii gya tsho chhen por gyur
Consecrate with:
La ma je tsün mäi lha tshog nam kyi jag dor jei ö zer gyi bu gü drang te söl
war gyur
Offer it by saying three times:
OM ARYA TARE SAPARIVARA IDAM BALIM TA KHA KHA KHAHI KHAHI (3x)
Make offerings with:
OM ARYA TARE SAPARIVARA ARGHAM (PADYAM, PUSHPE, DHUPE,
ALOKE, GANDHE, NAIVIDYA, SHAPTA ) PRATICCHA HUM SVAHA
Present inner offerings by adding the three syllables: (offer with ring finger of left hand)
OM ARYA TARE SAPARIVARA OM AH HUM
Lha dang lha min chö pän gyi
Zhab kyi pä ma la tü de
Phong pa kün lä dröl dzä ma
Dröl ma yum la chhag tshäl tö
< = >
Visualization of the Field of Merit
Dün gyi nam khar seng thri pä däi dän la tsa wäi la ma dang yer me päi seng deng nag dröl gyi teng du jo wo je sog la ma nam dang tha kor du dröl ma nyer chig sog yi dam sang gyä jang sem nyän rang ka dö dang chä pa zhug par gyur
Homage
Recite each stanza three times, prostrating each time, twelve prostrations in all.
Sang gyä tham chä dü päi ku
Dor je dzin päi ngo wo nyi
Kön chog sum gyi tsa wa te
La ma nam la chhag tshäl lo
Gön po thug je chhe dän pa
Tham chä khyen pa tön pa po
Sö nam yön tän gya tshöi zhing
De zhin sheg la chhag tshäl lo
Dag pä dö chhag dräl war gyur
Ge wä ngän song lä dröl ching
Chig tu dön dam chhog gyur pa
Zhi gyur chhö la chhag tshäl lo
Dröl nä dröl wäi lam yang tön
Lab pa dag la rab tu nä
Zhing gi dam pa yön tän dän
Tshog chog ge dün la chhag tshäl
Offering to the Field of Merit
Strew flowers on the images. When you have sat down, present the following offerings in an
extensive way using the following verse, reciting the verse once for each offering – changing the
name of the offering being presented as appropriate. If there is no time, you can present the
offerings in an abbreviated way by omitting recitation of the verse.
Four Mandala Offerings to Chittamani Tara 39
OM I prostrate to the goddess foe destroyer, liberating lady Tara, Homage to TARE, saviouress, heroine, With TUTTARE dispelling all fears, Granting all benefits with TURE, To her with sound SVAHA, I bow.
Prayer of the Benefits
Whoever is endowed with devotion for the goddess And recites this with supreme faith, Remembering it at dawn upon waking and in the evenings, Will be granted all fearlessness, Will perfectly pacify all negativities, And will eliminate all unfortunate migrations. The multitudes of conquerors Will quickly grant initiation: Thus, endowed with this greatness, One will eventually reach the state of a buddha. If affected by the most terrible poison, Whether ingested, drunk, or from a living being, Just by remembering Will one be thoroughly cleansed.
If this prayer is recited two, three, or seven times, It will pacify all the sufferings of torments Caused by spirits, fevers, and poisons, And by other beings as well.
If you wish for a child, you will get a child; If you wish for wealth, you will receive wealth. All your wishes will be fulfilled And all obstacles pacified.
Then transform the torma as the inner offering.
<- +- < J - +- X -< J - +- < J - J @ ,
Four Mandala Offerings to Chittamani Tara
Visualization of the Field of Merit
In the space before me, on a lion throne, lotus, and moon disk, sits
Khadiravani Tara, who is inseparable from my root lama. Above her are
venerable (Atisha) and the other lineage lamas, and she is surrounded by
the twenty-one Taras and so forth, the yidams, buddhas, bodhisattvas,
hearers, self-realizers, and oath-bound protectors.
Homage
Recite each stanza three times, prostrating each time, twelve prostrations in all. Your exalted body is the embodiment of all buddhas; You are in the nature of vajra holder, The very root of the Three Rare and Sublime [Ones}: I prostrate to all gurus. The savior having great compassion, The founder having all understanding, The field of merit with qualities like a vast ocean – To you, the one gone to thusness, I prostrate. The purity that frees one from attachment, The virtue that frees one from the lower realms, The one path, the sublime pure reality – To the Dharma that pacifies, I prostrate. Those who are liberated and who also show the path to liberation, The holy field qualified with realizations, Who are devoted to the moral precepts – To you, the sublime community intending virtue, I prostrate. Offering to the Field of Merit Strew flowers on the images. When you have sat down, present the following offerings in an extensive way using the following verse, reciting the verse once for each offering – changing the name of the offering being presented as appropriate. If there is no time, you can present the offerings in an abbreviated way by omitting recitation of the verse. 3
OM chom dän dä ma lha mo dröl ma la chhag tshäl lo
Chhag tshäl dröl ma TARE päl mo
TUTTARA yi jig kün sel ma
TURE dön nam tham chä ter ma
SVAHA yi ger chä la rab dü
Prayer of the Benefits
Lha mo la gü yang dag dän päi
Lo dän gang gi rab dä jö de
Sö dang tho rang lang par jä nä
Drän pä mi jig tham chä rab ter
Dig pa tham chä rab tu zhi wa
Ngän dro tham chä jom pa nyi thob
Gyäl wa je wa thrag dün nam kyi
Nyur du wang ni kur war gyur la
Di lä chhe wa nyi ni thob ching
Sang gyä go phang thar thug der dro
De yi dug ni drag po chhen po
Tän nä pa am zhän yang dro wa
Zö pa dang ni thung pa nyi kyang
Drän pä rab tu sel wa nyi thob
Dön dang rim dang dug gi zir wäi
Dül ngäl tshog ni nam par pong te
Sem chän zhän pa nam la yang ngo
Nyi sum dün du ngön par jö na
Bu dö pä ni bu thob gyur zhing
Nor dö pä ni nor nam nyi thob
Dö pa tham chä thob par gyur la
Geg nam me ching so sor jom gyur chig
Then transform the torma as the inner offering:
12 Tara Practices
Gyälwa gya tshöi chhö dzä lä drub päi
Zhing kam gya tshöi chhö yön* gya tshöi tsog
Yön tän gya tshöi gyäl wa khor chä la
Dä pa gya tshöi bül lo zhe su söl
OM SARVA TATHAGATA SAPARIVARA ARGHAM (PADYAM, PUSHPE, DHUPE, ALOKE, GANDHE, NAIVIDYA, SHAPTA ) PRATICCHA HUM SVAHA
Present the inner offering by adding the three syllables: (offer with ring finger of left hand)
OM SARVA TATHAGATA SAPARIVARA OM AH HUM
The Seven Limbs
Gyäl wa sä chä nam la chhag tshäl lo
Ngö sham yi trül chhö pa ma lü bül
Thog me nä sag dig tung tham chä shag
Kye phag ge wa nam la je yi rang
Khor wa ma tong bar du leg zhug nä
Dro la chhö kyi khor lo kor wa dang
Dag zhän ge nam jang chhub chhen por ngo
Long Mandala Offering in 23 Heaps
Zhing kham ül war gyi wo ...
OM vajra bhumi AH HUM / wang chhen ser gyi sa zhi
OM vajra rekhe AH HUM / chhi chag ri khor yug gi kor wäi ü su / rii gyäl po
ri rab / shar lü phag po / lho dzam bu ling / nub ba lang chö / jang dra mi
nyän / lü dang lü phag / nga yab dang nga yab zhän / yo dän dang lam
chhog dro / dra mi nyän dang dra mi nyän gyi da
Four Mandala Offerings to Chittamani Tara
Recite the long mandala offering (see pp. 18-19) as before.
Short Mandala Offering
This ground, anointed with perfume, strewn with flowers,
Adorned with Mount Meru, four continents, the sun, and the moon.
I imagine this as a buddha-field and offer it.
May all living beings enjoy this pure land.
Heartfelt Request (Optional)
Recite this special heartfelt requesting prayer to Tara while imagining that you are clinging on
to Tara’s toes:
Please bless myself and others to accomplish all our
Purposes in accordance with the Dharma just as we wish.
And to pacify immediately the group of hindrances
Such as sicknesses, harm by spirits and other obstacles.
IDAM GURU RATNA MANDALAKAM NIRYATAMI
Taking Refuge and Generating Bodhichitta
To the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Supreme Assembly I go for refuge until I am enlightened. By this practice of giving and other perfections, May I become a buddha in order to benefit all sentient beings. (3x)
From her exalted body, a stream of nectar flows
And enters the crown of the beneficiary and myself,
Completely filling our bodies
And granting all blessings.
Praise with the Twenty–one Homages seven times (pp. 22-27). If time is short, the
following verse can be recited in place of some of the following petitions:
Four Mandala Offerings to Chittamani Tara 13
A host of oceans of drinking water* from an ocean of realms
Composed of an ocean of offering substances of the Conquerors
I offer with an ocean of faith to the Conquerors and their retinues
Who have oceans of qualities. Please accept it.
OM SARVA TATHAGATA SAPARIVARA ARGHAM (PADYAM, PUSHPE,
DHUPE, ALOKE, GANDHE, NAIVIDYA, SHAPTA ) PRATICCHA HUM
SVAHA
Present the inner offering by adding the three syllables: (offer with ring finger of left hand)
OM SARVA TATHAGATA SAPARIVARA OM AH HUM
The Seven Limbs
I prostrate to all the victorious ones and their children.
I present clouds of every type of offering, actual and imagined;
I declare all my negative actions accumulated since beginningless time
And rejoice in the merit of all holy and ordinary beings.
Please, remain until the end of cyclic existence
And turn the wheel of Dharma for living beings.
I dedicate my own merits and those of all others to the great enlightenment.
Long Mandala Offering in 23 Heaps
Let us offer a buddha-field ...
OM vajra ground AH HUM, mighty golden ground. OM vajra fence AH
HUM.
Outside it is encircled by a wall of iron mountains. At the center is
Meru, king of mountains; the eastern continent, Videha (Tall-body Land),
the southern, Jambudvipa (Rose-apple Land), the western, Godaniya
(Cattle-gift Land), the northern, Kuru; [the eastern minor continents]
Deha and Videha, [the southern], Chamara and Apara-chamara (Chowrie-
land and western Chowrie-land), [the western], Satha and Uttara-mantrin
(Lands of the Deceitful and the Skilled in Mantra), [and the northern],
Kuru and Kaurava.
Recite the long mandala offering (see pp. 18-19) as before.
Short Mandala Offering
Sa zhi pö kyi jug shing me tog tram
Ri rab ling zhi nyi dä gyän pa di
Sang gyä zhing du mig te ül wa yi
Dro kün nam dag zhing la chö par shog
Heartfelt Request (Optional)
Recite this special heartfelt requesting prayer to Tara while imagining that you are clinging on to Tara’s toes:
Dag sog nam kyi chhö dang thün pe dön
Ji tar sam pa yi zhing drub pa dang
Ne dön geg sog bar dü chhö päi tsog
Nye war zhi wa jin gyi lab tu söl
IDAM GURU RATNA MANDALAKAM NIRYATAMI
Taking Refuge and Generating Bodhichitta
Sang gyä chhö dang tshog kyi chhog nam la
Jang chhub bar du dag ni kyab su chhi
Dag gi jin sog gyi pa di dag gi
Dro la phän chhir sang gyä drub par shog (3x)
Ku lä dü tsii chhu gyün bab
Rang dang sung jäi chi wo nä
Zhug te lü kün gang wa yi
Jin lab ma lü zhug par gyur
Praise with the Twenty–one Homages seven times (pp. 22-27). If time is short, the
following verse can be recited in place of some of the following petitions:
Shar du lang po rin po chhe / lhor kyin dag rin po chhe / nub tu ta rin
po chhe / jang du tsün mo rin po chhe /shar lhor mag pön rin po chhe /
lho nub tu khor lo rin po chhe / nub jang du nor bu rin po chhe / jang
shar du ter chen pöi bum pa
Nang gi shar du nyi ma / nub tu da wa
Dag zhän lü ngag yi sum long chö du sum ge tshog chä
Rin chhen mandala zang po kün zang chhö päi tshog chä pa
Lo yi lang nä la ma yi dam kön chhog sum la bül
Thug jei wang gi zhe nä dag la jin gyi lab tu söl
Short Mandala Offering
Sa zhi pö kyi jug shing me tog tram
Ri rab ling zhi nyi dä gyän pa di
Sang gyä zhing du mig te ül wa yi
Dro kün nam dag zhing la chö par shog
Heartfelt Request (Optional)
Recite this special heartfe
lt requesting prayer to Tara while imagining that you are clinging on to Tara’s toes: Je tsün la ma dam pa khye nam kyi Chhö küi kha la khyen tsei trin thrig nä Je tar tsham päi dül jäi dzin ma la Zab gyä chhö kyi chhar pa bab tu söl
IDAM GURU RATNA MANDALAKAM NIRYATAMI
Taking Refuge and Generating Bodhichitta
Sang gyä chhö dang tshog kyi chhog nam la
Jang chhub bar du dag ni kyab su chhi
Dag gi jin sog gyi pa di dag gi
Dro la phän chhir sang gyä drub par shog (3x)
Prayer for the Donor **(Optional)
If you wish to request on behalf of someone who is sick (or in need), at the moment of requesting,
recite the following:
Four Mandala Offerings to Chittamani Tara
Third Round
Homage
Devas and titans bow down With their crowns at your lotus feet. I prostrate to the liberating mother, Who liberates from all misfortunes. (7x with prostrations)
Strew flowers on the images. When you have sat down, present the following offerings in an
extensive way using the following verse, reciting the verse once for each offering – changing the
name of the offering being presented as appropriate. If there is no time, you can present the
offerings in an abbreviated way by omitting recitation of the verse.
From the nature, the existence-sphere pure transcendental wisdom
(Dharmakaya),
The illusory transformed goddess, the female offering drinking water*,
I offer in order to please the Destroyer Qualified Tara’s multitude of
deities.
- The words in brackets [ ] are optional.
OM ARYA TARE [SAPARIVARA]** ARGHAM (PADYAM, PUSHPE,
DHUPE, ALOKE, GANDHE, NAIVIDYA, SHAPTA ) PRATICCHA HUM
SVAHA
Adding the three syllables, the inner offering: (offer with ring finger of left hand)
OM ARYA TARE [SAPARIVARA]** OM AH HUM
The Seven Limbs
To Arya Tara’s holy feet I prostrate.
I present clouds of every type of offering, actual and imagined; I declare all my negative actions accumulated since beginningless time And rejoice in the merit of all holy and ordinary beings. Please, remain until the end of cyclic existence And turn the wheel of Dharma for living beings. I dedicate my own merits and those of all others to the great enlightenment.
In the east, the the precious elephant; in the south, the precious house-
keeper, in the west, the precious horse; in the north, the precious queen.
In the southeast, the precious general; in the southwest, the precious
wheel; in the northwest, the precious jewel; in the northeast, the great
treasure vase. In the east, the sun; in the west, the moon.
My own and others’ body, speech, and mind, wealth and virtues, of the
three times,
This pure, precious mandala and a mass of Samantabhadra offerings,
I mentally take and offer to my guru-yidam and the Three Precious Ones,
Please accept them through compassion and bestow your inspiration.
Short Mandala Offering
This ground, anointed with perfume, strewn with flowers,
Adorned with Mount Meru, four continents, the sun and the moon:
I imagine this as a buddha-field and offer it.
May all living beings enjoy this pure land!
Heartfelt Request (Optional)
Recite this special heartfelt requesting prayer to Tara while imagining that you are clinging on to Tara’s toes:
Please, holy jetsun guru, From billowed clouds of compassion and wisdom in the sky of dharmakaya, Make rainfalls of profound and extensive teachings of whatever is suitable For the ears of sentient beings, who are the objects to be subdued.
IDAM GURU RATNA MANDALAKAM NIRYATAMI
Taking Refuge and Generating Bodhichitta
I go for refuge until I am enlightened.
To the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Supreme Assembly.
By my practice of giving and other perfections,
May I become a buddha to benefit all sentient beings. (3x)
Prayer for the Donor **(Optional)
If you wish to request on behalf of someone who is sick (or in need), at the moment of requesting,
recite the following:
Third Round
Homage
Lha dang lha min chö pän gyi
Zhab nyi pä mo la tü de
Phong pa kün lä dröl dzä päi
Dröl ma yum la chhag tshäl lo (7x with prostrations)
Strew flowers on the images. When you have sat down, present the following offerings in an
extensive way using the following verse, reciting the verse once for each offering – changing the
name of the offering being presented as appropriate. If there is no time, you can present the
offerings in an abbreviated way by omitting recitation of the verse.
Chö ying nam dag ye she rang zhin lä
Gyü lu nang töl pag mo chö yön* me
Chom den drol mä lha sog nye chir bül
- (zhab sil, me tog, dug pö, nang säl, dri chab, zhäl zä, röl mo)
- The words in brackets [ ] are optional.
OM ARYA TARE [SAPARIVARA]** ARGHAM (PADYAM, PUSHPE, DHUPE, ALOKE, GANDHE, NAIVIDYA, SHAPTA ) PRATICCHA HUM SVAHA
Adding the three syllables, the inner offering: (offer with ring finger of left hand)
OM ARYA TARE [SAPARIVARA]** OM AH HUM
The Seven Limbs
Je tsün dröl mäi zhab la gü chhag tshäl
Ngö sham yi trül chhö pa ma lü bül
Thog me nä sag dig tung tham chä shag
Kye phag ge wa nam la je yi rang
Khor wa ma tong bar du leg zhug nä
Dro la chhö kyi khor lo kor wa dang
Dag zhän ge nam jang chhub chhen por ngo
Kyab sum tham chä dü päi dag nyi je tsün phag ma dröl mäi lha tshog khor
dang chä pä jin dag [insert the name here] di dü ma yin par chhi päi jig pa lä
dröl / chhi me pa tshei rig dzin thob par jin gyi lab tu söl
Think that with a smile they accept your request.
Prayer for the Desired Goal
Leg tshog kün gyi jung nä ge wäi she
Sam dang jor wä tshül zhin gü ten zhing
Gyäl wa gye päi lam gyi gyü jang nä
La me jang chhub thob par dzä du söl (3x)
First Round
Homage
Lha dang lha min chö pän gyi
Zhab nyi pä mo la tü de
Phong pa kün lä dröl dzä päi
Dröl ma yum la chhag tshäl lo (7x with prostrations)
Strew flowers on the images. When you have sat down, present the following offerings in an extensive way using the following verse, reciting the verse once for each offering – changing the name of the offering being presented as appropriate. If there is no time, you can present the offerings in an abbreviated way by omitting recitation of the verse.
Pag me sö nam thob lä jung wa yi
Pag me yon tän chö yön* gya tsho di
Pag me gyäl yum dröl mäi tsog la bul
Pag me tsä tän yeshe ngö drub tsöl
- The words in brackets [ ] are optional.
OM ARYA TARE [SAPARIVARA]** ARGHAM (PADYAM, PUSHPE, DHUPE, ALOKE, GANDHE, NAIVIDYA, SHAPTA ) PRATICCHA HUM SVAHA
Heartfelt Request (Optional)
Recite this special heartfelt requesting prayer to Tara while imagining that you are clinging on to Tara’s toes: May my venerable lama’s life be firm, His white divine actions spread in the ten directions. May the torch of the teachings of Losang always remain, Dispelling the darkness of all beings in the three realms.
IDAM GURU RATNA MANDALAKAM NIRYATAMI
Taking Refuge and Generating Bodhichitta
I go for refuge until I am enlightened.
To the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Supreme Assembly.
By my practice of giving and other perfections,
May I become a buddha to benefit all sentient beings. (3x)
Let me and all those who need protection
Come under the supreme giving gesture of your right hand,
As well as the refuge-granting gesture
That liberates from all fears.
Then recite three times the Praise in Twenty-one Homages (pp. 22-27).
Request
Venerable Arya, great treasure of compassion, Grant your blessings to increase all favorable conditions
And to clear away every obstacle
That all migratory beingsmay swiftly enter the city of eternal joy. (3x)
I request venerable Arya Tara and the assembly of deities, who are embodi- ments of all the objects of refuge, To grant their blessings for the benefi- ciary (insert the name) to be free from the fear of untimely death and to achieve the state of immortality of a long life knowledge-holder. Think that with a smile they accept your request. Prayer for the Desired Goal
Please bless me to devote myself in thought and action To the virtuous teacher, the very source of all goodness. By training in the path that pleases all the conquerors, May I reach unsurpassed enlightenment. (3x) First Round
Homage
With their crowns at your lotus feet.
I prostrate to the liberating mother,
Who liberates from all misfortunes. (7x with prostrations)
Strew flowers on the images. When you have sat down, present the following offerings in an
extensive way using the following verse, reciting the verse once for each offering – changing the
name of the offering being presented as appropriate. If there is no time, you can present the
offerings in an abbreviated way by omitting recitation of the verse.
Arising from the power of unfathomable merit
Oceans of drinking water* which have unfathomable qualities I offer to the unfathomable multitude of Victorious Mother Liberators Please grant the attainment of unfathomable life and transcendental wisdom.
- The words in brackets [ ] are optional
. OM ARYA TARE [SAPARIVARA]** ARGHAM (PADYAM, PUSHPE, DHUPE, ALOKE, GANDHE, NAIVIDYA, SHAPTA ) PRATICCHA HUM SVAHA
Heartfelt Request (Optional)
Recite this special heartfelt requesting prayer to Tara while imagining that you are clinging on
to Tara’s toes:
Je tsün la mä ku tshe rab tän ching
Nam kar thrin lä chhog chur gyä pa dang
Lo zang tän päi drön me sa sum gyi
Dro wäi mün sel tag tu nä gyur chig
IDAM GURU RATNA MANDALAKAM NIRYATAMI
Taking Refuge and Generating Bodhichitta
Sang gyä chhö dang tshog kyi chhog nam la
Jang chhub bar du dag ni kyab su chhi
Dag gi jin sog gyi pa di dag gi
Dro la phän chhir sang gyä drub par shog (3x)
Prayer
Chhag yä chhog jin chhag gya nyi
Kyab jin chhag gyar gyur wäi og
Dag dang sung ja kün tsü nä
Jig pa kün lä ug yung gyur
Then recite three times the Praise in Twenty-one Homages (pp. 22-27).
Request
Thug jei ter chhen phag ma je tsün mä Kha nyam dro nam tän dei drong khyer du De lag drö päi bar chha kün zhi zhing Thün kyen ma lü phel war jin gyi lob (3x)
And, adding the three syllables, the inner offering: (offer with ring finger of left hand) OM ARYA TARE [SAPARIVARA]** OM AH HUM
The Seven Limbs
Je tsün dröl mäi zhab la gü chhag tshäl
Ngö sham yi trül chhö pa ma lü bül
Thog me nä sag dig tung tham chä shag
Kye phag ge wa nam la je yi rang
Khor wa ma tong bar du leg zhug nä
Dro la chhö kyi khor lo kor wa dang
Dag zhän ge nam jang chhub chhen por ngo
Long Mandala Offering in 23 Heaps
OM vajra bhumi AH HUM / wang chhen ser gyi sa zhi OM vajra rekhe AH HUM / chhi chag ri khor yug gi kor wäi ü su / rii gyäl po ri rab / shar lü phag po / lho dzam bu ling / nub ba lang chö / jang dra mi nyän / lü dang lü phag / nga yab dang nga yab zhän / yo dän dang lam chhog dro / dra mi nyän dang dra mi nyän gyi da Shar du lang po rin po chhe / lhor kyin dag rin po chhe / nub tu ta rin po chhe / jang du tsün mo rin po chhe /shar lhor mag pön rin po chhe / lho nub tu khor lo rin po chhe / nub jang du nor bu rin po chhe / jang shar du ter chen pöi bum pa
Nang gi shar du nyi ma / nub tu da wa Dag zhän lü ngag yi sum long chö du sum ge tshog chä Rin chhen mandala zang po kün zang chhö päi tshog chä pa Lo yi lang nä la ma yi dam kön chhog sum la bül Thug jei wang gi zhe nä dag la jin gyi lab tu söl
Four Mandala Offerings to Chittamani Tara 31
To the Buddhas abiding in the field of merit
This offering of drinking water* which appears but doesn’t have nature
Is offered with a mind understanding the offering to be the inseparability of
appearance and emptiness
Please accept it with the holy mind that experiences the offering as
appearance and emptiness in the nature of great bliss.
- (bathing water, flowers, incense, light, perfume, food, music)
- The words in brackets [ ] are optional.
OM ARYA TARE [SAPARIVARA]** ARGHAM (PADYAM, PUSHPE,
DHUPE, ALOKE, GANDHE, NAIVIDYA, SHAPTA ) PRATICCHA HUM
SVAHA
Adding the three syllables, the inner offering: (offer with ring finger of left hand) OM ARYA TARE [SAPARIVARA]** OM AH HUM
The Seven Limbs
To Arya Tara’s holy feet I prostrate. I present clouds of every type of offering, actual and imagined; I declare all my negative actions accumulated since beginningless time And rejoice in the merit of all holy and ordinary beings. Please, remain until the end of cyclic existence And turn the wheel of Dharma for living beings. I dedicate my own merits and those of all others to the great enlightenment.
Long Mandala Offering in 23 Heaps
Recite the long mandala offering (see pp. 18-19) as before.
Short Mandala Offering
This ground, anointed with perfume, strewn with flowers,
Adorned with Mount Meru, four continents, the sun and the moon:
I imagine this as a buddha-field and offer it.
May all living beings enjoy this pure land!
And, adding the three syllables, the inner offering: (offer with ring finger of left hand) OM ARYA TARE [SAPARIVARA]** OM AH HUM
The Seven Limbs
To Arya Tara’s holy feet I prostrate.
I present clouds of every type of offering, actual and imagined;
I declare all my negative actions accumulated since beginningless time
And rejoice in the merit of all holy and ordinary beings.
Please, remain until the end of cyclic existence
And turn the wheel of Dharma for living beings.
I dedicate my own merits and those of all others to the great
enlightenment.
Long Mandala Offering in 23 Heaps
Let us offer a buddha-field ...
OM vajra ground AH HUM, mighty golden ground. OM vajra fence AH
HUM.
Outside it is encircled by a wall of iron mountains. At the center is
Meru, king of mountains; the eastern continent, Videha (Tall-body Land),
the southern, Jambudvipa (Rose-apple Land), the western, Godaniya
(Cattle-gift Land), the northern, Kuru; [the eastern minor continents]
Deha and Videha, [the southern], Chamara and Apara-chamara (Chowrie-
land and western Chowrie-land), [the western], Satha and Uttara-mantrin
(Lands of the Deceitful and the Skilled in Mantra), [and the northern],
Kuru and Kaurava. In the east, the the precious elephant; in the south,
the precious housekeeper, in the west, the precious horse; in the north,
the precious queen.
In the southeast, the precious general; in the southwest, the precious
wheel; in the northwest, the precious jewel; in the northeast, the great
treasure vase. In the east, the sun; in the west, the moon.
My own and others’ body, speech, and mind, wealth and virtues, of the
three times,
This pure, precious mandala and a mass of Samantabhadra offerings, I mentally take and offer to my guru-yidam and the Three Precious Ones,
Please accept them through compassion and bestow your inspiration.
Sö nam zhing du shub bi sang gye la Nang la rang zhin me päi chö yön* di Nang tong yer me sem kyi bül lag na Nang tong de chhen tug kyi zhe su söl
- (zhab sil, me tog, dug pö, nang säl, dri chab, zhäl zä, röl mo)
- The words in brackets [ ] are optional.
OM ARYA TARE [SAPARIVARA]** ARGHAM (PADYAM, PUSHPE, DHUPE, ALOKE, GANDHE, NAIVIDYA, SHAPTA ) PRATICCHA HUM SVAHA
Adding the three syllables, the inner offering: (offer with ring finger of left hand)
OM ARYA TARE [SAPARIVARA]** OM AH HUM
The Seven Limbs
Je tsün dröl mäi zhab la gü chhag tshäl
Ngö sham yi trül chhö pa ma lü bül
Thog me nä sag dig tung tham chä shag
Kye phag ge wa nam la je yi rang
Khor wa ma tong bar du leg zhug nä
Dro la chhö kyi khor lo kor wa dang
Dag zhän ge nam jang chhub chhen por ngo
Long Mandala Offering in 23 Heaps
Recite the long mandala offering (see pp. 18-19) as before
Short Mandala Offering
Sa zhi pö kyi jug shing me tog tram
Ri rab ling zhi nyi dä gyän pa di
Sang gyä zhing du mig te ül wa yi
Dro kün nam dag zhing la chö par shog
Short Mandala Offering
Sa zhi pö kyi jug shing me tog tram
Ri rab ling zhi nyi dä gyän pa di
Sang gyä zhing du mig te ül wa yi
Dro kün nam dag zhing la chö par shog
Heartfelt Request (Optional)
Recite this special heartfelt requesting prayer to Tara while imagining that you are clinging on
to Tara’s toes:
Gang ri ra wä kor wäi zhing kham dir
Phän dang de wa ma lü jung wäi nä
Chän rä zig wang tän dzin gya tsho yi
Zhab pä si thäi bar du tän gyur chig
IDAM GURU RATNA MANDALAKAM NIRYATAMI
Taking Refuge and Generating Bodhichitta
Sang gyä chhö dang tshog kyi chhog nam la
Jang chhub bar du dag ni kyab su chhi
Dag gi jin sog gyi pa di dag gi
Dro la phän chhir sang gyä drub par shog (3x)
Chhag yä chhog jin chhag gya nyi
Kyab jin chhag gyar gyur wäi og
Dag dang sung ja kün tsü nä
Jig pa kün lä ug yung gyur
Then recite twice the Praise in Twenty-one Homages on pp. 22-27.
Four Mandala Offerings to Chittamani Tara 29
With your head at Tara’s feet, make the following request:
Request
Venerable Arya, great treasure of compassion,
Grant your blessings to increase all favorable conditions And to clear away every obstacle That all migratory beings may swiftly enter the city of eternal joy. (3x)
Prayer for the Donor **(Optional)
If you wish to request on behalf of someone who is sick (or in need), at the moment of request-
ing, recite the following:
I request venerable Arya Tara and the assembly of deities, who are em- bodiments of all the objects of refuge, To grant their blessings for the beneficiary [insert the name here] to be free from the fear of untimely death and to achieve the state of immortality of a long life knowledge-holder. Think that with a smile they accept your request.
Second Round
Homage
With their crowns at your lotus feet. I prostrate to the liberating mother, Who liberates from all misfortunes. (7x with prostrations)
Strew flowers on the images. When you have sat down, present the following offerings in an
extensive way using the following verse, reciting the verse once for each offering – changing the
name of the offering being presented as appropriate. If there is no time, you can present the
offerings in an abbreviated way by omitting recitation of the verse.
