Old Photo of Tarthang Rinpoche

This is an old photograph of H.H. Tarthang Rinpoche and Nazli Pema, taken circa 1967.

Dzogchen Sadhana by Dudjom Rinpoche

Introduction.

During a visit to the United States of America, His Holiness Dudjom Rinpoche, Jigdral Yeshe Dorje, late Supreme Head of the Nyingma Sect of Buddhism as practiced in Tibet, composed the following brief sadhana at the request of Jetsun Pema Chonzin Sanga Wangmo, in New York, when she was still quite young. In some sense, perhaps she was working to find a balance between the tradition of her predecessor and the demands of life in the West. Quite probably, His Holiness sensed her dilemma. This sadhana is thus intended to support non-conceptual meditation in the Dzogchen tradition, and—as with all gems springing from the ocean-like mind of Dudjom Rinpoche—is particularly suited to the current time. This work was first published in Darjeeling, India, in an edition of 500 copies, in 1970. Now, thirty-seven years later, Tenpa Rinpoche has decided to cause a completely revised edition of this work, which is dedicated to the welfare of all sentient beings. Note that in the following, performance instructions are printed in italics, and the English translation immediately follows the Romanized Tibetan. May this be auspicious!

The Sadhana

[1] Refuge.
Repeat three times, with folded hands.
chog-sum kun-du lamar kyab-su-chi
I pay homage to my Guru, the embodiment of Buddha, Dharma,
and Sangha.

[2] Shaping of Motive.
Repeat three times with hands at the heart.
sem-kay kha-khyab dro-wai dhon-du-jug
I dedicate myself to the welfare of all living beings covered by the
sky.

[3] Purification.
Visualize that Vajrasattva is seated above your head. As you recite this verse, a stream of nectar descends from Vajrasattva and enters you, through the crown of your head. This stream of nectar completely washes away your sins and obscurations.
chi-wor dor-sem ku-lay dud-tse-yi gyun
bab-pay dag-gi dig-drip ma-lu-jang
From the figure of Vajrasattva sitting atop my head, a stream of
nectar descends and completely cleanses away my sins and obscurations.

Now repeat the short mantra of Vajrasattva 111 times.

om-vajra-satava-hum

[4] Self-generation of the Deity and Visualization of
the Guru.
Imagine that your purified body is instantly transformed into the red dakini, Naljorma. Visualize that your own Guru is seated directly in front of you, at eye-level. As you watch, your Guru transforms into Padmasambhava, with whom he is understood to be identical, and you say the following:
rang-nyd nal-jor ma-pal dun-kha-ru
tsa-wai lama pay-jung nyo-su-shug
I transform myself into a yogini. I visualize my Guru as identical to
Guru Padmasambhava, sitting in front of me, facing me.

[5] Mandala Offering.
Place your hands into the mudra of Mount Meru and the worlds of the four directions.
Believe that you are offering the entire universe to Guru Padmasambhava.
Repeat three times.
kham-sum nod-chud rang-lu phung-kham-che
zag-me de-tong man-dal tsog-su-bul
I offer the Guru the mandala of Sunyata-Bliss, created out of all
that the Three Realms, including myself, contain.

[6] Prayer to the Guru.
kyab-kun nso-wo khyab-dak lama-la
nying-nay sol-wa dep-so chin-gi-lob
Of all the Protectors, the all-pervading Guru is the real Protector.
From the center of my heart, I invoke your blessings. Bless me,
please.

Now repeat the Vajra Guru mantra 111 times.

om-ah-hum vajra-guru padma-siddhi-hum

[7] Blessings and Initiations.
Believe that you have received the Guru’s blessings and the four tantric initiations, and then repeat the following. Afterwards, remain in the non-conceptual mind as long as possible.
sang-sum chin-lab wang-shi yong-zog-thob
lama-rang-sem yer-med zog-pa-che
lo-drl rig-tong-jen-pa dod-mai-shi
ye-yin don-ki lamai rang-shal-ta
I have fully received the Three Sacred Blessings and the Four Initiations. Seeing the Guru and myself in a non-dualistic manner is the great dissolution. The non-conceptual mind is called the raw void: rigpa. This is the primordial mind. This is the face of the real Guru.

[8] Dedication of Merit.
As you dissolve the meditation, dedicate all merit you have earned to the benefit of
others.
gye-tsog tha-ye dro-wai don-du ngo
kyun-kyang dorje-zin-pai sa-thob-sho
May the boundless merits I have earned through this practice be
of benefit to all sentient beings. May they attain the state of
Vajradhara.

[9] Generation of Proper World-View.
nang-drak rik-pa lamai-ku-sung-thug
dag-pa ram-jam tashi-delay-sho
Whatever I see, hear, and think is the form, the voice, and the mind of the Guru. May everything be pure and divine. May good luck prevail for all.

A Brief Tsog by Jigme Lingpa

A Brief Offering Ritual for Daily Practice
Jigme Lingpa

The incomparable Nyingmapa visionary, Jigme Lingpa (1730 – 1798), foresaw a future when sentient beings would have neither the time nor the inclination for spiritual practice. To assist sentient beings in this degenerate era, and from the depth of his compassion, he composed the following brief tsog, or offering ritual. Although this tsog is indeed abbreviated, nevertheless, it lacks nothing. Sincere daily practice, with either visualized or other offerings, will bring swift results.

ram yam kham, om ah hum
tsog dze deu yon ye she rol pa’i gyen (bell, drum)
The materials of offering; the objects of enjoyment ornamented by the play of wisdom:
tsog je tsog dak rig dzin la ma dang
den sum kyil khor ne yul nyer zhi’i dak
pa wo khandro dam chen cho srung nam (bell, drum)
Lord of the Assemblage, Master of the Assemblage, the Knowledge-holding Lama, and Mandalas of the Three Seats; Lords of the Twenty-Four Sacred Places, Dakas, Dakinis, Vow-holding Protectors of the Doctrine:
dir shek long kyeud tsog kyi cho pa zhe (bell, drum)
Come accept offerings.
gal trul nong dang dam tsik nyam chak shak (bell, drum)
I confess deviations, delusions, and impairments of the Samaya.
chi nang bar ched cho kyi ying su drol (bell, drum)
Liberate in the Dharmadatu outer and inner obstacles.
lhag tor zhe la tin le drup par dzod (bell, drum)
Accept the remaining tormas and carry out your activities.
om guru dewa dakini gana tsatra putsa ho,
utsita balingta kha hi (bell, drum)