THE PRAYER OF
LIBERATING LIGHT
A Brief Practice to Benefit the
Victims of Sudden Death
by
Drugu Choegyal Rinpoche
with expanded commentary by
Urgyan Tenpa Rinpoche
Introduction
Beings who suffer violent death experience intense terror and illusion. This is particularly true of beings that die in wars, by weapons, by accident, or by suicide. Unless we act to help free them, their mind streams remain trapped in recurring cycles of long-lasting, fearful deceptions.
Recognizing that in the future such suffering would become prevalent, the Precious Lotus-born Guru, Padmasambhava, prescribed a prac-tice to awaken these beings. This practice then remained hidden for over six hundred years, awaiting the auspicious combination of circumstances for its revelation.
These circumstances came about in the fourteenth century, in the person of Lhodrag Namka Gyeltsen (1326-1402), a terma master of the Nyingma lineage, who discovered Padmasambhava’s concealed treasure and named it the prayer to Buddha Tsonchei Mijigpai Gyalpo.
In the twenty-first century, the eighth Drugu Choegyal Rinpoche composed a practice based on the revealed text, together with the oral com-mentaries of the eighth Khamtrul Rinpoche, and H.H. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche. In Choegyal Rinpoche’s practice, Padmasambhava’s prayer to Tsonchei Mijigpai Gyalpo is conjoined with invocations of Akshobhya and Vajrapani. According to Rinpoche, this is done in conformance with the Rinchen Terdzod, the Akshobya Sutra, and the Zungsnatsog of Jamgong Mipham Rinpoche. Choegyal Rinpoche then published his work with an explicit transmission permission and special request that all Buddhists adopt the practice to help the dead.
Unfortunately, we all know of someone who has died suddenly and violently. This may be someone we have heard about, or it may even be someone we know personally, such as a friend or family member. Our knowledge also extends to entire classes of beings, such as those who have died in a given war, a given sort of accident, or by a particular weapon.
Often, our knowledge of such matters leaves a lingering imprint upon our consciousness and moves the heart in strange directions. We wish there was something we could do; yet, because we do not know what action to take, we become troubled and this leaves a type of stain. We know, vaguely, that we are “for peace,” but we do not know how to express our intention in any spiritually meaningful way. If these circumstances apply to you, permit me to suggest that I know of no better counteragent to the practice of violence than the practice to liberate its victims.
In our present state of mind, we may not be able to completely accept that a prayer has the power to liberate victims of wars, accidents, and other forms of violence. However, we must learn to trust and accept a Buddha’s word---which has never been broken in thousands of years. For example: the past Buddha Ratnaketu made a specific vow, stating, “May all who hear my name be liberated from rebirth in the inferior existences.” Similarly, one of the twelve vows of the Medicine Buddha, Bhaisajyaguru Vaiduryaprabharaja, demands that just hearing his name protects beings.
Thus, the following practice, which invokes the Buddha Tsonchei Mijigpai Gyalpo to relieve suffering, the Buddha Akshobhya to mitigate karmic consequences, and the Bodhisattva Vajrapani to protect, may be confidently applied to any beings we know, or have heard about, at any distance, near or far. It does not matter if those who have died are Buddhists or not, nor does time and space play any role. There is no limit to a Buddha’s compassion and no limit to a Buddha’s power. Although we usefully apply this practice within the first seventy-two hours following death, and through the forty-nine days of the intermediate stage between death and rebirth, it is also equally beneficial when applied to the long deceased. This practice is so powerful it will reach beings no matter where they may be.
The Prayer of Liberating Light is a gift from the mind of a Buddha to the Buddha-mind of mankind, shepherded by the boundless compassion of the Nyingma lineage of Tibetan Buddhism, and the intention of Choegyal Rinpoche.
Still, there is always some unpleasant news to report. Because he is an unrepentant thief, and has a black gift for twisting language, the Rinpoche in name only, Urgyan Tenpa, arrogantly corrected the translation of Choegyal Rinpoche’s practice, and wrote this poor excuse for his actions. On the great lunar tenth feast day, 3 September 2006, he caused this to be composed in the English language and printed for all sentient beings.
Preliminaries
In the following liturgical text, I have used phonetics only where I am recording mantras or mantric syllables, or indigenously composed and culturally specific prayers. A perfect example is the famous Seven-Line Prayer. This is composed by Padmasambhava in seven lines of seven syllables, for future people in future times, to invoke Padmasambhava, who indeed founded Buddhism in Tibet.
In all other cases, I employ English. As this publication is primarily directed to those for whom English is the native language, it seems unnecessary and indeed counterproductive, to demand that the entire liturgy be performed in a language with which one has absolutely no connection. In such instance, one is mindlessly repeating sounds without any meaning. You may be confident that any Buddha, Bodhisattva, or Dakini can hear, understand, and respond to any language in which they are addressed.
Main Practice
Refuge (repeat three times)
namo ratna trayaya
I take refuge in the Tathagata Tsonchei Mijigpai Gyalpo, the Tathagata who liberates bardo beings from all fears and illusions arising from death by weapons.
I take refuge in the Tathagata Akshobhya.
I take refuge in Vajrapani.
Please pacify all the fears of those who have died in accidents and in war.
Arousing Bodhicitta (repeat three times)
To obtain Buddhahood for the benefit of others, I generate bodhicitta, as aspiration, as action, and in its absolute meaning.
Instructions and Visualizations
After you have recited the above, engage in meditation to generate profound feelings of compassion and equanimity toward all beings, without exception. Although this practice is primarily directed to humans, it is of immense benefit to all sentient beings. You can visualize yourself as Avalokiteshvara and recite OM MANI PADME HUM numerous times, until you are absolutely confident of your feelings.
Next, visualize the minds of those who have died in accidents and from weapons as blue balls of light, each enclosed by a surrounding sphere of violet light. While reciting the prayers and mantras hereafter, the violet spheres disappear and the minds, visualized as blue lights, are finally free. You may repeat the prayers and mantras below as many times as you wish, pausing for meditation between each in order to generate powerful feelings.
Prayer to Buddha Tsonchei Mijigpai Gyalpo
chom den dhe de shin sheg pa dra chom pa yang dag par dzog pai sang gye tsonchei mijigpai gyalpo la chak tsal lo, kyabsu chio. jin gyi lhab tu sol.
Bhagawan, Tathagata, Arhat, Perfect Buddha. The One who liberates bardo beings from all fears and illusions arising from death by weapons, we prostrate to you. We take refuge. Please bestow your protection and blessings to all who have died in this manner.
Dharani of Buddha Akshobya
namo ratna trayaya om kamkani kamkani rotsani rotsani trotrani trotrani trasani trasani pratihana pratihana sarva karma parampara nime sarva sato nanyatsa sowha
Mantra of Vajrapani
om vajra chandra maha roshana hum phat,
om aprati hata vala hum phat,
sarva bhiganan antaraya vinashkara maraya hum phat.
Conclusion
The whole of existence is perceived as filled with the five wisdom lights; the luminous radiance of the fearless wisdom, love, and compassion of the Buddhas of all times and directions.
We speak directly to the liberated minds of the deceased beings and we remind them that all phenomena are illusory, including our concepts of living and dying. We remind the Buddhists among them to think of Buddha Amitabha, who will bring whoever prays to him directly to the Pure Land.
The practice ends with a dedication of merit and recitation of a concluding prayer:
I dedicate the merit of this action to the welfare of all sentient beings wandering in samsara, enduring sufferings of all kinds. May each and every one be free of wrongdoings and illusions. Following the path to supreme liberation, may they become filled with boundless joy, happiness, and wisdom.
May the hail of lava, fiery stones, and weapons
Henceforth become a rain of blossoms.
May those whose hell it is to fight and wound
Be turned to lovers offering their flowers.
May forests where the leaves are blades and swords
Become sweet groves and pleasant woodland glades.
On every side and in all the ten directions,
May groves of wish-fulfilling trees abound,
Resounding with the sweetness of the Teachings,
Spoken by the Buddhas and their Bodhisattva children.
Choegyal Rinpoche’s Colophon
May this teaching spread around the whole world so that in these times of war the mind streams of the dead will become free from fearful illusions. By the merit of this teaching and practice, may the loving and compassionate quality of their minds arise with clarity so that they will be reborn in a peaceful world, in heaven, or in Buddha fields. MANGALAM.
Urgyan Tenpa Rinpoche’s Colphon
Every day in this world, delusion leads sentient beings to cause the death of each other, deliberately and by accident. This teaching, which has the power to liberate beings afflicted by the suffering born of such delusion, is dedicated to the welfare of all sentient beings, without exception. May it become for them a cause of happiness. May it never become a cause of sorrow. SAMAYA.