Long Life Prayer for Tarthang Rinpoche

Tarthang Tulku Shab Ten Sol Deb Shuk So

KYE KYI TUK NI DORJE PA LAM DRA

KYE KYI TSEN TEN DAM TSIK DU THA ME

YE SHE SUM GYI DU NYING KYOB PA PO

KUN GA GE LEK TAR THANG RINPOCHE

RIK JIN LAMA SO NAM TSOK NYI JOK

CHAK TSEL SOL WA DEB SO SHAB TEN SOL

GYU PAI LA MO TUK CHU KUN DU NE

SO NAM MA LU DRUB PAI SEM PA CHE

TUK KYI DJAM TSEI DRO LA MA SHIN ZIK

TAK TU DJIN LAB CHAR SHIN PAB TU SOL

NYA NGEN MI DA SHUK PAR SOL WA DEB

As mentioned elsewhere, on December 7, 1977, at Oakland, California, I composed a Long Life Prayer for Tarthang Tulku. Gyaltrul Rinpoche translated this into Tibetan, and Nancy Gufstafson transliterated. The prayer was then published in a little hand-made, xeroxed "pecha," and through all these years, it seems I managed to keep one. It is in Tibetan, and transliterated Tibetan, but not English. Here, as best I can recall, is something near to the original English:

Long Life Prayer for Tarthang Tulku

Your heart is a diamond,

and your name is an eternal promise;

you who guard for future times

the wisdom of the three times;

O, Kunga Gelek, Tarthang Rinpoche,

in whom rests the lineage of supreme gurus,

and all perfections of wisdom and means;

we bow down and entreat you to remain.

You who are the Vajra Guru's heart,

and unsurpassable merit-maker;

in whom a gentle rain of blessing always falls;

we beg you not to call back your vision of this world.

This prayer was composed by [a sentimental friend], the 7th day of December 1977, at Oakland, California. May all merit be immediately transferred to all sentient beings. May all virtue increase.