Thanksgiving Liturgy

E MA HO!  Namo Buddhaya  Namo Dharmaya   Namo Sanghaya

Homage to the Buddha the Enlightened One, the One who has crossed the Water

Homage to the Dharma the teachings of the Enlightened One the path, the boat to cross the Water

Homage to the Sangha the Lamas and Spiritual Friends who guide us on the path, the oars which propel and guide the boat across the Water

For the benefit of all beings you are a ship, a bridge for all who wish to cross the water.

To the One who Sees the Ten Directions

To the One who hears us call from the Three Times

To the One who Liberates upon Hearing and Seeing

To the One who conquers Mara and dispels darkness

Homage and Gratitude for the tear of Compassion which fell from your Wisdom Eye for the World, I Bow

Homage and Gratitude for your perfect hand which Turned the Wheel of the Dharma for all beings, I Bow

Homage and Gratitude for the Sublime Medicine which cures all ills, I Bow

Homage and Gratitude for the rain of Mantra Garlands cast out upon the Ocean of Samsara for the benefit of all beings, I Bow

OM MANI PEME HUNG

The great Mantra of Liberation

The skillful means from the Wisdom Eye of the Great Compassionate One

May all who hear these words find Peace.   SOHA!

A brief explanation of the Prayer of Homage and Gratitude:

This prayer has been composed for the benefit of all beings in the traditional mode used by Vajrayana Buddhist teachers. This is a brief explanation of some of the traditional word symbology used in this and other traditional texts. 

In Vajrayana Buddhism, also known in the west as Tibetan Buddhism, poetic language is often used to analogize such concepts and topics as the Four Noble Truths (The historical Buddha Shakyamuni's first teaching).  When the word Ocean or Water is used this often refers to Samsara: the condition of suffering, such as "the Ocean of Samsara."  The ten Directions being: Up, Down, North, South, East, West, North-East, South-East, North-West, South-West. The three times refers to the Past, the Present, and the Future, of which the Enlightened one knows simultaneously. The tear of Compassion refers to the Buddha's generation of the aspiration to help all beings. Dharma is the teachings of the Buddha. The term "Turning the Wheel of the Dharma" refers to a cycle of teaching the Enlightened One taught for the benefit of all Beings. The "Light of Liberation which dispels the darkness of suffering," in this context refers to the wisdom of the teachings in the Dharma. The "sublime Medicine"  refers for the skillful means which cures the affliction of suffering for all beings.  The Mantra, OM MANI PEME HUNG, purifies conflicted emotions and liberates beings from suffering with out exception. 

May this Prayer and explanation of Homage and Gratitude help all beings vast as space. 

Written on the day of the Dakini in the Tibetan Claender 2137 the Year of the Iron Tiger by the one called Khandro. 

To the Glorious Karma Kaygu and the fearless Guru, I bow. 

Karmapa Chenno!

Aspiration

Just as Tara swiftly fulfills the wishes of all beings from the three times to the reaches of the ten directions,
May my activity be just as Jetsun Araya Taras.

As long as the Ocean of Suffering remains full,
As long as beings wander,
May I too remain for the benefit of all beings with out exception.

Until the very ocean of Samsara empties may I remain.

As Lord Ananda said “and even should the nature of shunyata melt away, my vajra-like supreme resolve would still remain unmoved.”

May all the sufferings of all beings from the three times and the reaches of the ten directions limitless as space may there sufferings ripen in me.

May they be free from suffering and its causes,
May they enjoy limitless happiness.

May the Buddha Dharma flourish.

May the activity of the glorious Karma Kaygu grow and blossom.

~ Aspiration written by Lama Tsultrim Khandro

"Buddhism is a lived tradition. It survives and is passed on from teacher to student in an unbroken lineage since the time of Lord Buddha himself. The act of passing the teaching on is a gift only realized as a precious blessing when lived by the student. When one hears, contemplates and practices what is taught, one is walking and living on the Path. "

~ Lama Tsultrim Khandro, Year of the Iron Tiger