PRAYERS BEFORE AND AFTER MEDITATION

A selection according to the Tibetan Gelugpa tradition

REFUGE

I go for refuge to the Buddha,
I go for refuge to the Dharma,
I go for refuge to the Sangha. (3x)

GENERATING BODHICITTA

By virtue of giving and so forth,
may I become a Buddha for the benefit of all sentient beings. (3x)

THE FOUR IMMEASURABLES

May all sentient beings have equanimity, free from attachment, aggression and prejudice.
May they be happy, and have the causes for happiness.
May they be free from suffering and causes for suffering.
May they never be separated from the happiness that is free from suffering. (3x)

THE SEVEN-LIMBED PRAYER

Respectfully I prostrate with body, speech and mind;
I present clouds of every type of offerings, actual and imagined;
I declare all the negative actions I have done since beginningless time,
and rejoice in the merit of all Aryas and ordinary beings.
Please teacher, remain until cyclic existence ends
and turn the wheel of Dharma for all sentient beings.
I dedicate the virtues of myself and others to the great Enlightenment.

LONG MANDALA OFFERING (to Chenresig)

OM VAJRA BHUMI AH HUM Great, pow'rful golden base.
OM VAJRA REKHE AH HUM Diamond-hard fence.
This iron fence encircles the outer ring.
In the center Mount Meru, king of all the mountains,

In the east is the continent Purva-Videha,
In the south Jambudvipa,
In the west Apara-Godaniya,
And in the north Uttarakuru.

In the east, are the islands Deha and Videha,
in the south, are Chamara and Apara-Chamara,
in the west, are Satha and Uttara-Mantrina,
in the north, are the islands Kurava and Kaurava.

In the east is the treasure mountain,
in the south the wish-granting tree,
in the west the wish-granting cow,
in the north is the unsown harvest.

Here are the precious wheel, precious jewel, precious queen, precious minister, precious elephant, precious horse, precious general and the great treasure vase.
Here are the beauty goddess, garland goddess, song goddess, dance goddess, flower goddess, incense goddess, light goddess and the goddess of perfume.
Here are the sun and the moon.
Here is the precious parasol, the banner of victory in every direction. In the center all treasures of both gods and men.

This excellent complete collection, I offer this base to You, Great Compassionate One, together with your deity-entourage.
Please accept with your compassion, these off'rings made by all suff'ring beings and bestow your loving blessings, on me and my countless mothers.

IDAM GURU RATNA-MANDALAKAM NIRYATAYAMI

SHORT MANDALA OFFERING

This ground I offer, as Buddha-fields,
Resplendent with flowers, incense and perfume
In the center Mount Meru, four lands, sun and moon,
May all sentient beings enjoy this Pure Land.

IDAM GURU RATNA-MANDALAKAM NIRYATAYAMI

DEDICATION PRAYERS

May all sentient beings have equanimity, free from attachment, aggression and prejudice.
May they be happy, and have the causes for happiness.
May they be free from suffering and causes for suffering.
May they never be separated from the happiness that is free from suffering. (3x)

By this virtue may I soon
reach a Guru-Buddha-state,
and lead each and every being
to that state of Buddhahood.

May the precious Bodhicitta
not yet born, arise and grow
may that born have no decline
but increase forever more.

In all my rebirths may I never be separated from perfect spiritual masters
and enjoy the magnificent Dharma.
Completing all qualities of the stages and paths,
May I quickly achieve the state of Vajradhara.

May anyone who merely sees or hears,
remembers, touches or talks to me,
be instantly freed from all sufferings
and abide in happiness forever.

It is only from the kindness of my Guru
that I have met the peerless teachings of the Buddha.
Thus, I dedicate all merit so that all sentient beings in the future
may be guided by kind and holy Gurus.

Until cyclic existence ends,
may the beneficial teachings not be blown away by the wind of superstitions.
May the entire world be filled
with people who have undersdtood and found firm faith in the true teachings.

Day and night, may I pass the time
thinking and examining by what means
these teachings can spread
in the minds of myself and others.

May all sentient beings - who have all been my mother and father - be completely happy,
and may the lower realms be forever empty.
May all the prayers of the bodhisattvas, wherever they live,
be immediately fulfilled.

May the glorious gurus live long,
and may all beings throughout limitless space have happiness.
By purifying our defilements and accumulating positive potential,
may I and all others be inspired to attain Buddhahood quickly.

May I never develop, even a moment,
wrong views towards the deeds of my glorious Gurus.
With respect and devotion, by seeing whatever actions they do as pure,
may the guru's inspiration flow into my mind.

In whatever way you appear, O glorious Guru,
whatever your retinue, ifespan and pure-land,
whatever your name, most noble and holy,
may I and all others attain only these.

In order to follow the excellent examples
set by the wisdom of the bodhisattva Manjushri
and the always sublime Samantabhadra,
I dedicate all virtues to their peerless ideals.

All conquerors of the three times
have praised this peerless dedication as sublime.
Therefore, I also surrender all roots of my activities
to the sublime goals of a bodhisattva.

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