Tibetan Buddhist Prayers

Prayer is not a mindless, mechanical repetition of sutras or chanting of sutras; it is an opening of our hearts to connect and communicate with our Buddha nature.

A successful meditation session, be they silent seated meditation or dynamic vocal chanting, hinges upon our state of mind. Thus, words of prayer serve as a reminder of our purpose and goal of our meditation session, which is critical in creating the cause for whatever we are praying for ot occur in the future.

The following are Tibetan Buddhist prayers to be said at the beginning and before ending of a meditation session:

Prayers to be said at the start of a meditation session:

#1 – Prayer of refuge and bodhichitta

I go for refuge until am enlightened

To the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Supreme Assembly

By my practice of giving and other perfections,

May I become a Buddha to benefit all sentient being,. (3 times)

#2 -The four immeasurable thoughts

May all sentient beings have happiness and the causes of happiness;

May all sentient beings be free from suffering and the causes of suffering;

May all sentient beings be inseparable from the happiness that is free from suffering;

May all sentient beings abide in equanimity,

Free from attachment and anger that hold some close and others distant.

#3 – Refuge in the guru

The guru is Buddha,

The guru is Dharma,

The guru is Sangha, also;

The guru is the creator of all (happiness);

To all gurus I go for refuge (3 times)

#4 – The seven limbs

Reverently, I prostrate with my body, speech, and mind;

I present clouds of every type of offering, actual and imagined;

I declare all my negative actions accumulated since beginningless time

And rejoice in the merit of all holy and ordinary beings.

Please, remain until the end of cyclic existence

And turn the wheel of Dharma for living beings

I dedicate my own merits and those of all others to the great enlightenment.

Prayers to be said at the conclusion of a meditation session

#5 – Dedication of merit

Due to the merits of these virtuous actions

May I quickly attain the state of a guru-Buddha

And lead all living beings, without exception,

Into that enlightened state.

#6 – Bodhichitta prayer

May the supreme jewel bodhichitta

That has not arisen, arise and grow;

And may that which has arisen not diminish

But increase more and more.