Ocean of Offering Clouds: A Butter Lamp Prayer, by Gatön Ngawang Legpa

Ocean of Offering Clouds: A Butter Lamp Prayer

(mar me’i smon lam mchod sprin rgya mtsho bzhugs so)

by Gatön Ngawang Legpa

(dga’ ston ngag dbang legs pa, 1867-1941)

Translated from the Tibetan by Erick Tsiknopoulos

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RIN-CH’EN DANG-PO’I KONG-BU NI

These vessels for butter lamps, made of foremost precious materials,

TONG-SUM KHYÖN DANG NYAM-PA’Y NANG

Have insides equal to the breadth of the three thousand-fold universe,

TSI-MAR CHÜ KYIY YONG KANG-WA’Y

Which are thoroughly filled with the distillation of clarified butter;

KYIL DU DONG-BU RI-RAP TSAM

In the center of which are wicks the size of Mount Meru.

TSUK LA BAR-WA’Y MÉ-CHÉ NI

Their tongues of flame, burning where they are planted,

NGO-WO YÉ-SHEY NGA DEN LA

Are in essence imbued with the Five Deep Wisdoms;

NAM-PA NYI-MA DUNG-CH’UR GYI

While in aspect, blaze with the majestic brilliance

ZI-JIY BAR-WA’Y MAR-MÉ DIY

Of a hundred million suns: These butter lamps

CH’OK CHU NAM-KHA’Y KHAM KÜN KHYAP

Pervade all realms of space in the ten directions;

Ö KYI LONG NAY KÜN-ZANG GI

From their expanse of light, Samantabhadra’s

CH’Ö-TRIN GYAM-TS’O’I TRIN T’RO-WA

Oceanic clouds of offerings billow forth;

S’IY-T’A’Y BAR-DU TAK CH’Ö-PAY

And are perpetually offered, up to the limits of conditioned existence.

DAK DANG DAK LA DREL-T’OK KYI

May the focal objects [of those concerned in my prayer], of myself and those connected to me,

MIK-YUL SHIN SÖN CHI CHIY-PA’Y

Living and dead, whoever they may be,

TS’OK NYIY DZOK SHING DRIP NYIY JANG

Complete the Two Collections and purify the Two Obscurations;

LA-MEY JANG-CH’UP NYUR T’OP SHOK

And swiftly attain unsurpassed Awakening.

And thus was it spoken by Gatön Vāgindra (dga’ ston waa gin dra).

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Translated from the Tibetan by Erick Tsiknopoulos, January 7-8th 2017, in Boudhanath, Kathmandu, Nepal.