The Prayer for the Stages of the Path (The Lamrim Prayer)
lam rim smon lam bzhugs so
By Je Tsongkhapa (rje tsong kha pa)
DER NI RING DU BAY LAY TS’HOG NYII NI
Through the two accumulations which come from exerting oneself for a long time,
KHA TAR YANG PA GANG ZHIG SAG PA DEY
which are gathered broadly like the sky,
LO MIG MA RIG GII DONG DRO WA KUN
may I become the Lord of Victorious Ones who fully guides
NAM DREN GYEL WAY WANG POR DAG GYUR CHIG
all beings who are blinded through the ignorance in their mind’s eyes.
DER MA SON PAY TS’HE RAB KUEN TU YANG
Until I arrive there, in all lifetimes, as well,
JAM PAY YANG KYII TSE WAY JE ZUNG NAY
through being taken under the care of Manjushri’s love,
TEN PAY RIM PA KUN TS’HANG LAM GYI CHHOG
may I find the supreme path which has all of the stages of the Teachings complete,
NYEY NAY DRUB PAY GYAL NAM NYEY JEY SHOG
and practicing it, may I gladden the Victorious Ones.
RANG GII JI ZHIN TOG PAY LAM GYI NAY
May I, through realizing the core of the path,
SHUG DRAG TSE WAY DRANG PAY T’HAB KHAY KYII
and through expertise in skillful means which encourage others through intense love,
DRO WAY YI KYI MUN PA SEL JAY NAY
may I dispel the darkness of beings’ minds,
GYAL WAY TEN PA YUN RING DZIN GYUR CHIG
and for a long time, may I hold the teachings of the Victorious One.
TEN PA RIN CHHEN CHHOG GII MA KHYAB PA’AM
If the supremely precious teachings do not spread,
KHYAB KYANG NYAM PAR GYUR PAY CHHOG DER NI
or even if they do, if they come to be degenerate,
NYING JE CHHEN POE YI RAB KYOE PA YI
through great compassion, may the treasure of benefit and happiness
P’HEN DEY TER DE SEL WAR JEY PAR SHOG
of mind’s full activation illuminate and shine.
SRAY CHAY GYAL WAY MAY JUNG T’HRIN LAY LAY
Through the marvelous awakened activity of the Bodhisattva Heirs and their Kings,
LEG DRUB JANG CHHUB LAM GYI RIM PAY KYANG
and through the stages of the path to enlightenment, finely accomplished,
T’HAR DOE NAM KYI YI LA PAL TER ZHING
may splendor be bestowed in the minds of those who long for liberation,
GYAL WAY DZAY PAY RING DU KYONG GYUR CHIG
and may the deeds of the Victorious Ones be nurtured for a long time.
LAM ZANG DRUB PAY T’HUN KYEN DRUB JEY CHING
May conditions conducive for the practice of the excellent path be established,
GEL KYEN SEL JEY MI DANG MI MIN KUN
and may adverse circumstances be dispelled. May all humans and non-humans,
TS’HE RAB KUN TU GYAL WAY NGAG PA YI
in all lifetimes, never be separated
NAM DAG LAM DANG DREL WAR MA GYUR CHIG
from the completely pure path praised by the Victorious One.
GANG TSH’E T’HEG PA CHHOG LA CHHOE CHOE CHU’I
At the point when I am diligent in the practice of
TS’HAL ZHIN DRUB LA TSOEN PA DE YI TS’E
the ten Dharma activities of the Supreme Vehicle, at that time,
T’HU DEN NAM KYII TAG TU DROG JEY CHING
may I always associate with Those Imbued with Extraordinary Power,
TRA SHII GYA TS’HOE CHHOG KUN KHYAB GYUR CHIG
and may the ocean of auspiciousness pervade all directions!
Thus, this was composed by the Great Tsongkhapa.
Note:
The “ten Mahayana Dharma activities” are 1) {yi ge bri ba}, transcribing or writing out copies of the teachings 2) {mchod pa}, making offerings to the Three Jewels 3) {sbyin pa}, giving 4) {chos nyan pa}, listening to the Dharma teachings 5) {klog pa}, reading the teachings, 6) {‘dzin pa}, memorizing the teachings 7) {rab du ston pa}, thoroughly instructing others 8 ) {kha ‘don byed pa}, reciting the teachings 9) {sems pa}, contemplation, and 10) {sgom pa}, meditation.
Translated by Erick Sherab Zangpo.
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