A Concise Set of

Buddhist Healing Prayers and Practices

6th edition

by Jason Espada
“It is said that whenever we practice Dharma it should always be
pervaded by compassion at all times – in the beginning, in the
middle and at the end of our practice. Compassion is the source,
the real essence of the entire path.”

- Khenpo Appey Rinpoche

We are each a part of healing across generations,

and there are the resources available in spiritual traditions
that we can use to accomplish our aims…

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Preface - I

This edition revised on March 21st, 2020.

Preface to the third edition

From the mid-summer of 2012, to mid 2013, I had the opportunity to go on a

retreat where I focussed on healing practice. This had many benefits for me
personally, among them being that I was able to see more clearly just what is
essential for me in these practices. Engaging any form of meditation over
time is certainly an evolving process of experimentation and discovery, and
finding ways to stabilize and integrate what we experience in formal
practice. This edition, then, reflects where I am now (May of 2014) with
this manner of learning and practice. May it bring benefit to others, peace,
joy, and health.

Jason Espada
San Francisco,
May 29th, 2014
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Preface - II

A Concise Set of Buddhist Healing Prayers and Practices – Preface to the

first edition

In April of 2009, I was able to complete the first edition of A Collection of

Buddhist Healing Prayers and Practices. That work contains background
essays on the foundation of healing in Buddhism, as I understand it, as well
as a good deal of supplementary material, such as Tibetan Buddhist
Sadhanas (practice texts, or ‘methods of accomplishment’). I felt it was
necessary to set the practices that are used for healing in their proper
context, as part of Buddhist Tradition, and also to show how they can be
used by someone today, in 21st century American culture.

Over the last two years, I’ve written a few more essays, and some more
poetry that I plan to include in later editions of that book. I’ve also
continued to practice with a concise set of reflections, prayers and
visualizations, that is relatively just a few pages. Almost as soon as I
finished the first work I thought it would be good to have a brief text that
can be used for daily practice, or that can be taken as a suggestion for
another person who wants to draw together various prayers and practices for
their own personal use.

In updated versions of the larger book, I’ve removed some of the repetition
that was put there to avoid too much page turning. The concise set of
prayers and practices that I would like to offer here will also be included the
later editions of A Collection. Hopefully the revisions to that larger work
will make it easier to use. At the same time, I hope to offer here a brief set
of Buddhist healing prayers and practices, containing all of the essential
practical points. Those who want to know more about the underlying
theory, and have more resources to bring into their practice are referred to
the larger work.

Why the Buddha is regarded as the Supreme Healer

{and how this all fits together}

To my mind, there are two reasons why the Buddha has been regarded
throughout time as the Supreme Healer:
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Preface - II

The first is that the Buddha saw not only suffering, but its causes as well,
rooted in ignorance, and, from his very first talk, proposed a remedy to all
suffering. By developing the wisdom of insight into our own nature, the
Buddha taught that we can become free from all karma and delusions, and
all harm. This is a radical proposition that, over two millennia, many have
investigated and verified.

If a person goes to an ordinary doctor, with one problem or illness, that is

what they will be treated for. By comparison, it is said that this profound
remedy goes to the cause of the entire range of our sufferings. Next to a
medical model that treats only one symptom, or a few symptoms, this is
vastly different, as it goes unimaginably further. It aims to cure all the
oceans of samsaric sufferings, over countless lifetimes, that living beings
experience.

A second reason why the Buddha as been thought of as the Supreme Healer
is the scope of the enlightened person’s concern, which includes every
aspect of our life, health and well being, from the material and
psychological, to the most subtle, spiritual levels. It is care that is
comprehensive, all inclusive, and it is for all living beings. It is this range,
the depth as well as this breadth of love and compassion, that distinguishes
the Buddha.

Over two millennia, then, born of wisdom and compassion, many Skillful
Means have been developed by the followers of the Buddha, and those with
realizations, to meet the needs of beings.

These methods are what are offered in the Traditions.

There are many ways for the Divine Light and Healing Energy to pour into
this world. If we feel we have an affinity with these teachings, we are
invited to try these methods and see if they work for us. When we do, we
may have the experience that we are supported as well by all the great pure
energy of the Saints and Noble practitioners of the Lineages.

All of this has its source in the life of wisdom and compassion of the
Founder. All of these teachings and practices can be seen as the continuation
of activity of that realized life. And so I join my voice with those of the past
and present, and sing with them, as part of one traditional verse of praise:
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Preface - II

Homage to the Completely Perfected, Fully Awakened Being,

the Supreme Guide

Homage to the Fully Awakened One, The Glorious Conqueror,

the Subduer from the Shakya Clan

And, from the Seventh Dalai Lama:

Honor to Buddha, the supreme sage,

the cosmic overlord who awakens
all beings from drunken ignorance
by manifesting the hundredfold light
of truth’s brilliant door.

May all the benefit that can come from healing practice
be received by all living beings,
each according to their need,
and, in whatever way I can, may I be the cause of that

A few words here on contemplation, prayer, and mantra practice

As Thrangu Rinpoche taught, the shortest form of a sadhana, or ‘method of

accomplishment’, is the mantra itself. Anything more than that is just to
improve our sense of what we are doing, and the effectiveness of a particular
practice. How many or how few reflections and prayers are used by a
person is purely an individual matter. We should do whatever works best for
us.

Any one of the selections offered here can be used by itself alone as a basis
for reflection, prayer, or mantra practice. However we make use of material
such as this, we should know that right from the beginning reflections, we
are already doing the practice – of generating positive, helpful, healing
qualities. That is always the aim.

Traditionally, practicing a sadhana includes visualization and the recitation

of mantra, however, for most people, most of the time, these are not the only
components of an effective practice. The recitation of mantra and the
element of quiet meditation are presented here, of course, and a part of the
practice should be given to them . The proportion is up to each individual,
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Preface - II

and what works best for them. The reason I would like to present the
practice in the following way is because of the importance of contemplation
as a basis for the rest of whatever practice we do.

Over the long term, contemplation that produces a response from our deeper
nature, is, in fact, absolutely necessary for prayer and mantra practice to
have any meaning or energy behind it. This doesn’t mean we have to spend
a lot of time on the level of thinking. Sometimes thinking too much can
keep things on the surface. But what it does mean is that our deeper
resources need to be brought to bear in our life. When this happens,
everything flows naturally, in prayer and various kinds of meditation
practice that we do.

With our fundamental humanity, our deep nature as a basis, it can happen
that we are continually generating positive energies. This is how the main
reflections offered here, such as ‘I live in this world’ should be read – with
this aim in mind – to produce a response from our deeper nature. Thoughts
such as these can be used to this end. Reflections, and either our own
writings or those we’ve collected, can orient and empower the mind. Then,
everything follows from this.

This, essentially, is what is referred to in Tibetan Buddhism as ‘thought

training’. By engaging some difficult or suffering situation with a positive
motivation, we can turn it into a cause of benefit in our own lives and in the
lives of the world. Instead of being overwhelmed or depressed by it, we can
be made clear by it, and strengthened to live and act in the world with
greater wisdom and compassion.

In his book ‘Becoming Enlightened’, His Holiness the Dalai Lama compared
the Dharma, or Buddhist teachings, to a medicine that needs to be used
skillfully to get the best result. So experiment and see for yourself what
works best with all of this for you. Sometimes, without reading anything at
all, you might like to try ‘informal’, semi formal, or less conceptual
practice. Then, at other times, try reading texts, or poetry, and practicing
with some consistency, and see what happens.

Over the past two years, I’ve found it helpful to periodically go through this
set of reflections and prayers, slowly, from the opening, ‘O My ten
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Preface - II

directions three times family…’ through the mantra recitation, quiet

meditation, and dedication prayers.

Then, if a sense of perspective is already there, I’ve seen that the practice
offered here can work also just using the short section called ‘A Healing
Buddha Practice, with notes’, beginning on page 44, which is only about 20
pages, or less, if only the sections in bold type are read. Even that much can
be effective for guiding the mind in a positive direction. In fact, sometimes
just reading and reflecting on one or two pages is enough.

Getting a positive result is really all that matters.

These are practices that can heal, and that can work to prevent illness, or to
shorten their duration.

There is one application of these teachings that has proven itself for me, that
I would like to mention: I’ve noticed that if I’m beginning to feel unwell in
some way, or an imbalance of the elements, then practicing in the following
way always helps. I’ll wake early and, half asleep, I’ll do a brief form of the
practice, just reciting the mantra, and visualizing light, followed by some
quiet meditation. Then I’ll go back to sleep. I’ve noticed that whatever
positive energy I can begin to cultivate will then continue in my sleep, and
that I’ll wake up feeling much better. Experiment and see what works best
for you.

Here is another simple device that can benefit: along with having an image
of the Healing Buddha, and my main teacher, I’ve found to be useful as well
to write the names of a few teachers I have a good connection with on a
piece of paper and set that to one side, within view, while practicing. When I
glance at these names I do feel genuinely supported by them. For my own
purposes I’ve been calling this ‘the power of the name’. If approached with
devotion and creativity, we make the practices more our own. This is my
thought, at least.

I’ve also taken to keeping a list of specific people and situations that I want
to pray for. I review this list from time to time, and add to it. Then, at times
before practicing, I think of these people and their needs, and after recitation
and meditation, when making dedication prayers, at a certain point I can
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Preface - II

read through this list again. This is something that is done in healing circles
and at meditation centers, and I find it to be very helpful.

When using the following material for formal practice, sections with titles
such as ‘On Tonglen’, or ‘On the Refuge Tree’ need only be read through the
first time, or as needed after that to improve one’s understanding.

It’s my wish that anyone that this finds its way to - use this in whatever way
is most helpful. Feel free to use whatever you like, to use it as it is, or to
add, subtract, borrow or change what is here to suit your purpose. It’s a 

work in progress for me as well, and if I’m blessed with more years on this
earth, I’ll certainly be revising and improving it myself, and sharing that.
For now, here is what I’ve found to be most useful.

Nine Bows

Homage to all that is healing

in a person’s life,
in Traditions,
and in the world

Homage to all that is healing

in the lives of Saints and Sages,
in this practice,
and in my own mind

and

Homage to all that is healing

in the Stream of Ancestral Teachers,
in the immediate Community of support,
and in our positive motivations

Many many bright blessings on you and yours. A table of contents follows.

May all beings benefit.

 !8

Preface to the third edition page 1

Preface to the first edition 2

Part I: Introductory Prayers and Reflections

1. O, All my ten directions three times family 12

2. All my family 13

3. I live in this world 14

On Tonglen – Taking and Sending 23

4. Taking and Giving Prayer – I 25

5. Vow 26

6. Taking and Giving Prayer – II 28

7. a sun prayer 32

8. a thorough going prayer 33

9. By this practice 34

10. Such is the nature 35

11. Why don’t we 38

12. I bring to mind 41

13. For the sake of those 42

14. A reflection from ‘The Healing Buddha’, translated by Lama Zopa

Rinpoche
43
 !9

15. There is nothing that is valued in this world as much as health 45

Part II: A Healing Buddha practice, with notes page 46

1. Motivation I 47

Prayers of aspiration, bringing forward love and compassion

The Four Immeasurables, Bodhicitta and Refuge 48

On the Refuge Tree 51

On the form of the Medicine Buddha 52

Wisdom and Compassion: 54

2. Requesting Prayers 56

3. Instructions for visualization and mantra recitation 58

4. Concluding practices 62

Dedication 65

On Tonglen 67

A Healing Buddha practice 69

Part III: Material for reflection

A list of things that are healing 73

In the Healing Buddha’s Pure Land 78

The Staff of Wisdom and Healing Waters - A Parable 80

Great Universal Healing Energy 84

 !10

Part IV: Dedication

On Dedication Prayer 88

Dedications Prayers 92

Recommended Reading 119



 !11

Homage to all the ten directions and three times

Buddhas and Bodhisattvas!

 !12
Part I: Introductory Prayers and Reflections - I

O, All my ten directions three times family,

near and distant relations,

May I make a gift of my life

May my life, and this practice benefit us all,

all living beings
pervading all existences

every mind,
every body, every cell
earth and sky

May this practice surely benefit us all, extensively

May all my past, present and future selves benefit from this
and may all the past, present and future selves of all beings
benefit from this

By this practice, may we all be completely free from all illness,

spirit harm, and from all the painful, hallucinated afflictive emotions forever

May we all be free from all samsaric states forever

May all beings completely realize the Dharmakaya

May this practice be the medicine that frees everyone from suffering1

May this bring health wherever it is needed

May this bring about the firm establishment of true health and well being,
long life, and happiness for us all

1 a prayer inspired by the Noble Spiritual Friend Lama Zopa Rinpoche

 !13

Part I: Introductory Prayers and Reflections - II

All my family
in all the world
All my relations

All my African brothers and sisters,

aunts and uncles,
grandmothers, grandfathers,
little ones,

All my family in Central Asia, and in East Asia,

All my family in the Americas
North, Central and South,
All my Caribbean family,

And in Europe, North, East, and West

and in the Mediterranean,
and in the Middle East

Mothers, fathers, children,

brothers, sisters,
elders,

Island Peoples,
and all my family in the far North and far South,

All my Native family,

All my family here in the USA

Mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers,

aunts, uncles, young children, dear friends…

All my relations

 !14
Part I: Introductory Prayers and Reflections - III
I live in this world

I live in this world

of joy, and sorrow

of comfort and ease,

and of struggle, and pain

of friendship, and community

and of loneliness and isolation

I live in this world of riches and poverty

of abundance and of hunger

I live in this world where there is health

and there is illness

Where some people can only try to care for themselves,

while others are at the point where, more and more, they have thinking about
and caring for others as the aim and activities of their life
Bless them all
Bless them all
O, Bless them all

There are people serving others in this world -

there are people taking joy in that
and again and again I celebrate all those good actions
May they blessed

I live in this world

where many are in need of a protector,
where many are in need of an advocate

where many people do not have even a basic education…

Today, in this world, there are many who are kept back from doing good
things because of some illness of body or mind
 !15
Part I: Introductory Prayers and Reflections - III
I live in this world

Today there are many who are broken-hearted

Today there are many who have been hurt in relationships

May there be an abundance of heart medicine,

an abundance of earth and sky medicine today
for all of those who need it
as much as is ever necessary

Today, there are many who have had their families broken
Today, there are many who are grieving

Today there are many who have experienced an unexpected death

in the family
May they all be comforted

Every day in this world

there are people who are facing illness, and who are experiencing pain:
children, teenagers, adults, the middle-aged, the elderly;
those who are alone, and those with problems of the mind

I live in this world where there are people who are disturbed to some extent,
or who suffer from depression

This is the truth

I live in this world where some people don’t love themselves,

they don’t cherish their lives,
where people even hate themselves,
and where they despair,
even to the point of wanting to take their own lives…

I live in this world where there are so many people who are in need
of some form of human contact,

I live in this world where there are so many people who are experiencing
the absence of love
and we can do something truly beautiful, truly substantial,
truly meaningful for each other,
every single one of us
 !16
Part I: Introductory Prayers and Reflections - III
I live in this world

May it be this way for me now –

may I offer something truly meaningful

I live in this world where many sensitive people are overwhelmed

and use drugs, or drink, or food, or sex,
tv, computers, shopping,
or gambling
to the point of becoming addicted -
They do this to self-medicate, to escape,
but it leads to even more dullness and obscuration,
and to more, and even worse problems
May they all be completely healed

I live in this world where many are without peace,

without control, without any freedom of mind

The root of all these sufferings, we should all know,

is the untrained mind,
self-grasping ignorance
and the afflictive emotions

And what we all need to experience

is the fruit of a practice that leads to the disbanding of stress,
to the knowledge of freedom,
and genuine happiness,
enlightenment as to our own true nature
the single liberating essence of Great Compassion

Ah…

Right now, there are people who are trapped by their addictions,
overwhelmed by their delusions, lost

I live in this world where some people are in danger of falling,

where some are in danger of slipping - and the result can be severe for
them…
 !17
Part I: Introductory Prayers and Reflections - III
I live in this world

There are many people right now

who are in need of forgiveness, absolution,
inclusion,
their being welcomed back into the community;
who are in need of purification,

who are in need of the nectar of ethics in their lives,

the medicine of ethics,
the food of ethics,
their vows restored,
the attainment of coolness,
strength, self control
light, and peace,
wisdom, purity,
transformation, and release

I live in this world where we have all done wrong,

some worse than others
Some are in prisons of their own making,
Some have done terrible things
out of ignorance, affliction,
or fear, desperation, despair;
out of weakness and limitation -
not seeing any other way
not being able to reach any other way

I live in this world where some people suffer because of

their own past actions, and regret, and shame
They identify with their delusions and wrong actions,
and believe themselves to be wrong, lacking, innately sinful,
when nothing could be further from the truth –
They are all innately whole, perfect, and pure

I live in this world where many people feel unworthy of love

I live in this world where there are many people who are obscured,
lonely,
or numb,
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Part I: Introductory Prayers and Reflections - III
I live in this world

self-absorbed,
superficial,
greedy,
distracted,
afraid, or sad,
where there are those who are feeling ugly,
or feeling hopeless
or who are caught in self-pity

They are all capable of awakening to perfection, but they don’t yet know it
They are all capable of liberation,
They are all capable of freedom from suffering,
and they are all capable of happiness, but they don’t yet know it

I live in this world where the sense of self arises again and again for people,
and feels fragmented, and isolated – even though this is not true, not even
for a moment

This is a great loss to us all –

it is to all our detriment

May we all know,

be supported by,
and celebrate our connection
to each other!

I live in this world where many people are experiencing stress

and need comfort, love, light,
and the peaceful joy that is nourishing

May people receive such peace

everywhere it is needed
East, West, North, and South,
May it be so
and may I be the cause of that

This is the truth

and it’s better that I realize it -
 !19
Part I: Introductory Prayers and Reflections - III
I live in this world

I live in this world where most people

are without any sense at all of the sacred dimension in life

I live in this world where the deluded the band together

and increase ignorance and suffering

I live in this world where, even though there are those with the motivation to
learn,
many people are misled by false teachers,
themselves ignorant

In these times, especially, it seems,

wrong views are supported, in hundreds of ways,
and wisdom is not;
greed is encouraged, and non-attachment and generosity is not;
war and aggression are supported,
and the values of peace,
sanity, respect, kindness, and helping one another
are not supported nearly enough

I live in this world where many people’s

experience is only that of a lower-realm being-
the realm of hell beings,
the realm of hungry ghosts,
and the realm of animals

I live in this world where there are people

who don’t experience even a moment of peace;
where there are those who feel they don’t have any space, light
or joy in their lives at all,
tormented, they feel they don’t have any happiness, not even a little bit

For as long as this is true

I say, for as long as this is true
may I respond to it
in a way that eases their sufferings
and may they all have every happiness
may they have every happiness
 !20
Part I: Introductory Prayers and Reflections - III
I live in this world

oceans of happiness
skies of happiness

Every day in this world there are people with no perspective on their life,
coarse, dissatisfied, lacking in gratitude, indulgent

I live in this world where people don’t think about death

or haven’t fully integrated that truth, of impermanence

Every day, all around, there are people wasting precious time,
not seeing what they have,
not taking advantage
of the great opportunities they have
for all of our sake
while they still can

I live in this world where the vast majority of people are completely without
any Dharma

Dharma:
deep Buddhist teaching, or contemplative teaching;
the result of deep Buddhist practice or contemplative practice;
the experience of freedom,
light, and wisdom –
that can alleviate and can bring about
the complete cessation of suffering
for one and all,
true medicine for the ills of the world

East, West, North and South,

in the ten directions,
May people receive the Dharma,
And, without grasping or clinging to anything at all,
may I be the cause of that

I live in this world where few people have received instructions in

meditation, and, of these few, most are still unclear about the essential points
that:
 !21
Part I: Introductory Prayers and Reflections - III
I live in this world

whatever meditation we do
we should aim our minds
in the direction of clarity
and the calm continuity of mindfulness,
cut through the undercurrent of thought,
and continually generate positive energies

I live in this world where few people know the value and necessity of
samadhi–
the stillness and silence of the mind,
the peace that restores and strengthens the mind,

making it capable
of connecting with virtues
and being nourished by them,
of deep and clear understanding,
transformation and healing,
and freedom

I live in this world, where, though we may do some good,

though we may improve our lives,
those who have listened to essential teachings, and understood,
many times don’t practice
and, of those who do practice, often they are not able
to overcome the obstacles to meditation,
and practice in a way that they progress…

Oh, what a loss! - There’s no way to measure it, really…

I live in this world where even those people who have received, and
practiced, and accomplished a great deal of Dharma still suffer
they still fall into experiences that are like the lower realms

and I live in this world where some of the people who have become stable in
realization don’t share the Dharma as much as they could

I live in this world where though we can help ourselves and others
much too often we don’t
 !22
Part I: Introductory Prayers and Reflections - III
I live in this world

where though can remove our own and others suffering,

to some extent at least
and produce happiness, to some extent at least
far too often we don’t

I live in this world

where people don’t live in the present
Where people don’t know their own worth, or the worth of others,
where people don’t know their own potential…
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Part I: Introductory Prayers and Reflections

On Tonglen – Taking and Sending

The practice called ‘Tonglen’, or ‘Taking and Sending’ in Tibetan

Buddhism, is usually described sequentially. If practicing for one’s self, in
self tonglen, one imagines or sees with the mind’s eye a part of one’s self as
perfect, whole, and loving. That self is visualized as viewing and removing
the suffering and pain we have, and replacing it with peace, happiness, well
being and strength, and whatever we need.

When practicing directly for others, one first imagines taking or removing
the sufferings or difficulties of others, and then giving them peace,
happiness, health, and whatever is needed.

The thought of others’ suffering is said to be ‘aimed’ at one’s self-

centeredness or insensitivity, destroying it, so to speak. Then, the imagined
giving that follows is a practice of kindness, compassion, and generosity.

These are meditations that are considered to have the power to heal.

After reflecting on the traditional teachings about tonglen for some time, I
came to connect them to a few thoughts I have had also about symbols in
general, and stories that communicate with vivid imagery.

The first idea is that a true symbol is a manifestation of a state of

consciousness; second, a sequence of images can be a symbol (as in a dream,
or a story, or myth); and third, that mediation on a symbol can produce the
same consciousness as the source of the symbol, or story.

As it regards tonglen practice, after meditating for a time on the

visualizations as happening one after the other, I came to realize that what is
called tonglen practice is actually aimed at producing a single state of
consciousness that at once removes suffering, and gives happiness. Even
though traditionally it is expressed sequentially, to demonstrate its nature,
 !24

Part I: Introductory Prayers and Reflections

On Tonglen

tonglen is another name for the single state of consciousness we call

compassion, or active compassion.

Tonglen is a creative or magical state of consciousness, in as much as every

state of consciousness is creative, producing extensive effects, but with this
difference - with the practice of tonglen, or the mind of compassion, the
creative nature of our consciousness is brought out, and made abundantly
clear.

For more on this wonderful practice, see the essay ‘Regarding Tonglen’,
in the latest edition of A Collection of Buddhist Healing Prayers and
Practices, or available online at http:www.abuddhistlibrary.com, on Jason’s
page.

Here follows a taking and sending prayer, a vow, and another prayer.
May all beings benefit.
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Part I: Introductory Prayers and Reflections - IV

Taking and Giving prayer - I

May I have the actual knowledge

of the sufferings and needs that exist
in other beings’ lives everywhere
and may that knowledge completely destroy
whatever deluded self preoccupation I have
and may it never arise again

May I then have a compassionate mind,

and respond to them in a way that frees all of them
from all of their suffering forever,
May they have every happiness
and the cause of happiness,
and may that happiness last forever
 !26
Part I: Introductory Prayers and Reflections - V

Vow

From this point forward,

I dedicate myself to removing the suffering of all living beings,
and to bringing them happiness

I dedicate myself fully to their healing and awakening;

to their all having comfort,
strength of body, mind, and spirit,
most excellent nourishment, health, longevity
every level of protection,
a good home, delicious food, beautiful clothing,
the best of all medicines, education,
joy and wisdom

In order to accomplish the needs of living beings

in the most effective way,
I will develop my wisdom and compassion
just as my teachers have done
I aim to become free of all faults, and complete in all qualities
and, day by day, hour by hour
always offer as much help as I can

In this way, I will make a gift of my life

In this way, my own life will be fulfilled

I dedicate myself fully, leaving nothing out,

to the complete healing, fulfillment and enlightenment
of all living beings

No matter how long it takes

no matter how difficult it may be
no matter what it costs

With all my heart and with all my strength,

I vow to always serve all living beings
in every way that is necessary for them
 !27
Part I: Introductory Prayers and Reflections - V

and in every way that will bring each and every one of them
true and lasting health and happiness
 !28
Part I: Introductory Prayers and Reflections - VI

Taking and Giving prayer - II – in order to transform my own consciousness

into something positive

Whatever difficulties living beings experience everywhere, I pray,

may I, and others, and the environment lift them all from them

by myself becoming able, and then freeing them

like opening a dungeon door and carrying them out

or encouraging them,
welcoming them to walk

Through all forms of prayer,

May I myself be cure for whatever ails them
or conduit for a cure
or a help for a cure to come to them,
whatever it takes

Like the sun shining through the clouds,

dispersing them,
May I myself become a capable being,
and then like the fully rising sun
instantly
or if time is needed,
then over time,
without grasping or clinging to anything at all,
May I completely remove the suffering that all these beings experience

May the Gurus, Buddhas and Bodhisattvas bless me to be able to do this

like the sun

drying up a pool of stagnant water
so that fresh and fragrant things can grow,

or,
easing pain,
‘like removing a thorn from flesh‘,
mending bones
 !29
Part I: Introductory Prayers and Reflections - VI

mending broken hearts

binding up wounds
and restoring them

For them, may I and others and the environment

be to them
bring to them
pray to them

a cooling rain, a healing balm

if that’s what’s needed

a desert chapel,
a well-funded schoolroom,
a well stocked and staffed clinic

As needed, may I be these things –

and may I work to bring these things
absolutely, clearly and definitely
to those who need them
here, and everywhere

For those who ache,

experience oppression, trials, or fears,
May I feed them, house and clothe them,
bring them to safety, health, and peace,
and at last to happiness

May I be
a gentle warm sun after their long winter
that, in an instant, completely dispels all their suffering
and the causes of suffering

Wherever there are suffering beings,

as much as needed,
may I be a fresh breeze, renewing them,
rain washing away
whatever of the thousands of sorrows these people have
 !30
Part I: Introductory Prayers and Reflections - VI

May I be music, space and light for them, for their world
pure water, nourishing food and drink

or like the full noon-day sun,

the pure land of light,
destroyer of sorrow

For them, may I be

medicine clearing the way,
friendship, land, virtue, peace,
arriving when its needed most
solid, firm, stable
all of one meaning

May I have a mind of compassion,

and of love

May I, in that same single moment, develop and increase

the causes for all people to be richly blessed, in every way
May they have all joys
every happiness
and may the causes be established for
these blessings to remain for them,
stable, firm

For them, surely, may I be to them

bring to them
pray to them
wealth eliminating every type of poverty,
and the illusory perception of poverty

like gently waking someone from a bad dream

and reassuring them
outside, inside

May I replace ignorance with wisdom

and replace all wrong views, discomfort, and dis-ease
with knowledge, comfort, health and strength
 !31
Part I: Introductory Prayers and Reflections - VI

“May our intentions equally penetrate

every being and place
with the true merit of Buddha’s Way”

I pray that whatever hardships I have experienced or know about, whatever

lack whatsoever, may others not experience any of those
I pray they will have it easier than I’ve had

May they not experience any privation or difficulty at all-

not even the slightest

and should they meet with any difficulties,

may they have the means to cope,
to overcome these,
and to heal
and from now on,
May they experience only an abundance of health and happiness

I pray that whatever good things I have known in this life, or even just heard
about, may they all experience these, and more,
knowing the love and support of teachers, family and friends…

May the force of goodness increase in me

{This was written in response to the images of harm, destruction, and

devastation that are in me and that are so common in the collective
consciousness these days. They are intended as a remedy to these, a vital
alternative we should all know. I have written this to remind us who we are,
and what we are all capable of achieving, and to bring a necessary balance,
health, joy and greater freedom. May all our minds dwell in the Pure Land.}

 !32
Part I: Introductory Prayers and Reflections - VII

{ a ‘sun prayer’ – called so because it is a prayer to be as constant,

joyful and diligent as the sun}

I pray that
whatever suffering there is in peoples’ lives
that I can remove completely and permanently
that I will do
I pray I will now, this instant, fulfill that task perfectly

and that whatever suffering I can’t remove completely and permanently,

I will now at least remove temporarily

and I pray that whatever suffering I can’t remove temporarily

I will now at least lessen greatly, by half or more

and that whatever suffering I can’t lessen greatly, by half or more

I will now at least lessen even slightly

and that whatever suffering there is anywhere in peoples’ lives

that I can’t now at least lessen even slightly
I pray I will remember and keep that in mind
and work and study and continue trying to find ways
that will benefit
immediately, in this time,
and in the future
forever
 !33
Part I: Introductory Prayers and Reflections - VIII

{a thorough going prayer}

However much suffering there has been in our lives in the past

and however much latent potency there is still in our lives

to cause suffering in the future

and however extensive the causes and conditions

have been, are now, or can be in the future
to produce suffering

I pray,

May it all be healed now

May it all be healed now

May it all be healed now

By sila, samadhi, and prajna,

may it all be healed

By ethics, meditation, and wisdom,

may it all be healed

By prayer and mantra,

may it all be healed

By kindness and all the sources of virtue,

may it all be healed
 !34
Part I: Introductory Prayers and Reflections - IX

By this practice
may those who have perfect health
be firmly established in that perfect health
May those who do not yet have complete and perfect health
be brought to that level of health, well being and strength
and may those who suffer in any way
be it very slight, or with very great suffering
be healed
may they be brought to the highest level of health
and may they be firmly established in complete and perfect health
 !35
Part I: Introductory Prayers and Reflections - X

Such is the nature of this dependent arising:

perceiving the needs of living beings
produces the wish to benefit them as needed
naturally, spontaneously, wholeheartedly, abundantly

May the complete fulfillment of this wish be unobstructed,

without any hindrance at all, may it be immediately
and effortlessly be fulfilled
Absolutely and without question

May I myself become sure medicine for every pain.

By this prayer and practice,

May I bring to those in need,
whatever they need for health

Everywhere it is needed,
may there be a healing rain,
and may healing herbs grow
wherever they are needed

To all of you everywhere and in all times

who work to heal , I pray, may I always honor you
and may I always serve and support you
in whatever way is needed,
and for as long as is needed

And I pray to all healers

I pray to gather and share with all others who are in need
all that is life-giving, health giving
O, hear my prayer!
and please give me your blessing!
By your graces,
and all the sources of healing in the world,
and by my own efforts,
 !36
Part I: Introductory Prayers and Reflections - X

however much I can do,

May all beings benefit

May the force of caring

increase in me

May the power of love, compassion and wisdom

increase in me, and everywhere in the world

May my mind be healing

May my consciousness be healing
May my presence be healing

May my thoughts.
prayers,
and meditation be healing

May my words,
actions,
rest,
breath,
look,
touch,

sleep,
dreams,
and waking be healing

May everything I do be healing

May everything I do promote health and healing in this world

and in the lives of all living beings
 !37
Part I: Introductory Prayers and Reflections - X

May I hold as my delight

the removing of suffering of living beings
and giving them happiness

May I dedicate myself now more and more fully to all others’ benefit

May I and others and the environment increase our ability to help others
in every way that is necessary
and for as long as is necessary

May virtue increase

At all times, may I produce, maintain and increase this life giving vision
for all

May whatever is good within me and in the world increase

May that which is beneficial increase

and may I be able to share more of the good that is in me

and in the world

 !38

Part I: Introductory Prayers and Reflections - XI

Why don’t we
invoke the blessings
of billions of angels
the light of love
to pour down upon
everyone we see,
hear, or even think of

Why don’t we settle thoroughly

that we all have it in our power
to feed each and every one
with the food that matches their deepest need and desire
and then do it

Why don’t we do this?

It costs us nothing if we do
and costs us all so much if we don’t

Why don’t we
wash the feet of all weary travelers,
offer them humble sustaining fare
and a soft bed
for them to be able to continue
laden with gifts
on their way

Why not
spread lotus blossoms
on the ground for each person to walk on
every step of their way

Why don’t we
 !39

Why don’t we
wash away the murk
of our own confused thinking
and so stand resplendent
and as light for everyone’s eyes

Why don’t we pick up

in both our precious hands
that part of the wounded staggering world soul
we’ve each been given
to restore to health

In this, the briefest of moments,

this brief meeting,
our being here together,

O now,
Why don’t we hold in our heart
the dreams of future generations
and heal all injury
as our gift to be passed forward in time

I say,
Why don’t we
abide in perfect, overflowing fullness
with every gift passed around
from one house to another
no limit

all the broken

isolated
born but not able to be fully born –
this, plus the heart
 !40

and there is vow

this path made entirely of
somehow wanting,
needing to say
a mighty yes
 !41
Part I: Introductory Prayers and Reflections - XII

I bring to mind the sufferings that living beings experience,

and celebrate having the means to benefit them
 !42
Part I: Introductory Prayers and Reflections - XIII

For the sake of those who struggle and suffer,

all those who have not yet attained the highest state of freedom and peace,
to relieve their suffering and to bring them happiness,

I take refuge in the Buddha,

the Great Compassionate Teacher,
I take refuge in the Dharma,
in all the Liberating Teachings,
and I take refuge in the Noble Sangha,
the Accomplished Spiritual Community

By this practice,
just as my teachers before me have done,
May I realize the state of Peace,
Perfect Freedom, happiness,
and Great Love, ~ the Mind of Enlightenment,
and may I bring all others to that very same state

{The concerns of others are my concerns,

is that not so?

For their sake, then}

May I accomplish this Path,

and,

May all temporal and ultimate aims be fulfilled

 !43
Part I: Introductory Prayers and Reflections - XIV

A reflection from ‘The Healing Buddha’, translated by Lama Zopa

Rinpoche.

Excerpts are in quotes, the rest are my own notes, including those sections in
brackets [ ].

“The purpose of my life is to free all living beings from all their problems
and the causes of these problems, which are [first] in their minds, [as
obscured consciousness, and ego- grasping, and then in their emotions,
energy patterns, and bodies] and to bring all beings peace and happiness,
especially the peerless happiness of full enlightenment, which they
desperately need. For me to be able to do this, my [own] mind and body
must be perfect, pure, and healthy.’

To you who can help, I pray: for all of our sake, help me to alleviate the
effect, and bring about the complete end to the cause of my own suffering,
and obtain true health and happiness.

I pray - May I become a fully capable being – fully capable of knowing and
responding to the suffering in the world, and offering whatever will help the
most, temporarily and permanently.

Moreover, all these beings, my dear family, friends, and all my dear relations
everywhere and at all times need health to be able to even hear teachings on
how to be truly and completely free from their sufferings and attain
happiness; to be able to receive encouragement and to be able to practice and
achieve realizations, and live well, they definitely need health, long life, and
freedom from such overwhelming and distracting obscuration, affliction and
distress.

‘Therefore to accomplish this purpose, [of benefiting myself and all others
everywhere, in all situations and in all times,] I am going to do this practice.’
 !44
Part I: Introductory Prayers and Reflections - XIV

With so much need in this world, and in these lives that I love, I pray that I
will quickly, very quickly generate spontaneous great wisdom and
compassion

‘To benefit living beings equal to the extent of space, I am going to practice
this healing meditation.

 !45

Part I: Introductory Prayers and Reflections - XV

There is nothing that is valued in this world as much as health,

and the Buddha is the Supreme Healer

Homage to the Three Jewels


 !46
Part II: A Healing Buddha Practice with commentary

A Healing Buddha Practice, with notes

In this section I’ve included a way to practice a healing buddha meditation,

in bold print, and a brief commentary in normal type. The root text alone can
be found on pages 69 to 72.

A note on what follows: One can read as many or as few prayers as one likes
and has time for. The essential points, as I’ve understood them are: the basis
of refuge and a loving motivation that sees a way to greater freedom, the
practice of visualization and the recitation of mantra, with Right View, and
followed by meditation and dedication prayer. Anything more than that is
just to help our practice. Please use whatever works best for you.

I have organized the following into four sections:

1., First there are introductory reflections, and passages on setting our
motivation, bringing forward love and compassion, taking refuge, and
making prayers of aspiration;

2., Then there are requesting prayers;

3., Instructions for visualization and mantra recitation;

and,

4. Concluding practices, including meditation and dedication prayers.

 !47
Part II: A Healing Buddha Practice with commentary

A Healing Buddha Practice

1. Motivation

O, my ten directions three times family,

all my beloved relations,
may I make a gift of my life

May my life, and this practice benefit us all completely.

May this bring health wherever it is needed,
the balance of the elements, inwardly and outwardly
and the firm establishment of true health and well being,
long life, and happiness for us all

Prayers of aspiration, bringing forward love and compassion

As to not leave out any steps, I think it’s a good idea to meditate on the
factor of having loving kindness, and compassion towards oneself early on,
as this has a relationship to what we can then offer. What this means is a
rich subject for reflection, as an essential part of the path. Being Westerners,
we need this. One can use phrases, such as

Contemplating the needs that exist...

May I know ultimate happiness,
the full cessation of all suffering,
and the complete realization of health and peace,
and share that with all…

or, by simply resting in the clear sense of generating goodwill toward

oneself.

Next, in order to highlight and bring out more of the quality of this as a
being an inclusive practice, reflect on the following:

‘All others are exactly the same as me in wanting only happiness, and not
even the slightest suffering...’

Metta practice can be done at this point, either briefly or more extensively.
 !48
Part II: A Healing Buddha Practice with commentary

{See the essays on metta in Living in Beauty for suggestions on how to

cultivate this precious quality.}

Metta is cultivated step by step, through the different categories,

understanding their purpose, and then all together, as taught, until one
reaches the Four Brahma Viharas – the Four Limitless States, of Universal
Love, Compassion, Sympathetic Joy, and Equality of View. We can do the
metta practice separately, so that when we want to, we can lightly touch
upon it, and then proceed to other meditations that have this as a basis.

Having cultivated loving kindness, here follow the Four Boundless

Meditations, also called the Four Immeasurable Qualities, of Universal
Love, Compassion, Rejoicing in Happiness and Virtue, and Inclusive
Equality of View. Together with Wisdom, these are always the essential
nature of every Vajrayana practice.

Recite and meditate on these verses three times, or as much as you wish, to
bring the meaning clearly to your mind.

The Four Immeasurables, Bodhicitta and Refuge

May all beings have happiness

and all the causes of happiness flourishing…

May all beings be completely and permanently free of suffering

and all the causes of suffering…

I rejoice in all that is beautiful and right in the world,

in all kindness, virtue, and positive action,
and in all success, happiness, and good fortune...

and abide in stable, impartial love

These can be repeated and reflected on for as long as one wishes.

May all beings have happiness and the causes of happiness…

 !49
Part II: A Healing Buddha Practice with commentary

Following the Four Immeasurables, we then produce what is called the

Special Intention. This is where one takes responsibility on oneself for
removing the suffering of others, and bringing them all happiness.

In Mahayana Buddhism, this Special Intention becomes bodhicitta, the

thought to become a Buddha in order to bring the greatest benefit to all
sentient beings. The way to genuinely help others, in the Buddhist sense, is
by ourselves becoming realized, developing freedom and all beneficial
qualities. Then, that is what we offer to the world.

With an understanding of the Four Noble Truths, and the possibility of

liberation, this love naturally becomes bodhicitta, the dedication to helping
others through ones practice and accomplishment of the path.

This transition, which is implied before, involves realizing the equality of

oneself and all others, and the exchange of oneself for others, however one
arrives there.

This is altruism – putting others before oneself, thinking:

May I always cherish all my family

with the determination to accomplish for them the highest good
that is more precious than a wish-fulfilling jewel

Ani Tenzin Palmo taught that the basis of lojong, or thought training, is the
joy of putting others before ourselves. This is a special kind of joy, a mature
joy. This is what love is all about.

This practice then is like eating, to that one can feed others; like stepping
onto the shore of freedom, in order to help others to safety; taking medicine,
and becoming medicine so that one can heal others. This is done with the
aim to provide for them all that they need and wish for. May this motivation,
uncontrived, unfabricated, arise in my being…

I know that using a phrase such as ‘all my family’, or ‘all my loved ones’
there’s the risk this will stray into partiality, which is the ‘near enemy’ of
loving kindness’. The alternative however, was ‘all beings’, which can
sound and feel abstract, and so, of the two, I’ve chosen this, ‘all my family’.
 !50
Part II: A Healing Buddha Practice with commentary

It’s taught that bodhicitta only arises on the basis of an inclusive equality of
view, and so, in any case, if it is genuine, there is the feeling that all are our
loved ones, and all are included in our prayers. How wonderful!

May the supreme jewel, bodhicitta,

arise where it has not arisen,
Where it has arisen, may it not diminish,
May it ever grow and flourish

Refuge and Bodhicitta

On the relative level, bodhicitta is the strong, sustained motivation to

awaken; to liberate oneself; in order to live a life of freedom, joy, and the
greatest possible helpful action. It is also our true nature, of clarity, love, and
compassion. Practiced together, it is aligning ourselves with the motivation
to be of universal benefit.

Traditionally, in practice texts, refuge comes before the Four Immeasurables

and the bodhicitta motivation. I’ve chosen to place it here instead because I
feel that different paths can achieve a supreme result, and the choice of a
path is purely an individual matter, depending entirely on what works for us.

As for myself, I take refuge in the the Buddha, in practicing the Dharma and
in the Noble Sangha, Supreme Assembly. These are called ‘The Three
Jewels’ in Buddhism. Other Traditions can adapt or recognize the same
process in the language of their own faith. For example, in Christianity, I’ve
heard Father John Mabry equate the Buddhist practice of taking refuge to his
own tradition. He uses the terms, I take refuge in Jesus Christ, in the Word,
and in the Church. Whatever religion we connect with most deeply, we will
find that refuge is in fact universal. Although I’m using Buddhist language
here, what follows will hopefully highlight this truth.

On Refuge

We are all refugees in Samsara – the unenlightened state of existence. How

much we feel we need a safe and secure protection from harm, and how
deeply we then turn to our source of safety and benefit depends on how
much we’ve contemplated the dangers and miseries of this world, and begun
to have some insight into the great blessing for us all that is our refuge.
 !51
Part II: A Healing Buddha Practice with commentary

For myself and all others, unenlightened living is suffering, and there is
an end to suffering. Enlightened living is happiness, health, and peace,
and there is a path…

We take refuge out of these two things: this sense of what the world, and
our lives would be without it – terrifying, without a way out, and with the
most profound gratitude and devotion, sensing the great source of safety and
benefit of our Traditions and Guides.

A reflection from the Pali:

Sabba – dukkha, sabba – bhaya,

sabba – roga vinassantu

All sufferings, all dangers,

and all diseases can be destroyed
through the power of the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha.

On The Refuge Tree

Sometimes when doing Vajrayana practice, what is called a Refuge Tree is

visualized. All of this is seen to be in the nature of light. Around the central
figure, whatever practice we are doing, one can visualize other Buddhas and
Bodhisattvas or holy beings that we have a connection with.

For example, White Tara can have the wonderful effect of truly
strengthening the constitution and the central nervous system. Among other
qualities, I bring this quality of enlightened action to mind at times when
doing the Medicine Buddha practice, and imagine that She is there in the
retinue of the Healing Buddha, bestowing her blessings as well.

We can include any divine figures we have a connection with on the refuge
tree, such as Maitreya, Jesus, Mary, Avalokiteshvara, Kuan Yin, Tara or
Manjushri, Angels, and the Saints we have devotion to. These are all
glowing, ‘overflowing with the energy of loving kindness’, as Khenpo Palden
Sherab Rinpoche says.
 !52
Part II: A Healing Buddha Practice with commentary

We can add to a single visualization simply, or we can just have the sense
that those other Buddhas, Bodhisattvas and holy beings are there, whatever
brings the best results.

In this healing meditation, the central figure on the Refuge tree is the
Medicine Buddha.

On the particular form of the Medicine Buddha

The Medicine Buddha, as ‘the manifestation of all the healing energy of all
enlightened beings’ is seen as being in the nature of deep blue light. He sits
in a cross legged position. In his right hand is the healing plant, the ‘arura’,
and in his right hand, resting on his lap, is a bowl filled with long life
nectars.

Here, the Ven. Thrangu Rinpoche discusses the position of the Healing
Buddha's two hands:

‘His right hand is extended, palm outward, over his right knee in the gesture
called supreme generosity. In it he holds the arura, or myrobalan, fruit.

This plant represents all the best medicines. The position of his right hand
and the arura which he holds represent the eradication of suffering,
especially the suffering of sickness, using the means of relative truth.
Sickness can be alleviated by adjusting the functioning of interdependent
causes and conditions by the use of relative means within the realm of
relative truth, such as medical treatment and so on.

‘His left hand rests in his lap, palm upward, in the gesture of meditative
stability or meditation, which represents the eradication of sickness and
suffering - and, indeed, the very roots of samsara - through the realization of
absolute truth. From the point of view of either relative truth or absolute
truth, the fundamental cause of sickness and suffering is a lack of
contentment and the addictive quality of samsara.

And therefore:

Refuge Prayers:
 !53
Part II: A Healing Buddha Practice with commentary

In some vajrayana practice texts, we reflect and meditate on taking refuge in

the Three Jewels and the Three Roots, as follows:

I take refuge in all the Glorious Holy Lamas,

I take refuge in all the Yidams, the Deities gathered in the mandalas,
I take refuge in all the Buddhas, those who have conquered and gone
beyond,
I take refuge in all the Supreme Dharma,
I take refuge in all the Noble Sangha,
I take refuge in all the dakas, dakinis, protectors and defenders of the
Dharma who possess the Eye of Transcending Awareness

We can take refuge however it suits us. Here we take refuge in the Three
Jewels and bring to mind the Mahayana motivation:

I take refuge in the Buddha, the Enlightened One,

the Great Compassionate Teacher,
I take refuge in the Dharma, in all the Liberating Teachings,
and I take refuge in the Noble Sangha,
the Accomplished Spiritual Community,
the Assembly of Saints

The traditional verse is:

I take refuge,
until I attain enlightenment,
in the Buddha,
the Dharma,
and the Supreme Assembly

and it concludes:

By the merit I have accumulated

through Generosity and other Virtues,
may I accomplish Buddhahood
for the sake of all beings
 !54
Part II: A Healing Buddha Practice with commentary

The phrase, “Generosity and other Virtues” refers to the Six Perfections, the
Path of the Bodhisattva: Generosity, Ethics, Patience, Joyful Effort,
Meditation, and Wisdom.

This practice is done with the thought: May I accomplish a state that is
replete with the Six Perfections, in this very session, in this very life, and in
all my lifetimes.

Just as my teachers before me have done,

May I accomplish the realization of the healing buddha

a liberated, completely healthy Buddha

and help bring all others without a single exception

to that very same state

This is the most important motivation to have – without it, problems are
potentially endless. So, taking the long view, this is the ultimate aim. All
the blessings and advantages we then receive, and share along the way, at
their very best, are provisional. They serve this purpose.

As with other verses, we can repeat, and reflect on these as necessary, to

produce a sense of what is spoken of here.

Reflecting on one’s motivation is thinking about the result, the aim, in order
to develop energy and enthusiasm, and bringing the nature of the path of
practice, the method, clearly to mind. This is how we will accomplish our
aims.

Wisdom and Compassion:

From The Sadhana of the Medicine Buddha, by H.H. Dudjom Rinpoche :

‘As we are all the Primordial Buddha, we have the essence of Buddha
Nature. Realizing this, relaxing in the natural state is the absolute way of
taking refuge and generating Bodhicitta (the mind of enlightenment). When
doing the practice, be free of subject, object, and action.’
 !55
Part II: A Healing Buddha Practice with commentary

On the meaning of this, Dilgo Khyentse says, ‘The twofold accumulation of

merit and wisdom is indeed the way to buddhahood, but if it is adulterated
with clinging, arrogance and condescension, it cannot bear fruit.

‘More particularly, being free of attachments and concepts means being free
of any clinging to whatever practice you may be doing as having some
intrinsic reality.’

Deshung Rinpoche adds: ‘Do not cling to ordinary notions that tend to
crystallize and reify the present moment. Instead, think of the teacher,
yourself and the setting as illusion-like, neither existent nor non existent,
ineffable, and away from all conceptual extremes that the human mind likes
to attribute to reality.’

(When visualizing) ‘We should see our surroundings, ourselves, and the
merit we are accumulating through our efforts as illusion-like. We should
see them not as inherently real by their very nature, but as non dual
emptiness and appearance, like the form of a rainbow or a mirage…

See them as being like the images and forms that appear to you when you
dream.

‘Your form and all appearances should not be thought of as solid and
tangible, but (as insubstantial) more like the mental forms that appear in
dreams or magic shows. They have this nature of non dual appearance and
emptiness through interdependent origination.’

‘Through maintaining this perspective on yourself, your actions, and their

results, you will be freed from the temptation to seize upon them as real,
thus making them a source of bondage rather than liberation. Moreover, your
virtue will be purified, made more effective, and will become a cause of
attaining Buddhahood.’

To practice like this de-conditions grasping.

Dilgo Khentse concludes: ‘When a bodhisattva performs a beneficial action,

he is totally free from clinging to the concepts of a subject who acts, an
object who benefits from the action, and the action itself. That total absence
of clinging makes the merit infinite.’
 !56
Part II: A Healing Buddha Practice with commentary

Om swabhava shuddho sarva dharma

swabhava shuddho hum

This is referred to as ‘the emptiness mantra’, and its meaning can be

translated as, ‘all things are fundamentally free of mind created concepts of
self, and I am that intrinsically free nature’. Or, ‘The nature of all existent
phenomena is inherently pure, and I am that.’ Or, more simply, meditate on
the syllable Ah, and the experience of not grasping at concepts, and of
openness and clarity.

Whether or not we use concepts, the main point is to give rise to

discriminating awareness, that is without grasping or clinging to anything at
all.

Dilgo Khyentse taught: ‘Leave everything as it is in fundamental simplicity,

and clarity will arise by itself. Only by doing nothing will you do all that is
to be done.’

Patrul Rinpoche said, ‘Don’t prolong the past; don’t invite the future; don’t
alter your innate wakefulness…’

Rest mind.

2. Requesting Prayers

May the Great Healing Light of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas,

of all Holy Beings,
and of all that is sacred and pure in the universe
pacify, completely pacify, and fully remove the sufferings of living
beings,
and bring them all true and lasting health and happiness

Since this one verse can contain a lot of meaning, I will go through it line by
line.

May the Great Healing Light

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- here at times we may like to substitute the words: nature, love, wisdom,
and power, for example,

May the Great Healing Nature of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas…

and immerse ourselves in that;

of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas

Avalokiteshvara, Maitreya, Tara, Manjushri, Vajrapani, Vajrasattva,

Amitabha, and the Healing Buddha

of all Holy Beings,

The Buddha, the Arahants, and Devas; Jesus, Mary, the Saints, and Angels

and of all that is sacred and pure in the universe

Our natural world; the pure elements; pure objects of the six senses; see also
A list of things that are healing, and, Getting in Touch With the Energy of
Our Ancestors;

pacify, completely pacify, and fully remove the sufferings of living

beings,
and bring them all true and lasting health and happiness

‘Pacify’ refers to how by means of all relative methods, suffering is

alleviated; and completely pacify and remove refers to helping us to realize
ultimate truth that heals the cause of sufferings; and bring them all true and
lasting health and happiness expresses the positive side of the goal – that we
are not just brought to a neutral state, but to one of peace, health, happiness,
natural helpfulness, and joy.

Sometimes I meditate on just this one verse, recite mantra, meditate and
dedicate the merit.

May real happiness, health, and peace awaken in us all!

May all beings benefit!
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Praying in this way, and practicing, without a doubt, we receive the blessings
of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas.


Lama Zopa Rinpoche has said: ‘You are not alone because all the time there
are numberless buddhas and bodhisattvas surrounding you, loving you,
guiding you, that is what they do.’

This way of practicing can include both theistic and non-theistic forms of
prayer. Generally speaking, theistic prayer is where you view the source of
benefit as existing outside of oneself, and non-theistic prayer regards the
sources of benefit as existing in oneself, or both outside and inside oneself.

3. Instructions for visualization and mantra recitation

These can be read as one wishes, to clarify and strengthen the visualizations
involved, or, if one is already familiar with instructions such as these, one
can proceed directly to the recitation of mantra, on page 61.

It's traditionally taught that what's called 'self-generation' - where one

visualizes oneself as the divine form, and maintains Divine Pride, should
only be done by those who have received the initiation of a particular
Bodhisattva Divinity, but that 'front generation' - where one visualizes the
divine form in space above and in front of oneself - can be done by anyone.

In front generation, we visualize, or vividly see with the mind’s eye above
us, the Buddha or bodhisattva whose practice we are doing, and whose
mantra we are reciting. It’s helpful when doing this recitation and
visualization, to see pure light and nectar streaming from the image we hold,
that is also made entirely of pure light. These represent, or carry the
blessings of the Buddha.

Traditionally, light goes out to the sources of benefit, making offerings out
of respect, and prayerful requests, and then the light returns, bringing the
blessings of these sources of healing benefit. These healing energies ‘fall
upon us as light and nectar’, and dissolve into us. We then have the thought
and image clearly in our mind that those we pray for receive this positive
energy, and that they are completely healed by it, and made entirely well and
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strong. This form of prayer is referred to in the Tibetan Tradition as

‘gathering and spreading’.

At this time, it’s taught that we should also see ourselves and others, not in
an ordinary way, not as flesh and bone, but as also being translucent and
made entirely of light.

Many teachers advise, too, when doing this kind of practice, that we see
ourselves and others in a pure land, made of light, and to make the
meditation as beautiful, peaceful, perfect, and pure as we can. All this is
called Clear Appearance.

Venerable Jigme explained that when we are visualizing we’re working with
our imagination… not only are we working with imagined sights, but we’re
also working with imagined touch and smells and sounds, physical
sensations and feelings.

Of course, all this can be as detailed or as simple as we like. We can also do

the practice without any elaborate or detailed visualization. For example, we
can just see a healing sun, with beautiful light streaming down from above
us while reciting. Or without any visualization at all, we can just recite the
mantra. We should do whatever works best for us.

As Lama Lodro teaches, even if you just practice for a short while, try and
practice as purely and as perfectly as you can. This means concentrating on
the visualizations, if any are used, and the sound of the mantra, keeping in
mind the meaning and purpose of what we are doing. This is called Clear
Recollection.

The following is adapted from a teaching by Khenpo Palden Sherab

Rinpoche:

During the practice itself we aim to maintain a particular state of mind. We

aspire to a nonconceptually performed practice, free from grasping or
clinging. This means that when we practice or meditate, we should not relate
to our visualization as if it were our creation, or as if it were a solid object.

Our visualization must be experienced as a dynamic display of the true

nature, like the transcendent wisdom rainbow body. We must understand
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that the visualization is totally empty of inherent existence, yet totally full of
dynamic energies of love, compassion, and wisdom. In this case, this
dynamic display of the true nature appears in the form of the Healing
Buddha.

{The body of the healing buddha is made of blue light, and is sitting
peacefully, cross legged. He is wearing the robes of a monk, and he holds
the stem of an arura plant in his right hand, and a bowl filled with healing
nectar in his left.}

During the visualization, the most important thing is to feel the Healing
Buddha’s presence and to maintain our foundation, which is the motivation
of closeness and loving-kindness directed towards all living beings.

From The Medicine Buddha Sadhana

As you recite the mantra, visualize as follows:

Purifying rays of light pour down from the Guru Medicine Buddha’s heart
and holy body, eliminating your sicknesses and afflictions due to spirits, and
their causes, all your negative karma and mental obscurations. Your body is
completely filled with light and becomes clean-clear like crystal. Then the
rays radiate out in all directions, purifying the sicknesses and afflictions of
all mother sentient beings.

Light goes out to all the sources of benefit, with reverent, and prayerful
requests, and then the light returns, bringing the blessings of these sources of
healing benefit.

From A Stream of Lapis Lazuli

Through radiating many-colored light rays, offerings are made to Menla in

the pure realm appearing in the east as the color of lapis lazuli. These lights
invoke his mind stream, whence Menla’s bodies, large and small, his speech
as the mantra garland, his mind as the hand symbols of the arura and the
begging bowl filled with amrita, all falling like rain, dissolve into myself and
the front visualization.
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From The Healing Buddha, translated by Khyabje Zopa Rinpoche

Light rays of the appropriate color emanate from each of the five deities at
your heart. Your heart and body are full of blissful light, which completely
purifies all disease, spirit harms, and negative actions and their imprints.

Beams of five-colored light radiate from all the pores of your body, while
nectar flows down from the Healing Buddha’s begging bowl and the vases
held by the four goddesses, completely filling your heart and body.

Generate the strong recognition that you have vanquished all disease forever
and will never be sick again.

While concentrating single-pointedly on this visualization, recite the short or

long Healing Buddha mantra seven, twenty-one, one hundred and eight, or
more times.

From The Sadhana of the Medicine Buddha, by H.H. Dudjom Rinpoche

(lightly edited)

When we recite the mantra, rays of light emanate from the heart of the
Buddha, like a hundred rising suns, curing all the diseases and obscurations
of beings, and their causes. By the power of this practice may all sufferings
and problems be removed.

Recite while concentrating on the rays of light. At the end of the practice, by
the power of these rays of light, sufferings are completely removed, like
darkness is dispelled by light.

The long Healing Buddha mantra can be done three, seven, twenty-one or
more times if one wishes. It is:

Om Namo Bhagavate Bekhandze / Guru Baidurya / Prabha Radzaya /

Tathagataya / Arhate/ Samyaksam Buddhaya //
Tadyatha / Om Bekhandzye Bekhandzye / Maha Bekhandzye
[Bekhandzye]* / Radza Samudgate Soha //

* The syllables in the mantras in brackets [ ] are optional. The Medicine

Buddha mantra can be recited both with and without the optional syllables.
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Here is the Healing Buddha mantra:

Tayata Om Bekhandze Bekhandze Maha Bekhandze [Bekhandze]

Radza Samungate Soha

At this point, any additional prayers or reflections can be read, as one wishes
and as time allows. This can be done in any of these ways: reading first,
then recitation; alternating reading and recitation a little at a time, or practice
and then reading, in the manner or prayer.

4. Concluding practices

We follow this with the completion, or dissolving stage.

Dissolve the visualization, if any was used. First the Pure Lands, Buddhas
and Bodhisattvas dissolve into all beings, giving them joy and peace. Then
all beings in the form of pure light dissolve into you. Then we imagine that
we dissolve, from the soles of the feet upwards, and from the crown of the
head downwards, meeting at a point of light at the heart. Pause for a moment
and see this vividly and precisely…

Then this dissolves into space, clear light, ‘like a rainbow dissolving into the
sky’, and we rest our mind in that experience of clarity, free of concepts, and
naturally awake, without grasping or clinging.

Or, more simply, from The Medicine Buddha Sadhana:

After you recite the mantra, visualize as follows:

The Guru Medicine Buddha melts into light and absorbs into your heart.
Your mind becomes completely one with the dharmakaya, the essence of all
buddhas.
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Adapted from a teaching by Khenpo Palden Sherab Rinpoche -

When we dissolve the visualization, we enter a state of fullness where there

is no separation, no break or gap…

The Healing Buddha is no longer just a limited visualized image of the

Healing Buddha; he becomes the pervasive Healing Buddha nature, subtle
and profound, beyond any limitation, naturally embracing everything…

When we dissolve, we connect to this without any effort…

We embrace this reality without any separation…

This is the ultimate state of Healing Buddha practice, and it is important to

maintain our awareness in this state for as long as we have time.

Meditation

To get the most out of any particular practice, at some point during the
practice session, meditate quietly. This can be done either before or after the
reflections and recitation, then dedicating the merit.

Or, read the dedication prayers, and then meditate quietly, with sitting and/or
walking meditation, as you prefer.

Here are three gathas, or short meditation poems, by Thich Nhat Hanh, that
can be used along with the whole body awareness and conscious breathing,
breathing and smiling:

in - out ( a few times) (and then)

deep - slow (a few times…)
calm - ease
smile - release, and
present moment - wonderful moment
(or, ‘present moment – there are wonderful things in this moment…)

The gathas are a means to direct and to quiet the mind. When the mind is
calm, stable, and clear, we can choose to continue working with the gatha,
reciting a line one or more times, and then letting go of words and just being
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with the inhalation and the exhalation for a few breaths. Or we can let go of
the words completely, and just be with the experience of breathing in and out
quietly, and sitting, or walking, calmly and lucidly. See for yourself what
works best for you.

As a general rule, we should keep our practice as simple as we can, and use
only the minimum amount of method necessary to bring our mind to a
settled, calm and clear state.

A second gatha, if you wish to use more than one, has both a long and a
short version. After learning the longer meaning, if we wish, we can just use
the shorter one. It goes like this:

Breathing in, I know that I am breathing in,

breathing out, I know that I am breathing out

(practice as described above) (and then)

Breathing in, I see myself as a flower,

breathing out, I feel fresh
Breathing in, I see myself as a mountain,
breathing out, I feel solid

Breathing in, I see myself as still water,

breathing out, I reflect things as they are, and,

Breathing in, I see myself as space,

breathing out, I feel free

The shorter version of this, then, would be:

In, out
Flower, fresh
Mountain, solid
Water, reflecting
Space, free

A third gatha is as follows. In this one, each line is said to oneself along
with the exhalation:
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I have arrived
I am home
In the here
In the now

I feel solid
I feel free
In the Ultimate,
I dwell

Rejoicing and dedication

Fill yourself with a sense of delight in all the good you have done, and
others have done, especially those who are a source of strength and blessings
in your life. Think and feel, ‘I rejoice in all this virtue!’… ‘How wonderful
it is!... How wonderful it is…!’

Then dedicate.

Dedication I, simply:

May all beings benefit.

To draw out the meaning of dedication - the meaning of what is given as

well as the activity of dedication itself, additional prayers can be read and
meditated upon. When doing a more brief form of practice, you can use as
many or as few of these, or any Traditional prayers that you like. You can
also write your own, or make prayers from the heart in the moment,
whatever brings the most benefit.

If you like now, additional prayers can be offered. Here are a few short
dedication prayers that contain the complete meaning:

II.

By the merit of this practice,

and by the virtue of any other good I have done,
together with that of kind hearted people everywhere,
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and all excellent practitioners,

and by all the virtue and all the blessings

of all the ten directions three times Buddhas and Bodhisattvas

Saints and Sages, Arhats and Ajahns,

Lamas, monks and nuns,
and of all Holy Beings
May all beings benefit.

By all the blessings we have received,

and by the strength of our own awakened insight,
courage, and love,
may all beings have lasting happiness

From this point forward,

may we all experience only complete liberation
from every form of suffering,

May we all experience nibbana,

the remainderless cessation of dukkha
May we all experience only peace, joy,
true health, and happiness.

For myself and all others,

May the supreme Awakening Mind
arise where it has not yet arisen
Where it has arisen, may it not diminish
May it ever grow and flourish

Avalokiteshvara
Vajrasattva
Longchenpa

Je Tsong Khapa
Karmapa
Glorious and Precious Root Guru -
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May our intentions equally penetrate

every being and place
with the true merit of Buddha’s Way.

May this bring complete health wherever it is needed,

on outer, inner, and secret levels

May this bring about the balance of the elements,

and the firm establishment of true health and well being,
long life, and happiness for us all

By all this virtue

may all the environments where we live be purified,
and may we all accomplish the full realization of the Noble healing
buddha

By this merit,
Wherever I am, and wherever I may go,
may I further the work of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas,
the awakening of light, complete freedom and peace.

By all this virtue,

May all holy teachers live long, and guide us until samsara ends.
And may there be peace and joy in all the world.

{Additional dedication prayers can be found beginning on page 92}

Tonglen

After the formal meditation session, we can practice tonglen, or taking and
sending, to continue the energy of the practice. We do this by aiming,
moment by moment, to remove as much suffering as we can, and to give as
much happiness as we can.

Jubilation

After formal practice, it’s good to celebrate by doing something that affirms
the very best things in life, such as listening to uplifting music. This keeps
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the feeling of the positive energy going, and helps to bring it into the rest of
our daily life.
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A Healing Buddha Practice

O, my ten directions three times family,

all my beloved relations,
may I make a gift of my life

May my life, and this practice benefit us all completely.

May this bring health wherever it is needed,
the balance of the elements, inwardly and outwardly
and the firm establishment of true health and well being,
long life, and happiness for us all

Together with all beings,

May the cultivation of this practice
lead us to the end of every kind of suffering,
and to the enjoyment of all that is good

Contemplating the needs that exist...

May I know ultimate happiness,
the full cessation of all suffering,
and the complete realization of health and peace,
and share that with all…

May all beings have happiness

and all the causes of happiness flourishing…
May all beings be completely and permanently free of suffering
and all the causes of suffering...
I rejoice in all that is beautiful and right in the world,
in all kindness, virtue, and positive action,
and in all success, happiness, and good fortune...
and abide in stable, impartial love

May I always cherish all my family

with the determination to accomplish for them the highest good
that is more precious than a wish-fulfilling jewel
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May the supreme jewel, bodhicitta,

arise where it has not yet arisen,
Where it has arisen, may it not diminish,
May it ever grow and flourish

For myself and all others, unenlightened living is suffering,

and there is an end to suffering. Enlightened living is happiness,
health, and peace, and there is a path.

And therefore:

I take refuge in the Buddha, the Enlightened One,

the Great Compassionate Teacher,
I take refuge in the Dharma, in all the Liberating Teachings,
and I take refuge in the Noble Sangha,
the Accomplished Spiritual Community,
the Assembly of Saints
By the merit I have accumulated
through Generosity and other Virtues,
may I accomplish Buddhahood for the sake of all beings

Just as my teachers before me have done,

May I accomplish the full realization of the healing buddha,
and bring all others without a single exception
to that very same state

May the Great Healing Light of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas,

of all Holy Beings,
and of all that is sacred and pure in the universe
pacify, completely pacify, and fully remove the sufferings of living beings,
and bring them all true and lasting health and happiness

May real happiness, health, and peace awaken in us all!

May all beings benefit!

{Om Namo Bhagavate Bekhandze / Guru Baidurya / Prabha Radzaya /

Tathagataya / Arhate/ Samyaksam Buddhaya //
Tadyatha / Om Bekhandzye Bekhandzye / Maha Bekhandzye [Bekhandzye]
/ Radza Samudgate Soha //}
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Tayata Om Bekhandze Bekhandze Maha Bekhandze [Bekhandze]

Radza Samungate Soha

By the merit of this practice,

and by the virtue of any other good I have done,
together with that of kind hearted people everywhere,
and all excellent practitioners,
and by all the virtue and all the blessings
of all the ten directions three times Buddhas and Bodhisattvas

Saints and Sages, Arhats and Ajahns,

Lamas, monks and nuns,
and of all Holy Beings
May all beings benefit.

By all the blessings we have received,

and by the strength of our own awakened insight,
courage, and love,
may all beings have lasting happiness

From this point forward,

may we all experience only complete liberation
from every form of suffering

May we all experience nibbana,

the remainderless quenching of dukkha
May we all experience only peace, joy,
true health, and happiness.

For myself and all others,

May the supreme Awakening Mind
arise where it has not yet arisen
Where it has arisen, may it not diminish
May it ever grow and flourish

May our intentions equally penetrate

every being and place
with the true merit of Buddha’s Way.
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May this bring complete health wherever it is needed,

on outer, inner, and secret levels

May this bring about the balance of the elements,

and the firm establishment of true health and well being,
long life, and happiness for us all

By all this virtue

may all the environments where we live be purified,
and may we all accomplish the full realization of the Noble healing buddha

By this merit,
Wherever I am, and wherever I may go,
may I further the work of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas,
the awakening of light, complete freedom and peace.

By all this virtue,

May all holy teachers live long, and guide us until samsara ends.
And may there be peace and joy in all the world.
 !73
Part III: Material for Reflection A list of things that are healing

A list of things that are healing

Beauty is healing
and love is healing
and peace is healing

and laughter,
and kindness is healing

the friendliness and warmth in a voice

and gratitude is healing

friendship is healing
and human touch, when there is love,
is healing

drawing on the strength, courage, and vision of our ancestors is healing

natural light is healing

enjoying the peace, freshness
and joy of a new day

Our blue sky, and the oceans,

and the trees,
and flowering plants,
and all the wonderful colors and scents of the earth,
these are healing

and all our family in the natural world,

mammal, bird, insect and fish-
these are healing…

fresh fruit, and vegetables, grains and bread, and homemade soup
give to our bodies and to our souls the power of the sun,
and the pure rain
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Part III: Material for Reflection A list of things that are healing

all of these are

healthy and beautiful
and if needed, they are healing

food cooked with love is healthy, life giving

gifts given generously with love are divine,

they are health and life itself
and if need be, they are healing to us all,
the whole circle

children are healing

with their beauty, and purity,
their playfulness and wonder,
with their overflowing joy
they are angels among us…

Friends and family, kindred spirits,

beautiful souls, light of the world, wherever they go
these are healing

Grandmothers and Grandfathers,

with their kindness and gentleness and wisdom are healing

Mothers and Fathers with us even now

these are healing

optimism, looking up,

and having a great aim
this is healing
patience and gentleness,
smiling to ourselves,
and to each other
this is healing

our dreams are healing

our visions, and our sacred songs,
our dances,
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Part III: Material for Reflection A list of things that are healing

the awe and wonder we feel,

knowing the Divine
this is supremely beneficial,
this is supremely healing

and art is healing

need I say it? -
all of these gifts,
the loveliness of one thing done well,
with great care, and with boldness too…

drawing,
and
painting
what wonders!

sculpture
dance
photography,
poetry
architecture
needlepoint
dress
and on and on it goes…

music is healing

these and more

all of it,
all of it, healing

make your own lists today from these bright oceans…

from all this wonder and joy…

the artist’s vision

is health
it is life
it is healing
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Part III: Material for Reflection A list of things that are healing

sacred places, such as this one, healing

animal companions, and all the love they give, healing

angels and ancestors,

friendships,
now and recalled to mind
these are healing

learning about people of good will,

and stories of heroes and heroines,
famous or less known
these are healing
and how these gifts continue – oh!

Traditions are a source of healing

Saints and great teachers are healing
and our faith and devotion connects us to them

Oh Great Song!,
Ethics, meditation and wisdom,
prayer, mantra, and samadhi,
these are healing

wonder, joy and celebration,

and gratitude
these are healing

stillness, and quieting the mind,

and thinking, rightly used too
these are healing

honoring tremendous richness of oneself and others

this is healing

breathing in and out

and smiling
peacefully
with an awareness of our body and our feelings
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Part III: Material for Reflection A list of things that are healing

with gentleness,
and with great love
this is healing

 !78

In the Healing Buddha’s Pure Land

In the Healing Buddha’s Pure Land, there is an amazing blue sky, just like
this one. Multi-colored birds sing and take wing. The warm sun reaches
everywhere, and brings us all life, health and strength. It brings joy to all it
reaches, and helps us all to open and to share our unique gifts.

In the Healing Buddha’s Pure Land, there is music played on divine

instruments; music that is ever new lifts our hearts. There is a profusion of
creativity, spilling everywhere, a cornucopia on every block. There are
gardens and varieties of flowers growing, and there is painting and dance,
poetry and prose, play and people’s dreams unfolded for us all to see and
delight in.

Here, friends and neighbors smile and greet each other, with and without
words, and care and concern are naturally the rule, sharing in each others
joys and trials. We may not know each other, but in this place we support
and encourage one another.

And we are fed. Delicious healing herbs grow from the ground, amazing ripe
fruits that grow everywhere are shared widely, and the baker’s skill and love
is handed directly to us; recipes from our grandmothers, bearing their love
down through the generations are prepared, and the house is rich with the
fragrance, nourishing our body and our heart most of all. We are fed by our
family who love and look after us, even after their passing, as well as our
spiritual ancestors, and the great benefactors of us all. We are all kept
company on our paths, guarded, guided, and encouraged by them.

Here in the Healing Buddha’s Pure Land, there is beauty all around, and
streams of kindness are flowing everywhere. We are upheld by the light, by
the courage and commitment of our brothers and sisters, the boldness of our
parents and the heroes and heroines of these and other times.

The beauty of our children today, our dreams made manifest, delights and
inspires us more and more, day by day. Here, we have loving pets that heal
us, and ritual and remembrance, and traditions and sacred objects we call
books that sing with healing energy.
 !79

Here in the Healing Buddha’s Pure Land, we watch as our old afflictions
fade away and a full day wakes in us, reaching from East to West. Here,
therefore, every day is a celebration, a sacrament, a holy day.

We all live in this Pure Land right now, but only few actually see how this is
so. For the most part, people don’t appreciate the ways in which this place is
already a paradise. The beauty, the rays of light, the ancestors and protectors,
the food and love and friendship is here, but a person can shield themselves
from these, cover themselves over and miss the joy of our being here. You
can tell because they have no dance in their step, and the look on their face is
not one of satisfied desire, but instead is pinched and sour. Tragically, they
neither give nor receive much of the spirit food that really is everywhere.

It is remarkable, but in their abysmal confusion, people turn instead and

become addicted to shadows that offer no sustenance. Barking like mad
dogs, or building weapons and organizing armies to fight imagined enemies,
they miss all the beauty, they arrive and depart empty handed from this isle
of jewels. What’s worse, deprived themselves, they harm others.

This brings me to the greatest joy of this divine place I call home, which is
that it awakens in us compassion, and the resourcefulness to work to free
others from their confusion, and help them to awaken to the pristine
perfection that is all around and within them.

Here in the Healing Buddha’s Pure Land, everywhere I see there are
countless workers and teachers and spiritual friends teaching in ever
evolving ways, at once speaking new languages as needed, engaging,
struggling along side us, and celebrating with us every great and small
victory. This work is ongoing and will be until all of us realize just what we
have here now, just where we are, and what we are all heirs to. As they say
in Zen, This very land is the Pure Land, and this very body is the Buddha.
 !80

The Staff of Wisdom and Healing Waters - A Parable

The way I figure it, either this story will be told, or it won’t. Better that it
gets told, so here goes.

Once there was a healer who walked from town to town, and village to
village. No one could tell you how old he was, really, though when pressed
they’d say he had some grey hair, but looked youthful. As far as where he
was from, everyone claimed them for their own, and it helped that he spoke
the language of the people wherever he was, right down to their dialect.
Elders always welcomed him, with gladness, and so immediately he was
accepted, and taken to wherever someone needed help.

Sometimes you’d hear sighs of relief when he showed up, with tears and
whispers that now everything would be alright.

If he was seen in the distance, with his shoulder bag and walking stick,
someone would be sent out to welcome him, and guide him through the
narrow paths, though he seemed to know where he was all the time.
Sometimes a whole group would go down the mountain to escort him. At
other times, he’d just… show up. Whenever either of these happened, word
went out quickly, and quite soon those who were suffering or who were
taking care of a loved one would hurry to meet him. He never failed them,
and somehow he always had with him just what was needed.

By day and candlelight and torch light he’d work, and then just as quickly as
he appeared, he’d be gone again. People would be healed, and he’d be
brought to mind and kept in traditions as a story that was told, with respect,
and wonder.

He has had many names, but the stories about him are very similar, in every
language. Here is one.

Once there was a drought that lasted for years. Nothing new was growing for
the longest time, and people were getting by on the meager stores they’d
managed to save up in normal times. Worst of all though was the thirst and
what it did to people. They were oppressed and mad with it, and taking to
all kinds of drugs and distractions that ended badly.
 !81

It’s told that one day, a lean man was seen entering town. He took his
walking stick and struck a rock, and water began to flow from it. He directed
someone nearby to drink and quench their thirst, which they did, and quickly
others gathered and did the same. Soon the whole town was hearing about it,
and coming to that one place. Remarkably though, it didn’t get crowded,
because springs started appearing all over, with plenty to drink for everyone.

Now, something needs to be said about this water itself. If I hadn’t seen it
with my own eyes, I wouldn’t have believed it, but, having seen it, I feel like
I have to at least try to say how it was. The best I could describe it is to say
it looked and felt like there was bright sunlight sparkling all throughout the
water, even if it was in the shade. It was pure and cool, and it eased whatever
tension or need was felt right down to the soles of your feet. It brought a
smile to your face.

I have to say, some tried to set up shops and sell the water, but it appeared in
too many places that day for those schemes to take off. People’d just laugh
when someone offered to sell them what was flowing from another rock or
coming up from the ground right next to where they were standing.
Everyone was satiated that day, and more than that, this water could be used
to clean and to heal the body and soul.

It flowed from one bolder into a natural pool, and there a person could wash
in it, washing away first the topmost layer of grime they had on them, and
then surface scabs, and then the water moved over and through them and
purified them on deeper levels. It carried away layers of hurt and made
bodies new again.

If you had eyes to see such things, you could see ancestors lining up to be
washed in these sacred places, that appeared wherever they were needed.

One of the remarkable things, if I do say so, is that villages and small towns
didn’t exactly get any bigger when all this was happening, but there was
fresh water springing up, and healing pools with these shining currents
washing away new and old hurts. When asked about it, our friend said it was
because this event was happening on the level of myth or story, or dream,
and that it was not any less real and effective because of that.
 !82

As much as some few tried to market these waters, more appeared to foil
their narrow plans. Instead, some people became the very embodiment of
this freshness themselves, such that everywhere they went and whatever they
did was refreshing and had a cleansing current to it, just as there was that
day, in those celebrated places.

Word went out, and people started traveling whenever they heard a drought
was broken someplace, and that ancient sufferings were being eased and
washed away. Some arrived and were astonished and joined in the
celebration, slaking their thirst, and washing clean their new and old
wounds. With subtle sight, on their bodies you could see first the visible
marks and injuries, and then the less visible fading away and fading away
until it was no more, thanks to the blissful touch of the cool, fresh current. It
got so that even people’s oldest ancestral hurts were soothed and healed, and
they again had their original body.

We all know that traveling from town to town could be dangerous, with wild
animals stalking those who’d venture into the thicket. I heard that this person
was never harmed though. In fact, the animals would see whoever he was
going to cure as their very own children, and they would fiercely guard and
protect him, wherever he went.

One day, someone asked the teacher how it was that he came to them,
revealing such gifts. He told them how it happened that one day high in the
mountains, he had found himself quite lost. After long prayers and with
divine help, his staff struck solid rock and water started to flow from it. At
first, it was just a trickle, barely noticeable, and then it was quite clear. He
said, I drank from it, and for the first time in memory, I felt filled. I rested
and watched how bathing myself restored my youth, so I could continue
journeying. And that’s how I got here.

He was asked, what of those who don’t believe in these things? Is there any
hope for them?

And he said, no matter. We’ll just go on breaking open fresh springs in

timeless time for those who thirst, and who need to wash away whatever
hurts they carry. We’ll continue, no matter what, learning languages and
opening vision in new ways whenever and wherever we can.
 !83

And those who refuse still? There is still so much thirst and injury. Is there
any way at all we can assuage others’ pain, and bring them comfort and rest?

And he said, Their need is our own, and it will ever be so. In a way though,
it doesn’t matter to our determination if they see it today, and this hour as we
do. We will just continue finding new methods to reach them, like clear
water appearing unexpectedly in our waking life and in our dreams and
visions. The essence is the same in all our ways of communicating. Drink
deep so that the whole place where you live and study and work, and cook
and meet others can become dewey, so that your cheeks are moist and your
eyes fresh as roses after the rain. Your voice and words and hands can carry
this stream of delight, and your arts, and city design, and architecture. Once
anyone has taken their fill, and washed their bodies, and become
indestructible like diamond light, then everything they do recreates this
bright, fresh current, however it’s needed.

I’ve written this so that others will recognize when they are close to a pure
stream, so they too can ease all their thirst and become new again. It can
come to us in so many ways, and if we’re on the lookout for it, we’ll receive
it into our lives wherever we are.

Looking back on our world and personal histories, I can see now that vital
waters have always been available, and, in spite of the time lost, and the
harms we’ve endured, our consolation and our joy can be is that this bright,
clear truth will always be with us too. This is what we will draw from,
surely, to make our lives and this world fresh again.
 !84

Great Universal Healing Energy

O Great Universal Healing Energy,

may you manifest for us all now

Everywhere and in all times

people call on you
and draw from you to accomplish their aims
to restore health for themselves,
for their children,
for their parents, brothers and sisters,
friends, those they care for, animals and this earth

Those who pray for others call on you,

caregivers, doctors, nurses, healers
brothers and sisters
call on you
we call on you to heal
and to bring life energy to us

This goes beyond any one way of saying it

Everywhere and in all times

like when the roots of a tree go down into the earth far enough
and they reach universal water,
even so,
we all reach for you

O great universal healing life energy

bring us health and well being now,
heal our children now, and bring health to our parents,
brothers and sisters, friends, and all those we pray for
heal this earth
in every way that is needed

Manifest evenly, and throughout every place and time,

completely heal all that is broken among us,

 !85

all the addicted, all the lost,

heal down to the very causes,
again give strength and courage,
joy and lasting peace in body and in mind
revived fresh breath,
solid peace,
the stilling of distress of all kinds,
and joyful vitality in abundance

Give us all here on earth

loving, and long, and fulfilled lives
give us faith in you in all your names and forms,
in all your activities,
let us all continually praise you as we should
celebrate you in all your names and forms
in all your activities
everywhere and in all times
let us praise you here and now,
and invoke the complete fulfillment of your activities this hour for us all

You are the light in the flower

and in a young child’s eyes
You are the passion in youth and the wisdom of maturity

You purify dross,

and smooth out those who are bowed down,
May such great universal healing love shine in abundance on us all
May such nectar reach us all as our daily food and drink
May this breath be our own breath now and always

May we and all our children, elders, brothers and sisters,

friends, animals and this earth, and all we care and pray for
now fully receive all healing grace and strength,
have loving, long and fruitful lives,
breath upon breath
may we all be entirely well and at our ease,

May the perfection of great universal healing energy

manifest again and again,
 !86

may health and well being arrive fully now for us all
everywhere and at all times I pray
in hospitals and in solitary rooms,
on highways and on back roads,
in the cities and in far off hamlets

May this sacred energy fully manifest for us all

in every place, now and always

Manifest in all forms of the divine we pray to

Manifest in all our peace and activity
come to us in our feelings and thoughts,
and in the words we say and sing out
manifest in all the forms of our prayers

Manifest as the very air we breathe

and as all the food we eat and the water we drink every day

Arrive, come to us in our relationships with friends and family,

with teachers and the ancestors,
come to us in all the connections we have with each other

Come to us clearly in the sun and rain,

and in music and in all the forms of beauty in this life

Surround us as friends, parents, teachers,

angels and ancestors,
and as our home and gardens

Great Universal Healing Life Energy,

manifest as peace, and as our zeal,
as our devotions in all their forms

Come to us and fill us all completely

May we all know you fully,

May we know our collective life as held by you
May we all know each other as all equally having you in us
and around us,
and before and after us,
 !87

May we all know what you give to us all

I pray,
Everywhere and at all times
may you always manifest completely and perfectly for us all
 !88

Part IV: Dedication

On Dedication Prayer

Dedication makes a bridge from our own practice to connect with people.
The more we dedicate the merit of some positive activity, in our hearts and
minds, the more we are sharing whatever positive creative energy we have
produced by our practice with others. As with all acts of sincere generosity,
this increases its value for us all even more, and makes it shine even more
brightly within us.

On another level, since there is no separation between us in reality, this kind

of orientation is also an affirmation. It says, in effect, ‘this is who we are’.
We are connected. It’s right to always be as generous as we can, and our
true nature is this active love and compassion.

If we are cultivating love and compassion, we are naturally producing what

could be called ‘continual dedication’. This quality of mind is naturally
connected to others. This is the one quality of mind that most facilitates re-
integration with others after meditation or retreat.

The final dedication prayers we make at the conclusion of any particular

practice also affirm to our own mind this knowledge we have, that the
practice we are doing has the power to work for us as we intend. It’s a
statement we make to ourselves of confidence in its effectiveness.

It’s important to dedicate the positive energy we create not only to friends,
family, those we feel we owe something , and to ‘neutral’ people, but also to
those who give us problems, the people who we sometimes perceive as
antagonistic towards us. This gives our practice an indestructible quality,
and makes it truly extensive, without limitation and without obstruction. No
one can keep us from wishing them well, regardless of their attitude toward
us. This is the freedom of the mind that we have as human beings, and such
wishes are sure to bear fruit in time.
 !89

In ‘The Heart of Compassion: The Thirty-seven Verses on the Practice of a

Bodhisttva’, concerning the practice of dedication, Dilgo Khyentse says,
‘Dedicate all the merit and positive actions you have done or will do
throughout the past, present and future so that all beings, especially your
enemies, may achieve enlightenment. Try to dedicate the merit in the same
way that the great bodhisattvas do.

‘Not a single prayer vanishes. Dedicating the merit of every positive action
you do with a pure mind will continuously bear positive fruit until you attain
enlightenment.

‘The attitude of a bodhisattva must be extremely vast, constantly keeping in

mind the infinity of beings and the wish to establish them all in buddhahood.
If you mind is vast, the power of your prayers is unlimited too. If your mind
is narrow and rigid, your accumulation of merit and the purification of your
obscurations will also be very limited.

‘Do not let yourself be discouraged by such thoughts as that it is not worth
dedicating what you see as your miserable accumulation of merit because it
could hardly benefit anyone; or by the idea that for you helping others is just
talk since you will never really be able to benefit them. If you keep your
mind open and vast, the effectiveness of your bodhicitta (the naturally
enlightened aspect of the mind) will increase, and so too will the benefit and
merit of all your words and deeds.

‘In your daily life and practice you must keep developing the excellent mind
of enlightenment.’

Seen in one way, in the beginning we set our motivation. Then we do a

particular practice, whatever works for us, and are attentive to just this.
Then, at the conclusion, being as generous as we naturally know how to, we
joyfully dedicate or give over whatever positive energy we have created
through our practice to accomplishing our intention.
 !90

Sometimes dedication is referred to as ‘sealing’ our meditation. In this sense

it does two related things: First, it keeps whatever positive energy we have
produced from becoming, even unconsciously, a cause of the negative sort of
separative pride, and second it concludes and integrates the formal practice
on a most positive note – that of kind regard and abundant good wishes
towards others.

One last note on the subject of dedication: It’s taught that the best way to
dedicate merit, if we can, is with the right view, that is, without clinging to
oneself, the action or the recipient of an action as having intrinsic reality, as
it appears to our mind. This is called ‘sealing the dedication of merit with
wisdom’, or emptiness. We can at least have this as an aim.

In The Thirty-seven Verses, the verse that refers to this says:

Dedicating to enlightenment
Through wisdom purified of the three concepts
all merit achieved by such endeavor,
to remove the suffering of numberless beings, is the practice
of a bodhisattva

This may not be easy to accomplish, and yet there is always much we can
do. In the Traditional teachings on dedication, there are many ways to
engage this wonderful practice. As expressed by Dilgo Khyentse: ‘To
dedicate merit in the best possible way – a way entirely free from the three
concepts of a subject, an object, and an action – is possible only for someone
who has fully realized emptiness. How then should we ordinary beings
dedicate the merit, (as yet) incapable as we are of such perfect dedication?
We can do it by following in the footsteps of those who have that realization.

‘The bodhisattva Samantabhadra mastered the ocean-like infinitude of a

bodhisattva’s aspirations, while Manjushri and Avalokiteshvara mastered the
oceanlike infinitude of a bodhisattva’s activity to benefit beings.

When you dedicate merit, do it with the idea of emulating the way these
great bodhisattvas dedicated merit.’
 !91

Feel free to use any or all of the following prayers if you like, substitute
prayers or verses of your own choosing, or write, or spontaneously, from
your heart, make your own prayers.

May all beings benefit.

 !92

Shantideva’s Dedication of Merit

(excerpt)

May all beings everywhere,

Plagued by sufferings of body and mind,
Obtain oceans of happiness and joy
By virtue of these merits.

May no living creature suffer,

Commit evil or ever fall ill.
May no one be afraid or belittled,
or have a mind weighed down by depression.

May the blind see forms,

And the deaf hear sounds.
May those whose bodies are worn with toil
Be restored on finding repose.

May the naked find clothing,

The hungry find food.
May the thirsty find water
And delicious drinks.

May the poor find wealth,

Those weak with sorrow find joy.
May the forlorn find hope,
Constant happiness and prosperity.

May there be timely rains

And bountiful harvests.
May all medicines be effective
And all wholesome prayers bear fruit.

May all who are sick and ill

Quickly be freed from their ailments
And may whatever diseases there are in the world
never occur again.
 !93

May the frightened cease to be afraid

And those bound be freed.
May the powerless find power
And may people think of benefiting each other.

For as long as space endures,

And for as long as living beings remain,
Until then, may I too abide,
To dispel the misery of the world.

 !94

A verse from the Lam Rim Dedication Prayer

Wherever these precious teachings have not yet reached,

or where they have reached, but have since declined,
there may I bring this treasure of happiness and aid
 !95

Dedication - from A Marvelous Garland of Rare Gems, by Nyoshul Khen

Rinpoche

May this spiritual approach, {the Buddhast Path},

like the light of the sun and moon,
permeate everywhere, dispelling the darkness of ignorance.
Like a gem, may it be the source of what has ultimate meaning,
fulfilling the hopes of all beings.
Like a river, may it flow on without interruption, an ever-present and
powerful force.
Like a ruler, may it enact limitless activities,
serving as an adornment of this world.
 !96

The Sharing of Blessings

Through the goodness that arises from my practice,

May my spiritual teachers and guides of great virtue,
My mother, father, and relatives,
all the leaders of the world,

the highest gods and evil forces,

Celestial beings, guardian spirits of the Earth,
those who are friendly, indifferent, or hostile,
realized beings and ordinary worldly people -

all receive the blessings of my life.

May they soon attain the threefold bliss2 and realize the Deathless3.

Through the goodness that arises from my practice,

And through this act of sharing,
May all desires and attachments,
and all harmful states of mind of myself and all others quickly cease.

May we all be completely healed.

May we all be completely liberated.

Until I realize Nibanna,

In every kind of birth, may I have an upright mind,
With mindfulness and wisdom, austerity and vigor.
May the forces of delusion not take hold nor weaken my resolve.

The Buddha is my excellent refuge and Guide

Unsurpassed is the protection of practicing the Dhamma,
The Noble Sangha is my supreme support.
Through the supreme power of these three,
May all darkness and delusion be dispelled.


2 All the happiness of this life, celestial realms, and liberation

3 Or ‘May they all realize the true nature of no birth and no death’.
 !97

Dedication, based on a prayer by His Holiness, Kyabje Dudjom Rinpoche

For myself and all others,

May the Victory Banner of the accomplishment
of spiritual practice be raised.

May the Victorious Drum of the teaching and practice

of liberating and enlightening instructions resound in the Ten Directions.

For myself and all others,

May the Lion’s Roar of reasoning pervade
and the Light of unequalled virtues increase

Everywhere, may the study, practice,

and realization of the Dharma Paths flourish.
May the Sanghas always be in harmony,
And may all the aspirations of the Nobles Ones be achieved.

At this very moment, for the peoples and nations of the earth,
May not even the names disease, famine, war, and suffering be heard,
But rather may pure conduct, merit, wealth, and prosperity increase,
And may supreme good fortune and well-being always arise.

* * *

 !98

Selected Dedication Prayers from Lama Zopa Rinpoche

A preceding reflection

All phenomena – including the I, the action of dedicating, the merits that
are dedicated, the goal of enlightenment to which they are dedicated, and the
sentient beings for whom they are dedicated – are completely empty of
existing from their own side. With the continual awareness of this, I now
impute labels, and dedicate…

Due to all the merits of the three times collected by me, by all the ten
directions three times buddhas and bodhisattvas, and all other sentient
beings, may sentient beings immediately be liberated from all sickness, spirit
harm and negative karma and defilements.

May they develop faith in refuge and karma, and quickly achieve
enlightenment, by actualizing the whole path, especially bodhichitta.

By my hearing that someone is sick may it immediately cause that person to

completely recover and have the most meaningful life by practicing the
Mahayana path.

By my hearing somebody has died may it cause that person to immediately

be reborn in a pure land where they can get enlightened.

* * *

Due to all the past, present, and future merits collected by me, the
numberless buddhas, and the numberless sentient beings, may all wars,
sickness, famine, torture, poverty, and economic problems in the world, and
all dangers of earth, water, fire, and wind, be pacified immediately, and may
perfect peace and happiness prevail in everyone’s hearts and lives.

May the Buddhadharma last for a long time, and may the sentient beings in
this world meet the Buddhadharma and achieve enlightenment as quickly as
possible.

* * *
 !99

Due to all the past, present, and future merits collected by me and all the
merits of the three times collected by the numberless buddhas and
numberless sentient beings, which are completely empty of existing from
their own side, may I, who am completely empty of existing from my own
side, achieve the state of full enlightenment, which is completely empty of
existing from its own side, and lead all sentient beings, who are completely
empty of existing from their own side, to that state, which is completely
empty of existing from its own side, by myself alone, who is completely
empty of existing from my own side.

* * *

Due to this virtue, may I quickly

Become a Guru-Buddha,
And lead all transmigratory beings,
Without exception, to that state.

 !100

A longer dedication prayer, with a preceding reflection from the teachings

of Lama Zopa Rinpoche

‘All phenomena – including the I, the action of dedicating, the merits that
are dedicated, the goal of enlightenment to which they are dedicated, and the
sentient beings for whom they are dedicated – are completely empty of
existing from their own side. With the continual awareness of this, I now
impute labels, and dedicate…’

By the merit of this practice,

and by the merit of any other good I have done,

together with all the blessings and virtue

of all the ten-directions three times
Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, Saints and Sages,
Yidams, Saviors, Great World Teachers,
Realized Beings, Lamas,
Jewel-like Monks and Nuns,
Yogis and Yoginis, Arhats and Ajaans,
Mahasiddhas, Togden and Togdenmas,
Kadampa Geshes, Contemplatives of all Traditions,
and all excellent practitioners,
by all these limitless skies of merit,

together with all the virtue and pure good wishes of family, friends,
and noble, kind hearted people everywhere,

along with all the great, wonderful, positive energy of the natural world,

and the blessings of celestial beings,

angels and ancestors, guardians and protectors,

by the merit and positive energy of all the good that exists,
by all the virtue of the Ultimate Nature,
Universal Goodness,

Universal Love and Compassion,

by all this merit,
 !101

May the benefit of beings everywhere effortlessly arise:

May all beings benefit.

May all beings everywhere have happiness,

and all of the fully actualized causes of true health and happiness.
May this bring healing wherever it is needed
on outer, inner, and secret levels

By the virtue of this practice, by all this merit,

and by our own awakened insight,
may we all be completely free from all illness, spirit harm,
and from all of the afflictive emotions forever

May we all be completely free from all samsaric states forever

May we all know freedom
May all beings completely realize the Dharmakaya, and,
May this be the medicine that frees everyone from suffering

(a prayer by the Noble Spiritual Friend Lama Zopa Rinpoche)

By this merit, may all those who are unhappy in any way,
(confused, angry, anxious, afraid, attached,
sad or depressed, with distorted views),
instantly
be completely freed from those states.
May they be comforted,
and may they have perfect peace,
wisdom, strength and lasting joy

By all merit and positive spiritual energy,

may all those who are suffering from pain or illness
immediately be totally freed from that pain,

may those who have been in an accident completely recover,

may they immediately be completely healed,
and may they all be firmly established in true and lasting health and
happiness
well being and strength,
comfort and ease
 !102

May all beings be safe

May they be healthy
May they be happy, and,
May they know they are loved

Young and old, rich and poor,

male and female, realized and ordinary people,
near and far away, already born or yet to be born -
may they all enjoy happiness,
health, and peace
May they all be entirely well and at their ease

By all this merit,

may all those who want to go on retreat
have the opportunity to do so without delay;
may they all have the resources they need,
may they find all suitable conditions,
and, without obstacles,
may their retreat go exceedingly well
may they have all excellent realizations

By all this virtue,

May health increase everywhere
May ethics, and meditation and wisdom increase in me and in the world
May pure loving kindness and compassion increase, and
May peace and harmony increase everywhere

By all this merit,

may all those who work to heal receive all they need to work most
effectively in this world
May their healing qualities increase limitlessly,
and may they remain without pride

By all this merit,

may all monasteries,
monks, and nuns, and lay practitioners,
Dharma Centers, hospitals, clinics,
schools and social service centers
have everything they need to serve beings most effectively
 !103

May monastics and the laity everywhere all keep completely pure ethics,
develop the supreme good heart, and wisdom,
and may all their good works effectively flourish forever

By all this merit,

may all beings have all they need in their lives
May those who need a job and resources find a good job,
and may they prosper abundantly
May those who need a place to live find a good place to live
May those who need food and drink find good food and drink
May those who need a friend find a friend

By all this virtue,

May we all have everything we need to be truly happy

By all this merit,

May everything we see, hear, think about and dream be auspicious

May all beings have happiness

and the causes of happiness…
May all beings be free of suffering and the causes of suffering...
I rejoice in all that is beautiful and right in the world,
in all virtue and positive action,
and in all success, happiness and good fortune...
and abide in stable, impartial love

By all this merit, may all the pure positive wishes we have for each other
be completely fulfilled,
instantly, and effortlessly,
just as in a Pure Land

(the following two prayers I have heard and admired from Lama Zopa
Rinpoche)

By all this virtue

May those I hear about that are sick immediately be healed

May all those who have come to my attention

who have any illness,
 !104

or who are unhappy, or in need in any way

be blessed
May they be healed
May they all benefit
May they all have happiness
and all the completely actualized causes of health and happiness

and

May those I have heard about who have passed away be reborn in a Pure
Land, without taking birth any place else

May their families be comforted

May they all know blessed peace

By all this merit,

May those I hear about who are experiencing difficulties
be free from those difficulties,
and may all fortunate circumstances come to them right away

May the spiritual energy that arises

from my devotion to the Enlightened Ones,
be dedicated to dispelling the misery of living beings without exception

May all beings everywhere be safe

May they all be healthy
May they all be happy
May they all know they are loved

May the supreme jewel, bodhicitta

arise where it has not yet arisen
Where it has arisen, may it not diminish
May it ever grow and flourish

By this merit,
and by the merit of any other good I have done,

together with all the blessings and virtue

of all the ten-directions three times
Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, Saints and Sages,
 !105

Yidams, Saviors, Great World Teachers,

Realized Beings, Lamas,
Jewel-like Monks and Nuns,
Yogis and Yoginis, Arhats and Ajaans,
Mahasiddhas, Togden and Togdenmas,
Kadampa Geshes, Contemplatives of all Traditions,
and all excellent practitioners,
by all these limitless skies of merit,

together with all the virtue and pure good wishes of family, friends,
and noble, kind hearted people everywhere,

along with all the great, wonderful, positive energy of the natural world,

and the blessings of celestial beings,

angels and ancestors, guardians and protectors,

by the merit and positive energy of all the good that exists,
by all the virtue of the Ultimate Nature,
Universal Goodness,
Universal Love and Compassion,

by all this merit,

and by our own awakened insight,

May warfare cease,

may all injury be healed,
and all danger pacified

May we all produce the conditions

for countless generations, starting now,
to experience genuine peace

May all poverty and hunger be alleviated

May this earth be protected,

honored and cared for

and may we all cherish one another

and this world we live in
 !106

May we all be supremely respectful, considerate,

kind, and gentle to ourselves
and to each other

May our intentions equally penetrate

every being and place
with the true merit of Buddha’s Way.

without grasping or clinging to anything at all,

may it be this way

May all beings everywhere be safe

May they all be healthy
May they all be happy
May they all know they are loved

By all this merit,

may all those to whom I am connected
by good or bad karma,
have every happiness
May they all know freedom,
and may they be free of all suffering

May they receive all joys, and all good fortune,

and may they and their loved ones,
family, friends, and co-workers
all have good health, wisdom,
long life,
well being, and strength,
comfort and ease

By this merit,
may family members and friends who are estranged
be reconciled,
and may there always be peace between them, from now on

May all the prayers of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas

be completely realized now
and may all of my prayers succeed immediately
 !107

By this virtue,
May those who are in need in any way whatsoever
receive every benefit
May all have happiness
and all the actualized complete causes of health and happiness

{at this point, a review of the names and circumstances of those particular
individuals that you wish to pray for can be inserted here}

By all this virtue,

May those who are in need in any way whatsoever
receive every benefit
May all have happiness
and all the fully actualized complete causes of health and happiness

By all this merit,

and by following the example of my
Guides of Great Virtue,
may I not withhold any gift whatsoever
from any being in any place,
wishing them all a great abundance of joys!

By all the limitless good that exists,

may all the needs of all living beings everywhere be completely fulfilled

By all this merit, for every one of us,

when this life is over,
may we each be born immediately in a Pure Land,
and in all our lives
May we never be separate from qualified teachers,
and from conducive environments, with all the supportive conditions for
continuing our practice of the Dharma

May I always go without even the slightest hesitation

wherever I can bring the greatest benefit to others,

By all this virtue

May I attain the complete realization of all practice
that I may bring all others without a single exception to that same state
 !108

May we all individually attain the complete realization of our spiritual

practice,
freedom, genuine, stable happiness,
health and peace, and all good things,
wisdom, compassion, and ability

By all this merit,

May all holy teachers live long, and guide us until samsara ends.
And may there be peace and joy in all the world.
 !109

By this virtue
may all beings,
my dear family, friends,
and all my dear relations everywhere and at all times
have health,
long life,
clear minds,
peace and joy
 110
!

By this virtue:

May all beings be free of suffering

may they be instantly free of whatever suffering they may have

May they have happiness

and may that happiness be lasting for them
 !111

By this practice
may those who have perfect health
be firmly established in that perfect health
May those who do not yet have complete and perfect health
be brought to that level of health, well being and strength
and may those who suffer in any way
be it very slight, or with great suffering
be healed
may they be brought to the highest level of health
and may they be firmly established in complete and perfect health

 112
!

O, All my ten directions three times family,

near and distant relations,

May my life and this practice benefit us all

pervading all existences

every mind,
every body, every cell
earth and sky

May this practice surely benefit us all

May all my past, present and future selves benefit from this
and may all the past, present and future selves of all beings
benefit from this

May this bring healing wherever it is needed.

May this bring about the flourishing of true health and happiness for us all
 113
!

By this virtue
may those who do not have happiness
have happiness

May those who do not have confidence

have confidence

May those who do not have peace

have peace

May those who do not have knowledge and joy

have knowledge and joy
 114
!

From Shantideva

As long as diseases afflict living beings

may I be the doctor
the medicine
and also the nurse
who restores them to health

May I fall as rain

to increase the harvests
that must feed living beings
and in times of dire famine
may I, myself, be food and drink

For as long as space remains,

and for as long as sentient beings remain,
until then, may I too remain,
to dispel the suffering of the world
 115
!

A dedication prayer by Venerable Sarah

Dedicate the merit

for all those who are sick, and suffering

and all those involved in wars

fighting, killing

depression

those who’ve lost their jobs

those who’ve lost their money

those who’ve lost their hope

who feel helpless

those in hospitals now

those who are sick,
those who are dying,
those with operations

those who are suffering mental sicknesses -

all sentient beings

to be never separated from Medicine Buddha

and may they quickly achieve enlightenment

in order to free all beings

and may all the prayers the Medicine Buddhas made be actualized right now
 116
!

Dedication, Aspiration and Benediction, by Tulku Thondup, from the audio

cd ‘Boundless Healing’, lightly edited

So now let us dedicate, and make aspirations of this meditation.

Let us dedicate all these merits that we have created by this meditation to all
mother beings, as a cause of happiness, peace and joy for them, and as a
cause of their attainment of Healing Buddha’s blessings, peace and joy.

By the power of the Buddhas,

Healing Buddha,
and by the power of the infinite Buddhas that we have prayed to in the sky
and prayed to in our body,
by the power of all these Buddhas,
and by the power of all the Pure Lands,
and by the power of the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha,
by the power of the meditation we have done,
by the power of the merits that we have created,
and by the power of the Ultimate Nature, Absolute Truth,
by the power of interdependent causation,

May all mother beings have happiness, peace and joy

May they always be with Healing Buddha’s blessing light,
blessing energy, and blessing sound, without separation

And may we always be with Healing Buddha’s blessing light,

blessing energy, and blessing sound, without separation,
day and night, awake or asleep,
good times and bad times

And may we always be the source of Healing Buddha’s blessings

for all mother beings
especially those with whom we have close connections,
we have special responsibilities

And by the power of all the Buddhas,

May all our prayers be answered
May all our wishes be fulfilled
 117
!

(Benediction)

Now think and feel that Buddhas in the sky, and Buddhas in our body, give
us their benediction. In one thunderous voice, filling the universe, they say
to us:

‘May your prayers be answered

May your wishes be fulfilled

‘May you be healed of your old illness

ills of your mind, and your body

‘And may you always be with Healing Buddha’s

blessing light, blessing energies, and blessing sound’

Think and feel that we have accomplished the healing activities, the
blessings of the Healing Buddha.
 118
!

By this virtue

may all beings benefit

may all beings be happy and at peace

and may their hearts be filled with joy

 119
!

Recommended Reading

The reason for the following extended recommended reading list

With the decline of both chain and independent bookstores, most of us are
left buying books almost exclusively online. Websites can produce computer
generated suggestions but these cannot take the place of finding a book we
didn’t know we were looking for (and didn’t know existed) in a bookstore.
Nor can it take the place of an informed person, either a friend, or a kind and
knowledgeable stranger recommending a book they have read and benefitted
from.

The online market will only care about things that have sold before, and so
have the potential to sell again. It is a soul-less process, more or less. There
is very little knowledge behind it, and little human feeling or responsiveness,
but like it or not, this is the way it is going, and will continue to go for some
time.

Online markets (such as Amazon) will only deal in, or refer to books they
know about. For this reason, and in order to do something to counter the
loss of available information that the contraction of the book market
represents, I think it’s very important for people with knowledge in any area
to make recommended reading lists, for those who would otherwise not
encounter many of the best titles in any given subject. By offering a book
list, there will at least be a greater chance that excellent titles will be sought
out, and will remain available for generations to come.

That said, here is my extended recommended reading list in Buddhist

studies:

Sutras

A Guide to the Bodhisattva’s Way of Life, translated by Stephen Batchelor

for chapters 1 through 8, and, translated by the Padmakara Translation
Committee for chapter 9

The Dhammapada, P. Lal translation

 !120

The Prajna Paramita Sutra, in Eight Thousand Lines, translated by Edward

Conze

The Platform Sutra (also called ‘The Sutra of the Sixth Zen Patriarch’, or
‘The Sutra of Hui-Neng) translated by Wong Mou-Lam and A.F. Price

The Uttara Tantra – A Treatise on Buddha Nature; Attributed to Maitreya;

translated by Ken and Katia Holmes

The Vimalakirti Nirdesa Sutra – translated by Charles Luk

An Anthology of Buddhist Prayer, edited by Jason Espada

Theravada Buddhism

Living Buddhist Masters (also published as Living Dharma), edited by Jack

Kornfeld

Ajaan Chah: A Taste of Freedom; Food for the Heart; A Still Forest Pool;

Ajaan Lee: Keeping the Breath in Mind; Inner Strength

Bhikkhu Visuddhacara: Curbing Anger, Spreading Love

Buddhadasa Bhikkhu: The Heartwood of the Bodhi Tree

Shaila Catherine: Focused and Fearless; Wisdom Wide and Deep

Henepola Gunaratana: Mindfulness in Plain English; Beyond Mindfulness in

Plain English

Joseph Goldstein: One Dharma; Seeking the Heart of Wisdom (with Jack
Kornfeld); The Experience of Insight

Khantipalo Bhikkhu: Calm and Clear

Sayadaw U Pandita: In This Very Life

 !121

Venerable Weragoda Serada Maha Thero - Treasury of Truth - 


A Commentary on the Dhammapada

On Metta:

Sharon Salzberg: Loving kindness

Venerable Sujiva: Loving kindness

Jason Espada: Living in Beauty - A Collection of Essays on Metta for Our

Times

Thich Nhat Hanh: Breathe!, You Are Alive! (also published at ‘The Sutra on
the Full Awareness of Breathing’); The Miracle of Mindfulness; The Heart
of Understanding; The Diamond that Cuts Through Illusion; Interbeing;
Being Peace; Transformation and Healing; A Guide to Walking Meditation;
The Energy of Prayer; For A Future to Be Possible; The Heart of the
Buddha’s Teaching

Zen Buddhism

Shikantaza - An Introduction to Zen, Shohaku Okamura, editor

Shodo Harada Roshi: The Path to Bodhidharma; Morning Dewdrops of the

Mind

Seikan Hasegawa: Cave of Poison Grass

The Tiger’s Cave - edited by Trevor Leggett

D.T. Suzuki: Essays in Zen Buddhism

Suzuki Roshi: Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind

 !122

Uchiyama Roshi: Opening the Hand of Thought; How to Cook Your Life –
From the Zen Kitchen to Enlightenment

Thich Thien-An: Zen Philosophy, Zen Practice

Tibetan Buddhism

Teachings from Tibet: Guidance from Great Lamas, edited by Nicholas

Ribush

Teachings of Tibetan Yoga, translated by Garma C.C. Chang

The Sublime Path of the Victorious Ones; A Book of Mahayana Prayers

Ani Tenzin Palmo: Reflections On A Mountain Lake; Into the Heart of Life

Bokar Rinpoche: Meditation: Advice to Beginners

Chagdud Tulku: Gates to Buddhist Practice; Lord of the Dance

Death and Dying in the Tibetan Tradition: introduced and translated by

Glenn Mullin

Deshung Rinpoche: The Three Levels of Spiritual Perception

Dilgo Khyentse: The Heart Treasure of the Enlightened Ones;

The Heart of Compassion

Gen Lamrimpa: Calming the mind (also published as ‘Samatha Meditation)

Geshe Wangyal: The Door of Liberation

His Holiness The Fourteenth Dalai Lama: The Way to Freedom; Becoming
Enlightened; The Mind in Comfort and Ease; For the Benefit of All Beings -
A Commentary on the Way of the Bodhisattva; The Meaning of Life from A
Buddhist Perspective; Advice on Dying and Living a Better Life
 !123

Kathleen Macdonald: How to Meditate

Kenpo Kathar: Dharma Paths

Khenpo Palden Sherab Rinpoche: Opening the Door to Inconceivable

Wisdom and Compassion; and, Opening to Our Primordial Nature;
Ceaseless Echoes of the Great Silence; Discovering Infinite Freedom; Lion’s
Gaze; Prajana Paramita - The Six Perfections

Lama Lodro Rinpoche: The Quintessence of the Animate and Inanimate;

Bardo Teachings

Lama Yeshe: Wisdom Energy I and II; The Essence of Tibetan Buddhism;
Make Your Mind an Ocean; Becoming Your Own Therapist; The Peaceful
Stillness of the Silent Mind; Life, Death, and After Death; Freedom Through
Understanding;; Ego, Attachment, and Liberation; Silent Mind, Holy Mind

Lama Zopa Rinpoche: The Door to Satisfaction; Transforming Problems into

Happiness; Virtue and Reality; The Joy of Compassion; Making Life
Meaningful; How Things Exist - Teachings on Emptiness; Kadampa
Teachings; The Heart of the Path; Heart Sutra Practices and Instructions for
Retreat; Heart Advice - The Bodhisattva Attitude

Matthieu Ricard: The Monk and the Philosopher; Why Meditate? – Working
with Thoughts and Emotions; Happiness - A Guide to Developing Life’s
Most Important Skill

Mingyur Rinpoche: The Joy of Living; Joyful Wisdom

Nyoshul Khen Rinpoche: Natural Great Perfection; Rest in Natural Great

Peace

Pabonkha Rinpoche: Liberation in the Palm of Your Hand; with Lama Zopa
Rinpoche: Heart Advice for Retreat

Robert Thurman: Infinite Life; The Jewel Tree of Tibet

Sogyal Rinpoche: The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying

 !124

Tenzin Wangal Rinpoche: The Five Elements in Tibetan Shamanism, Tantra,

and Dzongchen

The Seventh Dalai Lama: Songs of Spiritual Change, translated by Glenn

Mullin

The Thirteenth Dalai Lama: The Path of the Bodhisattva Warrior

Tulku Urgyen: Rainbow Painting; Repeating the Words of the Buddha; As It

Is, volumes I and II

On The Seven Point Mind Training teachings:

Geshe Rabten: Advice From A Spiritual Friend

Dilgo Khyentse: Enlightened Compassion

Jamgon Kongtrul: The Great Path of Awakening – A Commentary on the

Seven-Point Mind Training

On the transition between the Middle Way View, and Buddha Nature
teachings

Nagarjuna: In Praise of the Dharmadatu, with a commentary by Khenpo

Tsultrim Gyatso

Khenpo Palden Sherab Rinpoche: Opening the Wisdom Door of the

Rangtong and Shentong Views: A Brief Explanation of the One Taste of the
Second and Third Turnings of the Wheel of Dharma

On Vajrayana:

Lama Yeshe: An Introduction to Tantra;

 !125

Dilgo Khyentse: Pure Appearance

Gyatrul Rinpoche: Generating the Deity

His Holiness the Fourteenth Dalai Lama: Tantra in Tibet; Deity Yoga; Yoga
Tantra

Jamgon Kongtrul: Creation and Completion (with a commentary by Thrangu

Rinpoche)

Khenpo Palden Sherab Rinpoche: Opening the Wisdom Door of the Outer
Tantras

On particular practices:

Bokar Rinpoche: Chenrezig, Lord of Love

Tulku Thondup: The Healing Power of Loving Kindness

Khenpo Palden Sherab Rinpoche: Tara’s Enlightened Activity

Lama Yeshe: Becoming the Compassion Buddha; Becoming Vajrasattva;

Universal Love - The Yoga Method of Buddha Maitreya

On healing practices:

Jason Espada: A Collection of Buddhist Healing Prayers and Practices

Khenpo Kathar Rinpoche: White Tara - the Wish Fulfilling Wheel

Lama Zopa Rinpoche: Ultimate Healing; Teachings from the Medicine

Buddha Retreat

Thrangu Rinpoche: Medicine Buddha Teachings

Tulku Thondup: The Healing Power of the Mind; Boundless Healing

Venerable Hsuan Hua: The Medicine Master Sutra, with commentary