Saga Dawa Month, Mantras and Offerings

AT KAMALASHILA TIBETAN BUDDHIST CENTRE
9 May to 6 June 2024

Khenpo la joined many ordained sangha across all Buddhist traditions to attend the inaugural Vesak Celebration at the NSW Parliament kindly hosted by Multiculturalism Minister Steve Kamper MP and shadow minister Mark Coure MP and supported by the Buddhist Connection – Buddhist Council of NSW. Opposition leader Marl Speakman gave an insightful address capturing the key elements of Buddhist practice. Chanting took place from the three traditions including a light offering and bathing of the Lord Buddha ceremony. We rejoice that this will now become an annual event at the NSW Parliament to mark the commencement of Saga Dawa.

One hundred light offerings were made every single day during this most holy month of Saga Dawa. During retreats these offerings were made twice daily! We would like to thank the 67 families, individuals, friends and members who sponsored these offerings. May all the Gurus and Bodhisattvas enjoy good health, live long lives and through their teachings ensure the flourishing of the precious Buddhadharma. We invite all sponsors to dedicate your merit for peace in the world and the benefit of all sentient beings.

A few special days stand out, shared by Khenpo la.

Saga Dawa Day 5

Lamp Offering Prayer
(Marimei monlam choden gya tso zhug so)

Visualise and recite as follows:

Rin chen dang po’i kong po ni 
Firstly, the butter lamp base is made out of many precious jewels.
Tong sum khyun tang nyam pi nang / tsi mar chod kyi yong kang wa’i 
Inside it is as vast as the three thousand realms, filled with butter of the most exquisite quality.
Kyil du dong bu ri rab tsam 
Place a wick in the middle of the butter as large as Mount Sumeru.
Tsug la bar we me che yi / ngo wo ye shi nga den la 
The flame of this butter lamp is in the nature of the five wisdoms.
Nam pa nyi ma dung chur gyi 
The form of this flame is as bright as a billion suns.
Zi kig bar wi mar me dhee / chok chu nam khe kham kun khyub 
A powerful light radiates from this lamp that pervades space in all the ten directions.
Oe kyi long ne kun zang gi / choe trin gya tsoe trin trho wa / si thi bar du tak choed pe 
Through this immeasurable light, unsurpassable objects of offering arise like vast cloud banks, which I offer until samsara ends.
Dag dang dag la drel thog kyi / mig yul shin son chi chee pa’i / tsog nyi dzog shing drib nye jang 
Through this, may all beings and myself, whether they are living or have passed on, purify the two obscurations and accomplish the two accumulations (of merit and wisdom).
La med chang chub nyur thob shog 
May we swiftly attain the highest enlightenment (Buddhahood).

Saga Dawa Day 23 

The Holy Day of Mahasiddhi Virupa

On 23rd night of the lunar month (Saga Dawa) he perceived primordial wisdom in the form of the fifteen-goddess mandala of the Nirmanakaya manifestation of Nairātmyā. The four empowerments were bestowed completely, and he achieved the result of the attainment of the first bhumi (stage of enlightenment) that very night. On the six consecutive nights, Virupa achieved increasing realisations and on the seventh night, the 29th day of the lunar month, he accomplished the sixt of the Bhumi. 

Praise to Mahasiddha Virupa 

Namo Virupaya

A la la, from the innate, free from proliferation, 
this one, very brilliant, gloriously blazing beyond imagining, 
he who is called “Jetsun Virupa”, 
has become our Lord, e ma ho!
Freed from all concepts by your brilliance, 
having increased the four joys with the airs of the three doors, 
also chaotic activities has transformed into bliss and emptiness, 
then having awakened, I shall offer a brief praise in commemoration.
The lord who has joined together the two benefits of happiness, excellence and perfection, 
having shown the supreme path to fortunate disciples, 
with wisdom and love, placing them in nirvana. 
I prostrate to the one at play in the supreme unmoving state.
Someone in this world from a royal family, 
a monk who completed the five sciences, 
the spiritual guide of millions of members of the order of his Sangha 
I prostrate with devotion to the one famed as Elder Dharmapala.
Never defeated by opponents, the lord of the teaching 
of the shastras of the great founders that have the meaning of the three trainings, 
pillar of the doctrine, the second Omniscient One, 
I prostrate to the one beyond dispute in the world.
During the day, a great assembly 
was satisfied with the nectar of the teachings of the stages of the path, 
in the evening, liberated by practicing secret conduct, 
I bow to the one who realized the sixth bhumi by following Nairātmyā. 
In order to guide living beings through unconventional conduct, 
leaving the monastic sangha, with vulgar conduct 
wandering through all the towns and roads, 
I prostrate to the one famed to all as Virupay
Reversing the Ganges and taming a wicked King, 
after halting the sun, drinking the kingdom’s wine 
without getting drunk, splitting a linga, taming witches, 
I prostrate to the Powerful Lord.
As such, at the end of demonstrating his limitless abilities, 
having tamed Kartika in Saurasrta, 
I prostrate to the one who at play in the great bliss of union. 
pervading the whole expanse of space with objectless great compassion.
Having shown the profound path with the four oral transmissions, 
the method of quickly realizing phenomena as the reality of 
the utter purity of bliss and emptiness, 
I prostrate to the one who ripens and liberates the fortunate.
E ma, while my mind has not attained the stage of liberation, 
in the utterly pure expanse, 
in your presence, Jetsun, 
please embrace me like this again and again.
As such, having increased the stream of nectar. 
of that which is produced as a byproduct of 
your compassion, 
I supplicate you to accomplish my goals.
Also, whoever follows your example, 
should never part from the two stages, 
may there be no obstacles on the path, 
please benefit the doctrine.
The airs of the pure three doors 
increase the four joys; 
after the four movements dissolve into the central channel, 
may one obtain the stage of powerful vajra holder.
Also, the fame of this residence, 
pervades the earth [sa] and sky; 
white [skya] like the moon or jasmine, 
glorious virtue is to be enjoyed.

Lord Virupa himself, with the white earth behind him, covering the area in between Bal Ravine and Mon Ravine, was seated crossed legged, with the mudra of teaching. On his right was Krisnapa, on his left was Gayadhara, behind him was Kokkalipa and in front was Vinasa, were seen as being actually present. When He bestowed the blessing of the four empowerments; explained “The Concealed Path”, gave the empowerment of Vajravidarana; gave the reading transmission for 72 divisions of tantra; “The Intimate Instruction of the Path with the Result”, “Ten Great Accomplishments” along with the “Eight Subtle Ones”, the words of the praise arose from the strength of Sachen’s experience. 

~Samapatamithi