The Quintessence of Nectar | The Union of Teaching and Accomplishment Publishing Group

The Quintessence of Nectar
A Ritual for the Sutra of Three Heaps
Composed by Choden Rinpoche Lobzang Gyalten Jigdrel Wangchuk

Homage to the bodies of the Thirty-Five Guru Sugatas!

Oh excellent minded one, the brilliance of the sun of your abilities of wisdom and compassion
Exorbitantly spreads happiness and goodness, like the glorious opening of a lotus.
Widely renowned as being an ornament for the ears the fortunate,
To you, O Three Jewels, [Lobzang Darma Palzang Dragpa Rinchen,] with the greatest of my limbs I pay adherence!

Although all conquerors are equal, and equal with the three,
In terms of similar compassion, skillful means and prayer,
Regarding conquering misdeeds and downfalls, the greatest and most courageous
Are the Thirty-Five Sugatas, hence I will compose this ritual offering for them.

Therefore, regarding this way of offerings prostrations and invoking the heart vows, a method for purifying the bodhisattva downfalls explained in the twenty-fourth chapter of the Jewel Mound Sutra which is the ultimate meaning of the Sutra of Three Heaps, first are the preliminary activities. In a clean and pleasant place arrange supports of the body, speech and mind, such as images or statues of the Thirty-Five Sugatas, the Sutra of the Three Heaps, and so forth. Arrange a vast, not small array of excellent offerings, such as five varieties and so forth, of good quality and properly acquired. If one wants to be more extensive one can offer the collection of all the required articles, such as a four-part torma, four white tormas with lotus petal adornments, a ritual bath, the monk’s requisite items, a mandala, and so forth.

The Actual Ritual
The meaning of the sutra is collected into three heaps. From among those, along with the four opponent powers and dedication:

The (first) heap, of acquiring the collections and the (first) opponent power, of the basis

You should take the Eight Mahayana Precepts, or another method similar to that which, if taken, perfectly completes all of the branches. Similar to above, being endowed with the extraordinary intention, go for refuge and generate bodhicitta, and recognize they are to be mixed with your mind stream. Recite in this way:

I and all sentient beings, my mothers, equal to the limits of space, continually go for refuge to the Guru.
We go for refuge to the Buddha.
We go for refuge to the Dharma.
We go for refuge to the Sangha. Recite three times, or as many times as you are able

To the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Supreme Assembly,
Until enlightenment I go for refuge.
Through my actions of generosity, and so forth,
In order to benefit all wanderers may I achieve buddhahood! By reciting this three times, generate bodhicitta

Though self and all phenomena are dharmadhātu by nature,
May all sentient beings, who do not realize it as such, be endowed with happiness and the causes of happiness,
May they be free from suffering and the causes of suffering,
May they never be separated from the happiness that is devoid of suffering, and
May they abide in an equanimity that is free of the two, desire for those close and hatred for those distant, the causes of contaminated happiness and suffering. Reciting this, meditate on the four immeasurable thoughts

In order to achieve the aims of all mother sentient beings, may I quickly and more quickly, by whatever means necessary, achieve the precious state of a perfectly completed buddha. For that purpose, I am going to engage in this practice of offering and confessing of downfalls to the Thirty-Five Sugatas. By reciting this one time, generate extraordinary bodhicitta

The (second) opponent power, of applying the remedy

Through the blessing of the conquerors and their sons, who speak the truth, and
The might of the perfectly completed two collections, and
The power of the completely pure dharmadhātu
May this ground be free of all faults and stains, and
May the beings and environment of this worldly realm be enriched and made great with all of samsara and nirvana’s glorious perfections like Sukhavati.

May it be adorned with a precious ground of gold, silver and pearls that spread out like grains of sand, and
With garlands of precious trees in perfect rows, and
With oceans of water with excellent color, smell and taste, and
Covered with gardens of flowers with pleasant, sweet fragrance,
May it be radiant with countless Samantabhadra’s offering clouds.

Here, in the center of a supreme and exceptionally designed jewel palace, on lotus and moon seats above a large and spacious elephant throne, may my root guru and the three precious gems, along with the Thirty-Five Sugatas deities, having gathered together and taken their seat, be delighted and enjoy the oceans of offering collections, produced through the power of dharani, knowledge and faith.

Invocation

Protector of all sentient beings without exception,
Deity who conquerors the inexhaustible hordes of maras,
Exalted knower of all realities, without exception,
Bhagavan along with your retinue, please come here!

Therefore, spontaneously from the dharmadhātu palace
Manifest a host of magical emanations, bestowing blessings, and
For the sake of the collection of limitless sentient beings who are to be liberated,
Perfectly pure one along with your retinue, please come here!

Look upon myself and all wanderers with your great kindness and compassion, and
Through your strength and power having generated unfathomable magical emanations,
For as long as I am performing the action of making offerings,
O Bhagavan, for that long be pleased and remain.

If you wish, offer a bath. Then:

My root lama, who bears the face of all conquerors combined into one,
The Lord of the Sages, Maitreya, Asanga, and so on,
Those who hold in their hands this profound sutra,
To all of the direct and lineage gurus, I prostrate!

To the unequalled teacher, the precious Buddha,
To the unequalled refuge, the precious holy Dharma,
To the unequalled guides, the precious Sangha,
To the Three Jewels, the sources of refuge, I prostrate!

All of the supreme conquerors who teach
The destitute wanderers of the five hundred years of this degenerate time
The means to purify those actions done which will transform us into the kindling of Avici’s flames, as well as
All misdeeds and downfalls we have collected, to you I prostrate!

If you want to do an extensive version, offer the seven limb practice from The King of Prayers (the first 12 verses). If you want to do a more condensed version, offer this verse from the Condensed Medicine Buddha Puja:

I make all collections of offerings, actually arranged and emanated
Through the force of mantra, concentration, and aspiration.
I confess all downfalls and negativities, rejoice in virtues, request and beseech,
And dedicate virtues such as these to the great enlightenment.

Offer either a long or short mandala, as you’re able.

All bhagavans gathered together at this great seat, please pay attention to me!
May our actions of hearing, remembering, and reciting of the names, and
Offering prostrations to these thirty-fives ones gone to bliss in the past,
Exhaust all of our obscurations!

By the power of the truth of this prayer, bless us to directly realize the result of the path!

The Actual Prostrations

1. To the founder, bhagavan, tathāgata, arhat, perfectly completed buddha, Glorious Conqueror Śākyamuni, I prostrate, offer, and go for refuge! Recite ten or seven times

Endowed with a golden hue and the earth pressing mudra, who,
Through the force of marvelous compassion and great effort
Is the splendor of this suffering world:
Supreme Guide, Pinnacle of the Śākyas, to you I prostrate!

Through the force of hearing, remembering, saying, or making prostrations to the name of the conqueror
The misdeeds and downfalls of ten thousand eons are purified,
Just as you promised, with incontrovertibly true speech—
Please show me that this is the actual truth!

2. To the bhagavan, tathāgata, arhat, perfectly completed buddha, Thoroughly Destroying with Vajra-Essence, I prostrate, offer, and go for refuge! Recite ten or seven times

Yellow bodied, with both hands in the Dharma teaching mudra, who,
Through the force of the purification of completely ripened results due to your marvelous compassion
Is the splendor of buddhafield Essence of Space, in the upper direction:
Thoroughly Destroying with Vajra-Essence, to you I prostrate!

3. To the bhagavan, tathāgata, arhat, perfectly completed buddha, Radiant Jewel, I prostrate, offer, and go for refuge! Recite ten or seven times

Red bodied, with both hands in the mudra of meditative equipoise, who,
Through the force of the purification of completely ripened results due to your marvelous compassion
Is the splendor of buddhafield Existent Jewel, in the east:
Radiant Jewel Who Clears Away Darkness, to you I prostrate!

Through the force of hearing, remembering, saying, or making prostrations to the name of the conqueror
The misdeeds and downfalls of thirty thousand eons are purified,
Just as you promised, with incontrovertibly true speech—
Please show me that this is the actual truth!

4. To the bhagavan, tathāgata, arhat, perfectly completed buddha, King, Lord of the Nagas, I prostrate, offer, and go for refuge! Recite ten or seven times

Dark blue with a white face, and with the mudra of taming nagas, who,
Through the force of the purification of completely ripened results due to your marvelous compassion
Is the splendor of the buddhafield Filled with Nagas in the southeast:
Dharmadhātu King, Lord of the Nagas, to you I prostrate!

Through the force of hearing, remembering, saying, or making prostrations to the name of the conqueror
The misdeeds and downfalls of eight eons are purified,
Just as you promised, with incontrovertibly true speech—
Please show me that this is the actual truth!

5. To the bhagavan, tathāgata, arhat, perfectly completed buddha, Army of Heroes, I prostrate, offer, and go for refuge! Recite ten or seven times

Yellow bodied, with one hand in the mudra of granting refuge and the other with the palm away to the side, who,
Through the force of the purification of completely ripened results due to your marvelous compassion
Is the splendor of the buddhafield Endowed with Glory in the south:
Army of Heroes who Destroys Darkness, to you I prostrate!

Through the force of hearing, remembering, saying, or making prostrations to the name of the conqueror
All misdeeds and downfalls of frivolous speech are purified,
Just as you promised, with incontrovertibly true speech—
Please show me that this is the actual truth!

6. To the bhagavan, tathāgata, arhat, perfectly completed buddha, Delighted Hero, I prostrate, offer, and go for refuge! Recite ten or seven times

Yellow bodied, with both hands in the mudra of teaching the Dharma, who,
Through the force of the purification of completely ripened results due to your marvelous compassion
Is the splendor of the buddhafield Endowed with Joy in the southwest:
Delights in the Magnificence of the Joy of Dharma, to you I prostrate!

Through the force of hearing, remembering, saying, or making prostrations to the name of the conqueror
All misdeeds and downfalls of the mind without exception, are purified,
Just as you promised, with incontrovertibly true speech—
Please show me that this is the actual truth!

7. To the bhagavan, tathāgata, arhat, perfectly completed buddha, Jewel Fire, I prostrate, offer, and go for refuge! Recite ten or seven times

Red bodied, with one hand in the earth pressing mudra and the other in the mudra of meditative equipoise, who,
Through the force of the purification of completely ripened results due to your marvelous compassion
Is the splendor of the buddhafield Endowed with Illumination in the west:
Blazing Jewel Fire, to you I prostrate!

Through the force of hearing, remembering, saying, or making prostrations to the name of the conqueror
All misdeeds and downfalls of saying harmful things regarding the sangha are purified,
Just as you promised, with incontrovertibly true speech—
Please show me that this is the actual truth!

8. To the bhagavan, tathāgata, arhat, perfectly completed buddha, Jewel Moonlight, I prostrate, offer, and go for refuge! Recite ten or seven times

White bodied, with one hand in the earth pressing mudra and the other in the mudra of meditative equipoise, who,
Through the force of the purification of completely ripened results due to your marvelous compassion
Is the splendor of the buddhafield Beautiful Light in the west:
Jewel Moonlight that Clears Away Darkness, to you I prostrate!

Through the force of hearing, remembering, saying, or making prostrations to the name of the conqueror
The misdeeds and downfalls of eon are purified,
Just as you promised, with incontrovertibly true speech—
Please show me that this is the actual truth!

9. To the bhagavan, tathāgata, arhat, perfectly completed buddha, Purposeful Observer, I prostrate, offer, and go for refuge! Recite ten or seven times

Green bodied, with one hand in the mudra of granting refuge and the other with the palm away to the side, who,
Through the force of the purification of completely ripened results due to your marvelous compassion
Is the splendor of the buddhafield Sound of the Drum in the north:
Having Purpose and Observance of Teaching the Dharma, to you I prostrate!

Through the force of hearing, remembering, saying, or making prostrations to the name of the conqueror
All misdeeds and downfalls of stealing from an arya being are purified,
Just as you promised, with incontrovertibly true speech—
Please show me that this is the actual truth!

10. To the bhagavan, tathāgata, arhat, perfectly completed buddha, Jewel Moon, I prostrate, offer, and go for refuge! Recite ten or seven times

White bodied, with both hands in the mudra of teaching the Dharma, who,
Through the force of the purification of completely ripened results due to your marvelous compassion
Is the splendor of the buddhafield Possessed of Light Rays in the northeast:
Jewel Moon Radiating Coolness, to you I prostrate!

Through the force of hearing, remembering, saying, or making prostrations to the name of the conqueror
All misdeeds and downfalls of killing one’s mother, without exception, are purified,
Just as you promised, with incontrovertibly true speech—
Please show me that this is the actual truth!

11. To the bhagavan, tathāgata, arhat, perfectly completed buddha, Stainless One, I prostrate, offer, and go for refuge! Recite ten or seven times

Dark blue bodied, with both hands in the mudra of meditative equipoise, who,
Through the force of the purification of completely ripened results due to your marvelous compassion
Is the splendor of the buddhafield Filled with Consequences in the lower direction:
Stainless Perception and Meditation, to you I prostrate!

Through the force of hearing, remembering, saying, or making prostrations to the name of the conqueror
All misdeeds and downfalls of killing one’s father, without exception, are purified,
Just as you promised, with incontrovertibly true speech—
Please show me that this is the actual truth!

12. To the bhagavan, tathāgata, arhat, perfectly completed buddha, Bestower of Courage, I prostrate, offer, and go for refuge! Recite ten or seven times

Yellow bodied, with both hands in the mudra of teaching the Dharma, who,
Through the force of the purification of completely ripened results due to your marvelous compassion
Is the splendor of the buddhafield Endowed with Glory in the upper direction:
Bestower of Glorious Exalted Wisdom without Obscuration, to you I prostrate!

Through the force of hearing, remembering, saying, or making prostrations to the name of the conqueror
All misdeeds and downfalls of killing an arhat are purified,
Just as you promised, with incontrovertibly true speech—
Please show me that this is the actual truth!

13. To the bhagavan, tathāgata, arhat, perfectly completed buddha, Pure One I prostrate, offer, and go for refuge! Recite ten or seven times

Yellow bodied, with one hand in the earth pressing mudra and the other in the mudra of meditative equipoise, who,
Through the force of the purification of completely ripened results due to your marvelous compassion
Is the splendor of splendor of the buddhafield Without Obscuration in the east:
Excellently Pure and Clean, Without Obscuration, to you I prostrate!

Through the force of hearing, remembering, saying, or making prostrations to the name of the conqueror
All misdeeds and downfalls of causing a schism in the sangha are purified,
Just as you promised, with incontrovertibly true speech—
Please show me that this is the actual truth!

14. To the bhagavan, tathāgata, arhat, perfectly completed buddha, Bestower of Purity, I prostrate, offer, and go for refuge! Recite ten or seven times

Red bodied, with both hands in the mudra of teaching the Dharma, who,
Through the force of the purification of completely ripened results due to your marvelous compassion
Is the splendor of splendor of the buddhafield Without Misfortune in the southeast:
Bestower of Most Victorious Purity, to you I prostrate!

Through the force of hearing, remembering, saying, or making prostrations to the name of the conqueror
All misdeeds and downfalls of drawing blood from a tathāgata are purified,
Just as you promised, with incontrovertibly true speech—
Please show me that this is the actual truth!

15. To the bhagavan, tathāgata, arhat, perfectly completed buddha, Water God, I prostrate, offer, and go for refuge! Recite ten or seven times

White bodied, with both hands in the mudra of meditative equipoise, who,
Through the force of the purification of completely ripened results due to your marvelous compassion
Is the splendor of the buddhafield Without Stain in the south:
God of the Waters that Absolves the Stains of the Afflictive Emotions, to you I prostrate!

Through the force of hearing, remembering, saying, or making prostrations to the name of the conqueror
All misdeeds and downfalls of refuting an arhat are purified,
Just as you promised, with incontrovertibly true speech—
Please show me that this is the actual truth!

16. To the bhagavan, tathāgata, arhat, perfectly completed buddha, God of the Water Gods, I prostrate, offer, and go for refuge! Recite ten or seven times

White bodied, with both hands in the mudra of teaching the Dharma, who,
Through the force of the purification of completely ripened results due to your marvelous compassion
Is the splendor of the buddhafield Clarity in the southwest:
God of the Gods of the Waters that Absolve Stains, to you I prostrate!

Through the force of hearing, remembering, saying, or making prostrations to the name of the conqueror
All misdeeds and downfalls of killing a bodhisattva that has achieved Ascertained Placement are purified,
Just as you promised, with incontrovertibly true speech—
Please show me that this is the actual truth!

17. To the bhagavan, tathāgata, arhat, perfectly completed buddha, Glorious Goodness, I prostrate, offer, and go for refuge! Recite ten or seven times

Yellow bodied, with one hand in the mudra of granting refuge and the other with the palm away to the side, who,
Through the force of the purification of completely ripened results due to your marvelous compassion
Is the splendor of the buddhafield Possessed of Bliss in the west:
Glorious Goodness of the Completed Two Aims, to you I prostrate!

Through the force of hearing, remembering, saying, or making prostrations to the name of the conqueror
All misdeeds and downfalls of killing a master are purified,
Just as you promised, with incontrovertibly true speech—
Please show me that this is the actual truth!

18. To the bhagavan, tathāgata, arhat, perfectly completed buddha, Glorious Sandalwood, I prostrate, offer, and go for refuge! Recite ten or seven times

White bodied, with one hand in the earth pressing mudra and the other in the mudra of meditative equipoise, who,
Through the force of the purification of completely ripened results due to your marvelous compassion
Is the splendor of the buddhafield Filled with Beautiful Scents in the northwest:
Glorious Sandalwood Dispelling Longing, to you I prostrate!

Through the force of hearing, remembering, saying, or making prostrations to the name of the conqueror
All misdeeds and downfalls of blocking the means of livelihood of the sangha are purified,
Just as you promised, with incontrovertibly true speech—
Please show me that this is the actual truth!

19. To the bhagavan, tathāgata, arhat, perfectly completed buddha, Inestimable Splendor, I prostrate, offer, and go for refuge! Recite ten or seven times

Red bodied, with both hands in the mudra of teaching the Dharma, who,
Through the force of the purification of completely ripened results due to your marvelous compassion
Is the splendor of the buddhafield Endowed with Majesty in the north:
Inestimable Splendor Filling All Realms, to you I prostrate!

Through the force of hearing, remembering, saying, or making prostrations to the name of the conqueror
All misdeeds and downfalls of destroying stupas are purified,
Just as you promised, with incontrovertibly true speech—
Please show me that this is the actual truth!

20. To the bhagavan, tathāgata, arhat, perfectly completed buddha, Glorious Light, I prostrate, offer, and go for refuge! Recite ten or seven times

Dark blue bodied, with both hands in the mudra of teaching the Dharma, who,
Through the force of the purification of completely ripened results due to your marvelous compassion
Is the splendor of the buddhafield Endowed with Purpose in the northeast:
Completely Pure by Nature Glorious Light, to you I prostrate!

Through the force of hearing, remembering, saying, or making prostrations to the name of the conqueror
All misdeeds and downfalls accumulated because of anger are purified,
Just as you promised, with incontrovertibly true speech—
Please show me that this is the actual truth!

21. To the bhagavan, tathāgata, arhat, perfectly completed buddha, Glorious Non-Sorrow, I prostrate, offer, and go for refuge! Recite ten or seven times

Pink bodied, with both hands in the mudra of meditative equipoise, who,
Through the force of the purification of completely ripened results due to your marvelous compassion
Is the splendor of the buddhafield Devoid of Obscurations in the lower direction:
Glorious One Devoid of All Suffering and Sorrow, to you I prostrate!

Through the force of hearing, remembering, saying, or making prostrations to the name of the conqueror
All misdeeds and downfalls accumulated because of desire are purified,
Just as you promised, with incontrovertibly true speech—
Please show me that this is the actual truth!

22. To the bhagavan, tathāgata, arhat, perfectly completed buddha, Son of Non-Craving, I prostrate, offer, and go for refuge! Recite ten or seven times

Yellow bodied, with both hands in the mudra of teaching the Dharma, who,
Through the force of the purification of completely ripened results due to your marvelous compassion
Is the splendor of the buddhafield Devoid of Craving in the upper direction:
Unrivalled Son of Non-Craving, to you I prostrate!

Through the force of hearing, remembering, saying, or making prostrations to the name of the conqueror
The misdeeds and downfalls of one eon are purified,
Just as you promised, with incontrovertibly true speech—
Please show me that this is the actual truth!

23. To the bhagavan, tathāgata, arhat, perfectly completed buddha, Glorious Flower, I prostrate, offer, and go for refuge! Recite ten or seven times

Yellow bodied, with one hand in the mudra of granting refuge and the other with the palm away to the side, who,
Through the force of the purification of completely ripened results due to your marvelous compassion
Is the splendor of the buddhafield Great and Expansive Flower in the east:
Glorious Charming Flower, to you I prostrate!

Through the force of hearing, remembering, saying, or making prostrations to the name of the conqueror
The misdeeds and downfalls of one hundred thousand eons are purified,
Just as you promised, with incontrovertibly true speech—
Please show me that this is the actual truth!

24. To the bhagavan, tathāgata, arhat, perfectly completed buddha, Perfect Perception through the Play of Pure Light Rays, I prostrate, offer, and go for refuge! Recite ten or seven times

Yellow bodied, with one hand in the earth pressing mudra and the other in the mudra of meditative equipoise, who,
Through the force of the purification of completely ripened results due to your marvelous compassion
Is the splendor of the buddhafield Filled with Purity in the southeast:
Play of Pure Light Rays, to you I prostrate!

Through the force of hearing, remembering, saying, or making prostrations to the name of the conqueror
The misdeeds and downfalls of one thousand eons are purified,
Just as you promised, with incontrovertibly true speech—
Please show me that this is the actual truth!

25. To the bhagavan, tathāgata, arhat, perfectly completed buddha, Perfect Perception through the Play of Lotus Light Rays, I prostrate, offer, and go for refuge! Recite ten or seven times

Red bodied, with one hand in the earth pressing mudra and the other in the mudra of meditative equipoise, who,
Through the force of the purification of completely ripened results due to your marvelous compassion
Is the splendor of the buddhafield Endowed with Lotuses in the south:
Play of Lotus Light Rays, to you I prostrate!

Through the force of hearing, remembering, saying, or making prostrations to the name of the conqueror
The misdeeds and downfalls of seven eons are purified,
Just as you promised, with incontrovertibly true speech—
Please show me that this is the actual truth!

26. To the bhagavan, tathāgata, arhat, perfectly completed buddha, Glorious Wealth, I prostrate, offer, and go for refuge! Recite ten or seven times

Dark blue bodied, with both hands in the mudra of meditative equipoise, who,
Through the force of the purification of completely ripened results due to your marvelous compassion
Is the splendor of the buddhafield Existent Jewel in the southwest:
Glorious Wealth Enriched with the Wealth of the Aryas, to you I prostrate!

Through the force of hearing, remembering, saying, or making prostrations to the name of the conqueror
All misdeeds and downfalls that come from our past imprints are purified,
Just as you promised, with incontrovertibly true speech—
Please show me that this is the actual truth!

27. To the bhagavan, tathāgata, arhat, perfectly completed buddha, Glorious Mindfulness, I prostrate, offer, and go for refuge! Recite ten or seven times

Yellow bodied, with both hands in the mudra of meditative equipoise, who,
Through the force of the purification of completely ripened results due to your marvelous compassion
Is the splendor of the buddhafield Endowed With Clarity in the west:
Glorious Mindfulness of Body, Feelings, Mind and Dharma, to you I prostrate!

Through the force of hearing, remembering, saying, or making prostrations to the name of the conqueror
All misdeeds and downfalls of the body, without exception, are purified,
Just as you promised, with incontrovertibly true speech—
Please show me that this is the actual truth!

28. To the bhagavan, tathāgata, arhat, perfectly completed buddha, Glorious Name Widely Renowned, I prostrate, offer, and go for refuge! Recite ten or seven times

White bodied, with one hand in the mudra of teaching Dharma and the other in the mudra of meditative equipoise, who,
Through the force of the purification of completely ripened results due to your marvelous compassion
Is the splendor of the buddhafield Without Characteristics in the northwest:
Glorious Name Widely Renowned, to you I prostrate!

Through the force of hearing, remembering, saying, or making prostrations to the name of the conqueror
All misdeeds and downfalls of being unhappy at the emergence of a buddha are purified,
Just as you promised, with incontrovertibly true speech—
Please show me that this is the actual truth!

29. To the bhagavan, tathāgata, arhat, perfectly completed buddha, King of the Victory Banner of the Pinnacle of the Sense Faculties, I prostrate, offer, and go for refuge! Recite ten or seven times

Dark blue, holding a victory banner with your right hand and your left in the mudra of meditative equipoise, who,
Through the force of the purification of completely ripened results due to your marvelous compassion
Is the splendor of the buddhafield Clear Sense Faculties in the north:
Victory Banner of the Pinnacle of the Sense Faculties, to you I prostrate!

Through the force of hearing, remembering, saying, or making prostrations to the name of the conqueror
All misdeeds and downfalls that are the product of envy are purified,
Just as you promised, with incontrovertibly true speech—
Please show me that this is the actual truth!

30. To the bhagavan, tathāgata, arhat, perfectly completed buddha, Glorious Perfect and Complete Subduer, I prostrate, offer, and go for refuge! Recite ten or seven times

Dark blue, holding sword with your right hand and your left in the mudra of meditative equipoise, who,
Through the force of the purification of completely ripened results due to your marvelous compassion
Is the splendor of the buddhafield Endowed with Sport in the northeast:
Glorious Perfect and Complete Subduer, to you I prostrate!

Through the force of hearing, remembering, saying, or making prostrations to the name of the conqueror
All misdeeds and downfalls you caused another to perform are purified,
Just as you promised, with incontrovertibly true speech—
Please show me that this is the actual truth!

31. To the bhagavan, tathāgata, arhat, perfectly completed buddha, Perfectly and Utterly Victorious in Battle, I prostrate, offer, and go for refuge! Recite ten or seven times

Dark blue, holding a yellow suit of armor with both hands, who,
Through the force of the purification of completely ripened results due to your marvelous compassion
Is the splendor of the buddhafield Without Obscurations in the lower direction:
Perfectly and Utterly Victorious in Battle, to you I prostrate!

Through the force of hearing, remembering, saying, or making prostrations to the name of the conqueror
All misdeeds and downfalls that were motivated by pride are purified,
Just as you promised, with incontrovertibly true speech—
Please show me that this is the actual truth!

32. To the bhagavan, tathāgata, arhat, perfectly completed buddha, Glorious Progression by Complete Subduing, I prostrate, offer, and go for refuge! Recite ten or seven times

Dark blue bodied, with both hands in the earth pressing mudra, who,
Through the force of the purification of completely ripened results due to your marvelous compassion
Is the splendor of the buddhafield Endowed with Glory in the east:
Glorious Progression by Complete Subduing, to you I prostrate!

Through the force of hearing, remembering, saying, or making prostrations to the name of the conqueror
All subtle misdeeds and downfalls are purified,
Just as you promised, with incontrovertibly true speech—
Please show me that this is the actual truth!

33. To the bhagavan, tathāgata, arhat, perfectly completed buddha, Glorious Attainment Completely Illuminating, I prostrate, offer, and go for refuge! Recite ten or seven times

Red bodied, with one hand in the mudra of granting refuge and the other in the mudra of meditative equipoise, who,
Through the force of the purification of completely ripened results due to your marvelous compassion
Is the splendor of the buddhafield Attained Illumination in the south:
Glorious Attainment Completely Illuminating, to you I prostrate!

Through the force of hearing, remembering, saying, or making prostrations to the name of the conqueror
All misdeeds and downfalls of rejoicing in the negativities of others are purified,
Just as you promised, with incontrovertibly true speech—
Please show me that this is the actual truth!

34. To the bhagavan, tathāgata, arhat, perfectly completed buddha, Jewel Lotus Complete Subduer, I prostrate, offer, and go for refuge! Recite ten or seven times

Orange bodied, with one hand in the mudra of granting refuge and the other in the mudra of meditative equipoise, who,
Through the force of the purification of completely ripened results due to your marvelous compassion
Is the splendor of the buddhafield Endowed with Glory:
Jewel Lotus Complete Subduer, to you I prostrate!

Through the force of hearing, remembering, saying, or making prostrations to the name of the conqueror
All misdeeds and downfalls of renouncing the lower vehicles are purified,
Just as you promised, with incontrovertibly true speech—
Please show me that this is the actual truth!

35. To the bhagavan, tathāgata, arhat, perfectly completed buddha, Presider over Jewel and Lotus, Buddha King of the Lord of Mountains, I prostrate, offer, and go for refuge! Recite ten or seven times

Yellow, with hands in meditative equipoise and above them holding a mountain, who,
Through the force of the purification of completely ripened results due to your marvelous compassion
Is the splendor of the buddhafield Jewels:
King of the Lord of Mountains Free of Illusions, to you I prostrate!

Through the force of hearing, remembering, saying, or making prostrations to the name of the conqueror
All misdeeds and downfalls of degenerated samaya are purified,
Just as you promised, with incontrovertibly true speech—
Please show me that this is the actual truth!

Bring to mind a generalization of all thirty-five

To the whole collection of thirty-five guru sugata deities along with their entourages, I prostrate, offer, and go for refuge! Recite this 100 times, or 1,000 times, or however many you can accomplish

With even a single moment’s dependence on you
The infinite ocean of my misdeeds and downfalls is dried up
By the great ever-burning fires of your compassion and wisdom:
To the Thirty-Five Guru Sugatas, I prostrate!

Oh spiritual friend, relying on you as my caption in both though and action,
Having cast away the fascination with samsaric happiness, the activities of a householder,
Please bless me to, without taking rest on the island of the fabricated bliss of nirvana,
Enter into the vast and deep ocean of great enlightenment!

The (second) heap, of purifying misdeeds, and the (third) opponent power, of complete remorse

All you thirty-five buddhas and others, as many tathāgata, arhat, perfectly completed buddhas as there are existing, sustaining, and residing in all the world systems of the ten directions; all you buddha bhagavans, please pay attention to me!

In this life and in all the states of rebirth in which I have circled in samsara throughout beginningless lives, whatever misdeeds I have done, made others do, or rejoiced in the doing of; whatever offerings of stupas, offerings of the sangha, or offerings of the sangha of the ten directions that I have appropriated, made others appropriate, or rejoiced in the appropriation of; whichever among the five heinous actions I have done, caused to be done, or rejoiced in the doing of; whichever of the thoroughly adopted paths of the ten non-virtuous actions I have entered, caused others to enter, or rejoiced in the entering in; whatever of these I have created, being defiled by these obscurations causes me to return as a hell-being, or in the state of an animal, or in the realm of the pretas, to be born in an irreligious country, or as a barbarian, or among the long-life gods, or to be with imperfect faculties, or to hold wrong views, or to not being pleased with a buddha’s emergence. In the presence of the buddha-bhagavans, who are transcendental wisdom, who are eyes, who are witnesses, who are valid, and who see with omniscient consciousness, I am admit and confess all of these misdeeds, neither concealing nor hiding anything.

The (fourth) opponent power, of turning away from engaging in faults

Henceforth I will abstain and refrain from committing them again.

The Activity of Reciting

“Please cleanse and purify me!” – By expressing this, limitless light rays shine forth from all parts of the bodies of the entire collection of guru deities. By entering into all beings abiding in the six realms, all of their suffering along with its causes are purified and they are established in happiness. Along with the light rays, the invoked-compassion of all of the buddhas dissolves into me. Through this, all of the misdeeds, obscurations, evil acts and downfalls that I have collected since beginningless time are cleansed and purified, all good qualities of lifespan, merit, and scripture and learning are increased and spread, and I receive all of the blessings, without exception, of the conquerors and their sons.

and

Oṃ Namaḥ Sarvatathāgata Hṛdaya| Anugate| Oṃ Kuruṃ Gini Svāhā|

It is said that by reciting this general essence mantra of sugatas all of the misdeeds you have accumulated over 100,000 eons are purified. Therefore, recite as many times as you can. Once you are done:

Through this virtue may I quickly become
Like the ones gone to bliss along with their sons. Having done so,
May I establish all wanderers, without excepting a single one,
On that very same ground.

Offer the Four Part Torma

Through the blessing of the supreme conquerors and their sons,
The might of the two collections and the truth of the dharmadhātu,
May this torma, the divine food of gods and humans, having been offered,
Transform into oceans of Samantabhadra’s offering clouds, and
The ceremonial guests, having arrived and gathered on their seat,
Joyfully receive it and enjoy it accordingly.

(The First Torma)

Nama Sarvatathāgata| Avalokite| Oṃ Sambhara Hūṃ| Recite three times

This blessed, most delicious food, endowed with the five desirable qualities,
I offer to the root and lineage gurus, the thirty-five sugatas, and so forth,
All of the meditational deities, conquerors and their sons—
Please grant common and supreme accomplishments!

(The Second Torma)

Nama Sarvatathāgata| Avalokite| Oṃ Sambhara Hūṃ| Recite three times

This blessed, most delicious food, endowed with the five desirable qualities,
I offer to the assembled ocean of oath-bound protectors who cause
The benefit and happiness of the teachings and of wanderers to increase more and more—
Accomplish all of your holy activities!

(The Third Torma)

Nama Sarvatathāgata| Avalokite| Oṃ Sambhara Hūṃ| Recite three times

By dedicating this blessed, most delicious food, endowed with the five desirable qualities,
To all demons, obstructers, ghosts, ransom-demons, and all of the five types of wanderers,
Who are objects of my compassion, may they all, without exception,
Be satiated, their obscurations purified, and may their quickly achieve buddhahood!

(The Fourth Torma)

Nama Sarvatathāgata| Avalokite| Oṃ Sambhara Hūṃ| Recite three times

This blessed, most delicious food, endowed with the five desirable qualities,
To the twelve local goddesses, the gods, nagas, and so forth,
Who are connected to the local homes, dwelling places, and business—
Accomplish all of your holy, dharmic activities without obstruction!

Through the power of my own mind,
Through the power of the blessings of the tathāgatas, and
Through the power of the dharmadhātu,
May this be offered to all arya beings, and
By giving this to all sentient beings
Whatever aims they can think of,
May all of those that are appropriate,
All, without exception, in this world system,
Be accomplished without obstruction!

Offer them thusly, and even if you don’t have the physical bases the fault of omission does not occur

The Method for Thanksgiving Offering

The guru is the buddha, the guru is the Dharma,
Similarly, the lama is the Sangha.
The one who bestows all blessing is the guru.
I prostrate to all gurus!

To the Buddha, the founder, I prostrate!
To the refuge, the Dharma, I prostrate!
To the great Sangha, I prostrate!
To all three, always, I respectfully prostrate!

To all those worthy of prostration,
With bowing bodies as many as
The all of the grains of dust on the earth
With supreme faith, I prostrate!

Flowers, incense, lamps, perfume,
Delicious foods, music, and so forth,
All those actually laid out and those imagined, I offer—
May all arya beings receive them!

From beginningless time until the present,
All of the ten non-virtuous actions and the five heinous actions,
And all other misdeeds, I have done, my mind under the sway of the afflictive emotions,
All of these I confess.

I rejoice in the merit
Of whatever merit was collected in the three times
By all hearers, solitary realizers, bodhisattvas,
And by ordinary beings.

I request you to turn the wheel of Dharma
In accordance with the various
Wishes and minds of all sentient beings,
Whether it be the greater or lesser common vehicles.

For as long as samsara is not empty,
Please do not attain liberation, but with your compassion
Watch over all sentient beings,
Sunk in the ocean of suffering.

However much merit I have accumulated
Having all become a cause for enlightenment,
May I, before too long, become
A glorious leader of all wanderers

Requesting Forgiveness

Whatever was done by degenerate age beings of lesser merit,
Impure, undesired, and mixed with afflictive emotions,
Offerings that were lesser, defiled with stains, and so forth,
Please be patient with this entire collection of mistakes.

Dedication, or, the (third) heap, of increasing the root of virtue

All buddha bhagavans, please pay attention to me!

In this life and in the other states of rebirth in which I have circled in samsara throughout beginningless lives, whatever roots of virtue I have created by generosity, even as little as giving just one mouthful of food to a being born in the animal realm; whatever roots of virtue I have created by guarding morality; whatever roots of virtue I have created by following pure conduct; whatever roots of virtue I have created by fully ripening sentient beings; whatever roots of virtue I have created by generating bodhicitta; and whatever roots of virtue I have created by my unsurpassed transcendental wisdom: all these assembled and gathered, combined together, I fully dedicate to the unsurpassed, the unexcelled, that higher than the high, that superior to the superior. Thus, I completely dedicate to the highest, perfectly complete enlightenment.

Just as the previous buddha-bhagavans have fully dedicated, just as the future buddha-bhagavans will fully dedicate, and just as the presently abiding buddha-bhagavans are fully dedicating, like that I too dedicate fully.

The Condensed Meaning of the Sutra

I confess all negativities individually. I rejoice in all the merits. I urge and implore all buddhas to grant my request: may I receive the highest, most sublime transcendental wisdom.

Stabilizing

To the conquerors, the most supreme of humans — those who are living in the present time, those who have lived in the past, and those who will likewise come — to all those, who have qualities as vast as an infinite ocean, with palms joined I approach for refuge.

Conclusion Prayers

Having sown the seeds of the four bodies in this way,
By having made great efforts in the mode of the four opponent powers,
May I, having cut all of the bonds of the four modes of birth
Manifest the way of abiding of the Superior Four Truths!

Having also exerted effort with my three doors regarding the three heaps,
May that not ripen as the cause for the extreme of peace from the three realms,
But rather, so that I, myself, can liberate all three realms’ beings,
May it ripen as the cause for my actualization of the three bodies.

Through my exertion at purifying the two types of obscurations collected together,
May I, having eliminated the two extremes in dependence on the two types of reasoning, and
Having found certain ascertainment as to the way of positing the two profound truths,
Spontaneously achieve the sublime two aims, of self and others!

Through my exertion toward my three heart concerns, seizing the life of the path,
Practicing all of the magnificence of the six perfections and four ways of attracting disciples, and
Performing the completely pure five-path yoga,
May I become Vajradhara, Pervasive Lord of the Six Families!

For the great spread of the teachings, may your lotus feet, upholder of the teachings, remain firm! (bstan – ten)
May the entire virtuous community be enriched with the wealth of the virtuous Dharma! (dge – ge)
May kings practice the Dharma, and nurture the happiness and joy of those subjects under the king‘s rule! (rgyal – gyal)
May all quickly achieve the highest, all-knowing wisdom! (kun – kun)

Alternatively, you can use the King of Prayers, and so forth, to dedicate with great diligence as your aspirational prayers.

If you have a support (an image or statue), request to remain:

By residing here, together with this visible form,
For the sake of wanderers,
May life without sickness and power increase, and
May you excellently bestow all of the supreme attainments.

Oṃ Supra Tiṣṭha Vajraye Svāhā|

If you do not have a support, request to depart:

May the founder and all those greatly compassionate ones who have worked for my benefit as well as that of all sentient beings, with your excellence, may all of your great, miraculous magical emanations return to your individual buddhafields.

Having remembered the meaning of not observing the three spheres, establish the expansive view

Although the three spheres, from the beginning, are completely pure,
It is correct to say that as merely imputed by thought, conventions are validly established.
If you investigate and search, there is not even a mere atom to be observed
That is empty of being mutually co-dependently established.

Thinking thus, train in the awareness that emptiness is dependent arising and dependent arising is emptiness.

Auspicious Verses

From the dense clouds of compassion and wisdom
You continually rain down streams of blessing nectar—
All supreme root and lineage gurus:
By the auspiciousness of however many collections of goodness exist
May all discord and disadvantage be cleared away!
May all the good qualities of the grounds and paths be perfected!
And, bliss and goodness increasing like the waxing moon,
May there be the auspiciousness of enjoying sublime splendor!

For anyone who brings your mere names to mind
You purify all unbearable negative transmigrations without exception—
O leaders of this degenerate time, the Thirty-Five Sugatas:
By the auspiciousness of however many collections of goodness exist
May all discord and disadvantage be cleared away!
May all the good qualities of the grounds and paths be perfected!
And, bliss and goodness increasing like the waxing moon,
May there be the auspiciousness of enjoying sublime splendor!

The medicine that purifies the four roots of the four hundred afflicted emotions
The holy Dharma jewel, lacking any desire for the peace of nirvana—
Confessional sutra The Three Heaps, and so forth:
By the auspiciousness of however many collections of goodness exist
May all discord and disadvantage be cleared away!
May all the good qualities of the grounds and paths be perfected!
And, bliss and goodness increasing like the waxing moon,
May there be the auspiciousness of enjoying sublime splendor!

Dwelling on arya grounds such as Very Joyful, and so forth, and
Having been liberated, you reveal the path of liberation—
O entire collection of the three vehicles’ Arya Sangha:
By the auspiciousness of however many collections of goodness exist
May all discord and disadvantage be cleared away!
May all the good qualities of the grounds and paths be perfected!
And, bliss and goodness increasing like the waxing moon,
May there be the auspiciousness of enjoying sublime splendor!

Above, below, and in all of the ten worldly directions
You have been generated by means of individual prayers and oaths—
All the supreme buddhafields, equal to Sukhavati:
By the auspiciousness of however many collections of goodness exist
May all discord and disadvantage be cleared away!
May all the good qualities of the grounds and paths be perfected!
And, having completely expelled this impure, samsaric state
May there be the auspiciousness of enjoying the purelands!

Having recited this, release a rain of flowers

In Conclusion:

Since it is said, “If this destroys the mountains of misdeeds and downfalls of which the result is definite to be experienced,
What is there even to say about the tiny blades of grass of those that are not definite?”
This confession of the four opponent powers, with the brilliance of bone-white curd,
Is powerful like the rain that falls from the hands of the one with the thousand discerning eyes.

Therefore, whoever exerts effort in this practice, just the purifier that travels three paths (the holy Ganges),
Does for those who enter it, washes away the stains of misdeeds and.
May this body, by entering into the powerful ocean of the water of your knowledge
Reach the far shore of method and wisdom, fulfilling the great aims of self and others!

Foolish ones, with the power of bees, are not able to traverse
The path of the fire-faced one that is the profundity of the unsurpassed, difficult to comprehend, and so
We confess to the all-knowing, a flock of garudas, and
Request you to spread the vast wings of your kindness to all teachings and wanderers.

Colophon: As for this ritual for the Sutra of Three Heaps called “The Quintessence of Nectar:” This instruction, requested by Gelong Lobzang, who is endowed with the aspiration only for virtue, is based on “The Essence of Nectar” spoken by Tagpu Pemavajra. The colors of the bodies, hand mudras, and so forth, are concordant with scripture as they arose in vision to the Gentle Protector, the King of Dharma (Tsongkhapa) again and again. The benefits of the names are the assertions of Great Atiśa, altered in accordance with the teaching of Gyaltsab Rinpoche. Moreover, the small subtraction or addition of words to those was done by Sera Je Lhopa Ngagden, in the palace of the head of the two systems, the King of the Śākyas, at the base of the gondola of the Rasa Gazhi Trulnang Temple, in the western year 1962. May happiness and goodness increase!

Note from compiler: When Kyabje Choden Rinpoche composed this text, it was a dangerous time. Because of the condition being that it was during the time of occupation, he didn’t have permission to do retreat, and so forth, on account of meeting with a great number of discordant causes. However, at that time the secretary of Sera Je Lhopa Khangtsen, named Ngagden, did have some small opportunity. So, having borrowed his name, Rinpoche was able to do retreat, and at that time he composed this text, and that is the reason why in the colophon he wrote his name as “Ngagden.”

Translator’s Colophon: This text was translated by Śākya Gelong Gyalten Lekden, Sera Je Monastery January 2016. Any merit that is the result of this translation is dedicated to the long and stable lives of our holy gurus, that they may remain until samsara ends to liberate all sentient beings from suffering with the inspirational perfection of their Dharma bodies, the unsurpassed nectar of the Dharma speech, and the inseparable bliss and emptiness of their Dharma minds.

Translator’s Notes: This is a rough, unchecked translation that was completed at the request of a number of Choden Rinpoche’s students. It can be shared with students for the purpose of personal practice, but it is not to be published. It likely contains errors, for which I offer my deepest apologies. All of the instruction, headings, numbering and so forth included in this translation were in the original text, nothing was added by the translator. The names of these buddhas were translated with a careful consideration of both Tibetan and Sanskrit, using the Nāgārjuna’s commentary as a guide. (Although Nāgārjuna’s system employs different visualizations—the buddhas’ colors are not the same and they are holding various hand instruments—the names and their meanings are the same. This has led to some of the names being different than what one may be accustomed to from other contemporary translations. The opening verse and concluding verses all contain words in bold, because these words were singled out in the manuscript with a dot underneath, likely added later by the editor of the text. In the opening verse they clearly indicate the name Lobzang Darma Palzang Dragpa Rinchen, who the verse is paying homage to. It is less clear why the emphasis is added in the concluding verses, most likely to highlight the use of poetic trope.

[pdf]

[epub]

[mobi]

[print]