Dorje Tsig Dun

This is the level of practicing The Vajra Seven-Line Prayer in relation to the way of Guru Rinpoche’s appearance in this earthly world as a manifested form (Skt. Nirmāṇakāya).

In actuality, Guru Rinpoche is not separate from Samantabhadra (Universally Excellent), who is fully liberated from the beginning as the self-arisen Dharmakāya (the ultimate state). Without moving from the sphere of the Dharmakāya, he is spontaneously accomplished in the Sambhogakāya (the enjoyment body in pure forms), which has five absolute qualities.¹ He is also the self-arising manifestation in various displays of Nirmāṇakāya (the manifested body in impure forms), the self-reflection of compassion. This is the actual way in which Guru Rinpoche dwells and appears. It is the display of the Buddhas, and they alone can perceive all aspects of his display.

Eight (or twelve) years after the mahāparinirvāṇa of Śākyamuni Buddha, Guru Rinpoche appeared on a lotus in Dhanakośa lake of Oḍḍiyāṇa for the ordinary beings of this world who have good karma. He followed different esoteric disciplines and accomplished various attainments, such as the light body of great transformation (’ja’ lus ’pho ba chen po). He served devotees of India, Oḍḍiyāṇa, and Tibet through multiple manifestation, such as the eight forms of the Guru (guru mtshan brgyad). This level of interpretation is the way that we, the common disciples, pray to Guru Rinpoche, an extraordinary object of devotion.

The Utterance of the Seed Syllable

The prayer begins with the invocation of the enlightened mind of Guru Rinpoche by the utterance of the syllable HŪṂ , the self-arisen seed syllable of the mind of all the Buddhas.

The Objects of the Prayer

1	In the west of the Jambu continent, at the northwest of Oḍḍiyāṇa, the land of the Khadros (Ḍāka:s and Ḍākinī:s) in the Dhanakośa lake, filled with water of eight pure qualities.
2	On the stem ornamented by the pistil, leaves, and petals of a lotus, Guru Rinpoche was born. All the qualities and blessings of the three secrets (body, speech, and mind) of all the Buddhas came together in the form of the syllable HRĪḤ , and it dissolved into the heart of Amitābha Buddha. From his heart, a light of five colors spread out and came down on the pistil of the lotus. They transformed into the form of Guru Rinpoche, and he took birth in the manner of the lotus-born miraculous birth.
3	He spontaneously accomplished the twofold benefit (of self and others), and he exhibited marvelous forms, such as the eight manifestations of the Guru. He achieved the extraordinary attainment of the vajradhāra state, not just ordinary attainment.
4	His name is renowned as the lotus-born (Padmasambhāva).
5	And he is surrounded by retinues of manifold khadros (Ḍāka:s and Ḍākinī:s).

The Prayer

6	One should pray with the three kinds of faith ², thinking, “O Protector, I will follow after you, and I will practice accordingly.”
7	“In order to protect beings like myself, who are sunk in the ocean of the three sufferings, you, the omniscient, compassionate, and powerful one, please come to this place for the blessing of our body, speech, and mind with your body, speech, and mind, as iron is transmuted into gold.”

The Mantra for Invoking Blessing

GURU means master or spiritual guide, one who is prosperous with excellent qualities; to whom no one is superior. PADMA is the first part of Guru Rinpoche’s name. SIDDHI is what we want to accomplish—the common and uncommon attainments. HŪṂ means the supplication to bestow the siddhi:s (attainments).

So, o guru padma, bestow the siddhi.

¹The absolute certainties of place, teacher, disciple, teaching, and time.

²dang ba’i dad pa: faith that cleanses the mind. ’dod pa’i dad pa: faith that inspires the devotee to accomplish the same attainment as the object of his or her faith. yid ches kyi dad pa: faith that produces full confidence in the object of the faith.