Aspiration Towards Sukhāvatī 

by Shamar Chökyi Wangchuk (1584–1630)

Emaho!

From here, over in the direction of the setting sun,

In a place many countless worlds away,

Lies the utterly pure realm of Sukhāvatī, ‘the Blissful’, 

There resides the supreme and perfect Buddha, Boundless Life and Light.

To that Lord and protector, I pay homage.

I offer clouds of imagined gifts, just like Samantabhadra’s.

I confess misdeeds accumulated over many lifetimes.

I rejoice in the virtuous actions of all beings.

I request the turning of the Wheel of Dharma.

I pray that you do not pass into nirvāṇa.

And, through the virtues amassed in past, present and future,

I pray that as soon as my life ends and I pass from here,

I may be born in that sublime realm, and, like the Lord himself, 

Perfectly achieve my own and others’ aims—

Make this wish of mine come true, I pray!

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This was spoken by the Karmapa holder of the Red Hat in response to the fine and ardent requests of Karma Lodrö, the lama of Gina Monastery, and Drongpa Lama, who said there was a need for brief aspiration prayer for Sukhāvatī that could be recited regularly.

Translated by Adam Pearcey, 2016.

Source: https://www.lotsawahouse.org/tibetan-masters/shamar-chokyi-wangchuk/sukhavati-aspiration

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A Prayer of Aspiration towards Sukhāvatī

by Kathok Situ Chökyi Gyatso

Emaho!

In a realm above and to the West,

Lies Sukhāvatī, forged through bodhicitta and prayer,

In its centre, the blessed Lord Amitābha, ‘Boundless Light’,

Presides amidst a retinue of countless bodhisattvas.

Devotedly, with body, speech and mind, I pay homage,

I offer real and imagined gifts and confess my harmful acts and downfalls,

I rejoice in virtue, and request you to turn the wheel of Dharma,

I beseech you to remain, and dedicate all virtue towards enlightenment:

May all sentient beings, my very own parents, as infinite as space,

Attain the omniscient state of perfect Buddhahood!

To this end, from this moment on,

I shall train in the actions of a bodhisattva.

With this representing the virtues of past, present and future,

I dedicate it so that all beings may attain perfect enlightenment,

And, in all their lives until then,

Be born in Sukhāvatī, there to behold the Victorious One!

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Translated by Adam Pearcey, 2015.

Source: https://www.lotsawahouse.org/Cgi/search.pl?searchlang=en&q=A+Prayer+of+Aspiration+towards+Sukh%C4%81vat%C4%AB&op=Search

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Prayer to Buddha Amitābha

By the Fifteenth Karmapa, Khakhyab Dorje

O dharmakāya Amitābha, embodiment of all the buddhas,

And protector Avalokiteśvara, manifestation of compassion,

To these ultimate and supreme sources of refuge, I pray!

May I and all beings, my previous mothers, as infinite as space,

Face no unfavourable conditions, only ever-increasing positivity.

May we be free from misdeeds and have the eight qualities and ten virtues;

And, in our future lives, may we travel to the pure realm of Great Bliss!

Bless us, so that having attained buddhahood in that physical form,

We may become a guide who leads beings from extremes,

And gain strength and power just like yours.

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Supplicate like this with a one-pointed mind, and recite:

“om amitabha hrih”

Thus, in response to a request from Demchok Lhamo of noble family, the one known as Karmapa put this into writing.

Translated by Abraham Ta-Quan, 2017. Proofread by Lucinda Ritter.

Source: https://www.lotsawahouse.org/tibetan-masters/fifteenth-karmapa/amitabha-prayer

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Two Short Prayers for Rebirth in Sukhavati

by Tertön Mingyur Dorje (1645–67)

EMAHO!

How wondrous is the Buddha Infinite Light

With the lord Great Compassion on his right,

Great Power on his left, all in the midst

Of buddhas and bodhisattvas beyond number.

As soon as I pass on, may I be born

Without another lifetime in between

In that pure land of untold happiness

And wonder that is called Sukhavati

And see the buddha Amitabha’s face.

I ask all buddhas and bodhisattvas of

The ten directions, bless me that my prayer

May be fulfilled without impediment.

TADYATHĀ PAÑCHENDRIYA AVABODHANĀYE SVĀHĀ

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Note: On the seventh day of the Vaisakha month of the Female Fire Bird Year, at the age of thirteen, the Tulku Mingyur Dorje saw the buddha Amitabha and his retinue and heard Amitabha actually speak these words.

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Buddhas and bodhisattvas of all times

And all directions, please consider me.

Rejoicing in the two accumulations,

I offer all my merit to the Jewels.

Thus may the teachings of the Buddha thrive.

I dedicate this virtue to all beings.

May every sentient being reach buddhahood.

I gather all the virtues there may be

In one, so they may ripen in my being.

May I be cleansed of the two obscurations

And then perfect the two accumulations.

May I live long, be healthy, and increase

In both experience and realization.

In this life, may I rise through the ten levels,

And when I pass away, may I at once

Be born in the pure realm Sukhavati.

When I am born there, may the lotus open.

May I reach buddhahood with that same body.

Once I’ve achieved enlightenment, may I

Guide beings forever with my emanations.

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Note: Samaya. Sealed, sealed, sealed. This is a revelation of Tulku Mingyur Dorje.

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Source: Karma Chakme and Tertön Mingyur Dorje. Prayers for Rebirth in Sukhavati. Translated by Khenpo David Karma Choephel. Dharma Ebooks Publications (Dharmaebooks.org), 2022.

Note: Dharma Ebooks is a project of Dharma Treasure, which operates under the editorial guidance of the Seventeenth Gyalwang Karmapa, Ogyen Trinley Dorje. The proprietary rights of Dharma Ebooks belong to Dharma Treasure Corporation.

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