Introductory Verses

Introductory Verses

Introductory verses which are the pith instructions for practice.

Why is it called ‘the prayer of the pure land of great bliss, the chain of compassion’?

Because, the qualities of the Blissful Pure Realm are the object of accomplishment or the object of attainment, which are accomplished by the method of this prayer. So, we call it ‘the prayer of the Pure Realm of great bliss.’ The meaning of ‘great bliss’ is that, at that place, there is not even the term ‘suffering.’ So, it is bliss. That bliss is inexhaustible or limitless, unchanging - so it is called ‘great.’ This is why it is called ‘great bliss.’ That kind of great bliss is attained in a single lifetime as the profound path, so it is called ‘the chain of compassion.’ This is the meaning of the swift path. That is why we call the prayer ‘the Pure Realms of great bliss, the chain of compassion.’ Now you understand why ‘bliss’, why ‘great bliss,’ and why we call it ‘chain of compassion.’ Now, the ‘Pure Realm.’ We will explain the meanings of this later because there are many subsections in that answer.

Now, in this prayer, the first words are the words of offering praise, also called the homage.

Words of Offering Praise or Homage:

The Victor Buddha having Limitless Light,

the deity of the individual realization of diversity,

I prostrate to Buddha Chédrak Ngӧmé (Insubstantial Diversity).

This is the homage, the words of offering praise.

“The Victor Buddha having Limitless Light,”
Why do we say “victor”? The one who has concluded the 84,000 afflictive emotions is ‘the victor.’

Why ‘Limitless Light?’ The enlightened body has Limitless Light. Through this light, all the realms of existing in every direction are illuminated. First, by not falling into the extreme of nihilism, he is referred to as the deity of the individual realization of diversity. Second, by not falling into the extreme of permanence, he is referred to as insubstantial from the beginning. This is why the Victor Buddha is called Insubstantial Diversity. 

Who do we prostrate?

“I prostrate to Buddha Chédrak Ngӧmé (Insubstantial Diversity).“

The object of prostrations is the deity Chédrak Ngӧmé (Insubstantial Diversity) Buddha Ӧpagmé - the Buddha of Limitless Light. The reason is that the lord of the family of the Blissful Pure Realm western direction is Buddha Chédrak Ngӧmé. 

If you have had the teaching of the Six Lamps, from the Dzogchen Zhang Zhung Nyengyu, there are taught the five manifesting Pure Realms. From the red light of the energy of rigpa, the Blissful Pure Realm of the western direction arises. That is the deity of the western direction of the Pure Realms, Chédrak Ngӧmé. However there are many names for this deity.

How to practice the Pure Realms of great bliss?

To the Blissful Pure Realm,

For those who wish to be swiftly reborn there,

Face the sacred western direction,

Through the six purities, recite this prayer.

“To the Blissful Pure Realm, for those who wish to be swiftly reborn there, face the sacred western direction,”

The place where the Buddha abides is the Blissful Pure Realm. To transfer there as soon as we die or for those who wish to be reborn in that place, the Blissful Pure Realm, we need to face to the western direction, holding nice fragrant incense in your hand, through the six purities, recite the prayer. This is how to pray.

“Through the six purities, recite this prayer.”

What are the six purities?

1. Pure motivation

2. Pure vision

3. Pure beings 

4. Pure behavior

5. Pure objects

6. Pure actions

1: Pure Motivation:

Pure motivation is that in order to free all sentient beings who are equal to space from the great ocean of suffering of cyclic existence and place them at the blissful level of enlightened mind, first we must become enlightened. In order to do this, we will practice this extraordinary prayer of Pure Realms of great bliss. That is the motivation. If you have this type of motivation, this is called the ‘excellence of the preparation of generating the mind of enlightenment.’ When practicing with your mind, focus on the words and the meaning of the prayer of the Pure Realms of great bliss. This is called the ‘excellence of the actual practice of being without reference point.’ At the end of the prayer or practice, dedicating all of the virtue as the cause that all sentient beings will be born in the blissful realm and attain enlightenment is called the “excellence of the conclusion of the dedication.” These three excellences are essential for the practitioner of sutra, tantra, and dzogchen. When we pray and practice, whatever we do according to the teaching, we need to generate this pure motivation according to these three excellences.

Three Excellencies: 

Generate the Mind of Enlightenment

Be without Reference Point

Dedicate the merit to all beings.

2: Pure Vision:

Pure vision is that the external appearances are not ordinary appearances but imagine that this is the real place of the Pure Realm of great bliss. Wherever you pray and practice, imagine that all of the external appearances are not material. It is the pure vision of the Pure Realm.

3: Pure Beings:

The pure beings are the visualization of all sentient beings of the six realms visualized as actual gods and godlike pawos (male khandros) and khandros of the Pure Realms.

4: Pure Behavior:

When you are reciting the prayer, abandon any thought of harming others. Engage the prayer with the five point body posture.

The Five Point Body Posture:

1. Sitting in the cross-legged position.

2. Placing the two hands below the navel with the left one positioned above the right.

3. Straightening up the vertebrae of your spinal column.

4. Hold the upper arms and shoulders high and back. Bend the neck slightly at the throat.

5. The eyes are slightly open and looking down to the tip of the nose. Leave a space between the lips and the teeth about the size of a barley grain. Let the breath be natural and undisturbed.

5: Pure Object:

Pure objects are the offering objects of the five types, sometimes called the five daily offerings, and the eight offerings, and the auspicious symbols, etc. All of these objects of offerings should be very clean and arranged in a balanced and beautiful manner. There is a way to arrange all of this. The most important thing is that they are cleaned and arranged beautifully, in your perception. Offerings should not be accrued through non-virtue. The five offerings are the butter lamp, incense, water, torma (food), and flour. If you have these, substantially, then you can arrange them on your altar. If you have nothing, you can offer them through hand gestures – five gestures, one for each offering. The eight types of offering: butter lamp, drum and bell, incense, cloth, food/torma, flour, dancing movement, jewels. Eight auspicious symbols: conch, umbrella, victor banner, endless knot, vase/bumpa, wheel, golden fish, jewel. If you have them, you can put them on the altar. Otherwise, you can make them through gestures.

Five Types of Offerings:

Butter lamp, incense, water, torma/food, and flowers.

Eight Types of Offering:

Butter Lamp, Drum & Bell, Incense, Clothes, Food/Torma, Flowers, Dancing, Jewels.

Eight Auspicious Symbols:

Conch, Umbrella, Victory Banner, Endless Knot, Vase, Wheel, Golden Fish, Jewel

6: Pure Actions: 

1. The words of the prayer. Don’t omit or add words

2. Meditation on the prayer. Clear and not foggy.

3. Mantra of the prayer. Pronounced quietly. Don’t mix the mantra with your own words.

Do all three with great faith and devotion!

Pure actions are the words of the prayer, meditation of the prayer, and mantras of the prayer. When you pray the Pure Realm prayer, you should not omit or add words. Nor should you pause for worldly chatter in the middle of the prayer. When you meditate, you should have clear visualizations. When you recite the mantra, the mantra should be pronounced correctly and not mixed with your own words or worldly conversations. When you go through these three, you must have great faith and devotion. These are the pure actions.

Through these six purities as the foundation, you practice the Pure Realm prayer.

What is the mantra of the Pure Realm?

Mantra of the Pure Realm: OM MA TRI MU YÉ SA LÉ DU

This concludes the introduction which gives the concise instructions for practice.