A Special Prayer to Buddha Shakyamuni

Without Buddha's kindness we would not know the real causes of happiness or the real causes of suffering.
Buddha taught us how all happiness and suffering depend upon the mind.
He showed us how to abandon those states of mind that cause suffering and cultivate those states of mind that cause happiness.
In other words, he taught us perfect methods for overcoming suffering and attaining happiness.
No one else taught us these methods. How kind Buddha is!
It is for this reason that Kadampa Buddhists begin every practice by reciting a special prayer to Buddha composed by Geshe Kelsang Gyatso.

We begin all our meditation sessions with the Liberating Prayer.

Brief preparatory prayers for meditation

In the field of our mind we all have seeds to gain realizations of all the stages of the path to enlightenment. Our meditation practice is like cultivating these seeds, but for our meditation practice to be successful we need to prepare well beforehand. First, we must purify our mind to eliminate the negative karma accumulated in the past that obstructs the growth of inner realizations. Second, we need to give our mind the strength to support the growth of realizations by accumulating a positive power of mind, merit. Third, we need to activate and sustain the growth of realizations by receiving the blessings of the holy beings. Prayers for Meditation contains the essence of these three preparations.

For more information on them, see the books The New Meditation Handbook and Joyful Path of Good Fortune.

The Guru yoga of Je Tsongkhapa combined with the sadhana of his Dharma Protector

This prayer includes two practices. The first is a special Guru Yoga in which we visualize our Spiritual Guide as Je Tsongkhapa (to purify negativity, accumulate merit and receive blessings) and the second practice is a method for relying upon the Dharma Protector Dorje Shugden (to overcome obstacles to our practice and create favourable conditions and increase our Dharma realizations).

These two practices are the very essence of the New Kadampa Tradition of Mahayana Buddhism. If we practise them regularly and sincerely, we shall reap a rich harvest of pure Dharma realizations, and eventually come to experience the supreme joy of full enlightenment.

Duration: 1 hour 10 minutes

Please WhatsApp: 80747100 to confirm attendance prior to the prayers.

An extensive explanation of this sadhana can be found in the book Heart Jewel by Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso.

Praises and requests to the Twenty-one Taras

Prayers of request to the twenty-one manifestations of Tara, our Holy Mother. Tara is a female Buddha, the ultimate wisdom manifestation of all the Buddhas. Her name means ‘Rescuer’ because she frees us from all fears, external and internal. Ultimately she rescues us from all suffering and guides us to full enlightenment. Just as a mother protects us from all inner and outer dangers, Tara brings together all the conditions necessary for our spiritual progress. Because these prayers are Sutra, the actual words of Buddha, they are particularly powerful and blessed.

Duration: 1 hour

Powa is a special ceremony to help those who have recently died experience peace of mind after death and be cared for by the Buddha of Compassion, Avalokiteshvara. During this ceremony we engage in the traditional Buddhist practice of transference of consciousness in conjunction with the prayers, “Powa Ceremony”. By performing this practice, we also create a vast collection of merit that will also lead us on the path to the Pure Land of a Buddha.

Everyone is welcome, you do not have to be Buddhist to attend these prayers or to derive benefit from them.

If you would like to attend, then it is traditional (but not required) to bring a white offering, either food, flowers, candles, etc and if you wish, we can make specific dedications for friends or relatives that have recently died. Please email: info@nkt-kmc-singapore.org 

Duration: 1 hour

A full and practical explanation of the practice of powa can be found in the book Living Meaningfully, Dying Joyfully.

 

A special Guru yoga practice of Je Tsongkhapa's tradition

This practice is a special Guru yoga of Je Tsongkhapa in conjunction with Highest Yoga Tantra. The main practice is meditation on reliance upon our Spiritual Guide, but it also includes all the essential practices of the stages of the path (Lamrim) and training the mind (Lojong), as well as both the generation and completion stages of Highest Yoga Tantra. By relying upon our Spiritual Guide as one with Je Tsongkhapa, our compassion, spiritual power, and especially our wisdom will naturally increase.

Duration: 2 hours

These are explained in the book Great Treasury of Merit, which contains a complete commentary to the practice.

This puja is the extensive fulfilling and restoring ritual of the Dharma Protector, Dorje Shugden, in conjunction with Mahakala, Kalarupa, Kalindewi, and other Dharma protectors.

A Dharma Protector always helps, guides and protects practitioners by granting blessings, increasing their wisdom, fulfilling their positive wishes and granting success in all their virtuous activities. This practice is done once a month at Kadampa Buddhist centres. We rely on the Dharma Protector, Dorje Shugden, who we recognise as inseparable from our Spiritual Guide and Buddha, to restore any commitments we may have broken or allowed to deteriorate.

Duration: 3.5 hours

Further information on the Guru yoga of Je Tsongkhapa and on the Dharma Protector Dorje Shugdän can be found in the book Heart Jewel, and further information on self-generation as Heruka can be found in the book Essence of Vajrayana.