This prayer, recommended by many Mahayana teachers, is translated as “The Extraordinary Aspiration of the Practice of Samantabhadra” and is from the Gandavyuha Sutra. Samantabhadra, Universal Good Bodhisattva, offers us the entire path to becoming a Bodhisattva, for the benefit of all sentient beings! It’s literally, in modern terms, a complete “how-to.”
FOR A BACKGROUNDER, what it means and why we practice (with this prayer), see our video: [ Ссылка ]
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It is also a complete practice. Reciting this prayer, in sacred Sanskrit, together with Refuge and Dedication is literally a complete daily Bodhisattva practice. It includes all “seven limbs of practice” and the Bodhichitta vow and aspiration. The seven limbs are the “remedies” for the “Poisons” in Buddhism. These are:
Prostration and devotion, which purifies the poison of our arrogance
Offerings to all the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas without exception which purifies the poison of greed
Confession of Negativity and past faults, which purifies the poison of anger
Rejoicing the virtue of all Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, which purifies the poison of wrong views
Requesting the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas continue to turn the wheel of Dharma and teachings, which purifies the poison of doubt
Requesting the Bodhisattvas not pass into Nirvana, asking they remain in Samsara to save all beings from suffering, which purifies the poison of ignorance
Dedicating the merit of all devotion, offerings and practice to the benefit of all sentient beings, which purifies the poison of jealousy.
Although frequently translated, it is an especially empowered practice when chanted in sacred Sanskrit.
The King of Aspiration Prayers – The Seven Branch Offering (Sanskrit and English)
yāvata keci dasha ddiśi loke sarva triyadhva gatā narasiṃhāḥ
tānahu vandami sarvi aśeṣān kāyatu vācha manena prasannaḥ
With great delight, I bow –
Body, speech and mind –
To all the ‘Lions among Humans’ Throughout space and time.
kṣetra rajopama kāya pramāṇaiḥ sarva jināna karomi praṇāmam sarva jinābhi mukhena manena bhadracarī praṇidhāna balena
By the power of a bodhisattva’s aspiration and action, The Tathagatas appear vividly before me;
With my body, multiplied to equal
The number of atoms in this world, I prostrate.
eka rajāgri rajopama buddhā buddha sutāna niṣaṇṇaku madhye
evama śeṣata dharmata dhātuṃ sarvādhi mucyami pūrṇa jinebhiḥ
On each atom sits as many buddhas
As there are atoms in the universe,
Each with their own entourage of bodhisattvas and arhats. Thus is the dharmadatu filled with Jinas.
teṣu cha akṣaya varṇa samudrān sarva svarāṅga samudra rutebhiḥ
sarva jināna guṇān bhaṇamānas tān sugatān stavamī ahu sarvān
Naming all their infinite qualities
I sing an ocean of songs and an ocean of praise.
puṣpa varebhi ca mālya varebhir vādya vilepana chatra varebhiḥ dīpa varebhi ca dhūpa varebhiḥ pūjana teṣu jināna karomi
I offer flowers, garlands, cymbals, Exquisite perfumes, incense, parasols and bright lamps.
vastra varebhi ca gandha
varebhiścūrṇa puṭebhi ca meru samebhiḥ sarva viśiṣṭa viyūha varebhiḥ pūjana teṣu jināna karomi
To all the Tathagatas,
I offer an impeccably arranged abundance
Of sumptuous robes, sweet fragrances,
And the purest powders, as vast as Mount Sumeru.
Dedication of Merit
ākāshasya sthitiḥ yāvat yāvaccha jagataḥ sthitiḥ tāvam mama sthitiḥ bhūyāt jagat dukhāni nighnataḥ
As long as space remains,
as long as the world remains, May I too remain to alleviate the sufferings of the world.
yā ca anuttara pūja udārā tānadhi mucyami sarva jinānām
bhadracarī adhi mukti balena vandami pūjayamī jina sarvān
To infinite buddhas I dedicate infinite offerings! Through the merit of my devotion
To the great Way of the Bodhisattva,
I pay homage and make offerings.
yac-cha kṛtaṃ mayi pāpa bhaveyyā rāgatu dveṣatu moha vaśena kāyatu vāca manena tathaiva taṃ pratideśayamī ahu sarvam
I expose the wrongdoings
That desire, anger and ignorance Have induced me to commit
With my body, speech and mind.
yac-ca daśaddiśi puṇya jagasya śaikṣa aśaikṣa pratyeka jinānām buddha sutā natha sarva jinānāṃ taṃ anumodayamī ahu sarvam
I wholeheartedly rejoice in the virtues of all the buddhas, Bodhisattvas, arhats and pratyekabuddhas,
In the virtue of those on the path, those who have gone beyond, And in the virtue of all sentient beings.
ye cha daśaddiśi loka pradīpā bodhi vibuddha asaṅgata prāptāḥ
tānahu sarvi adhyeṣami nāthān chakra anuttara vartanatāyai
