53. General Practice of Guru Yoga

The Beginning

Take refuge and arouse bodhichitta.

The Main Part

In the practice of guru yoga, visualize your root guru sitting on top of your head during the day, and at night, in your heart.

Begin your practice by visualizing that all phenomena are empty by nature. In the state of emptiness, visualize in the air a jeweled throne upon it is a cushion made of beautiful lotus and the discs of the sun and the moon. Seated on the cushion is your glorious root guru in the form of a human or yidam, surrounded by multitudes of Dharma protectors and dakinis.

Invite the jnanasattvas of your root guru, lineage masters, Dharma protectors, and dakinis to arrive, who then dissolve into the guru you visualized (the samayasattvas). In front of the guru, make prostrations and offerings, repent, and pray.

Next, recite the verse three times:

NAMO

Devotedly we prostrate to all the gurus,

Yidams, and host of dakinis.

We make outer, inner, and secret offerings.

We confess our evil deeds of root and branch downfalls.

Please bestow on us empowerment and siddhis.

Please guide us always in all our lives.

At the end of the recitation, visualize that amrita flows down from various body parts of the guru, filling your whole being and cleansing all your illnesses, defilements, and demonic influences; the wisdom of great bliss arises in you. Then rest in equanimity.

After coming out from meditation, recite the guru’s mantra. According to Longchenpa’s instruction, the guru’s name is to be translated into Sanskrit and inserted in between OM AH HUM.

For example, Longchenpa’s guru was Kumaradza, so the mantra of his guru goes: “OM Guru Kumaradza SIDDHI AH HUNG.”

In the case of our Lama Rinpoche’s name Jigme Phuntsok Jungne, the Sanskrit translation is Abhya Laksham Kara, so his mantra is: OM Guru Abhaya Laksham Kara SIDDHI AH HUNG.”

After reciting the guru’s mantra for an extended period, visualize that light rays emanate from the bodies of the gurus, yidams, and dakinis, and streams of amrita descend from them, which purify the obscurations of your and other sentient beings’ bodies. The vase empowerment is obtained and the body is blessed as the vajra body.

From the throats of gurus and other deities, light rays emanate and streams of amrita descend, which purify the obscurations of your and other sentient beings’ speeches. The secret empowerment is obtained and the speech is blessed as the vajra speech.

From the hearts of gurus and other deities, light rays emanate and streams of amrita descend, which purify the obscurations of your and other sentient beings’ minds. The transcendent knowledge-wisdom empowerment is obtained and the mind is blessed as the vajra mind.

From the entire bodies of the guru and other deities, light rays emanate and streams of amrita descend, which purify from you and other sentient beings of all the obscurations of body, speech, and mind simultaneously. The precious word empowerment is obtained and the wisdom is blessed as the vajra wisdom.

Your body, speech, and mind then merge completely with the body, speech, and mind of the guru; in turn, the body, speech, and mind of the guru dissolve into the unborn dharmadhatu. Thus, conclude by resting one-pointedly in a state devoid of any conceptualization.

Reminder

If you have experienced the state of Great Perfection or Great Madhyamaka, remain in that state. If not, think that all phenomena dissolve into dharmadhatu where there is no trace of concept whatsoever, just like the immense space free of any obstruction, and abide therein. It is very important to practice this way regularly. Please read carefully this particular instruction, recite repeatedly our Lama Rinpoche Jigme Phuntsok’s mantra, and make it an ongoing practice.

The Ending

Dedicate all the merit of your practice to all sentient beings.