Padmasambhava's Powerful Prayer

Cross-posted to the new Prayer Without Ceasing blog.

Many of you know that as a component of KPC’s Mongolian Buddhism Revival Project (MBRP -- site to be updated very soon!), I have been offering foundational Buddhist teachings to a small group every week in the Mongolian capital of Ulaanbaatar. This group has expressed interest in learning more about what they call the “Red Tradition” of Buddhism, and we know as the Nyingma tradition. In the view of Nyingma practitioners, all blessing flow from Padmasambhava, or Guru Rinpoche, the Vajrayana master credited with establishing Buddhism in Tibet in the 8th c. One of the first things MBRP staff did last year was to have one of the main invocations of Guru Rinpoche, called the Seven Line Prayer (scroll to the bottom for free downloads), translated into Mongolian, and transliterated from the Tibetan for chanting purposes. We laid it out on the back of a lovely image of Guru Rinpoche, and printed 1000 of them as cards to give away (next month we'll print another thousand, larger and improved).

I have given everyone who comes to these teachings this Guru Rinpoche/Seven Line Prayer card. I always explain what I know of the prayer’s blessing and encourage them to recite it. Each week I also tell something more about Guru Rinpoche, Mandarava, my own lamas and their connections, etc., to slowly build up their faith and devotion. It seems it’s working a little.

This past Sunday before others had arrived, the group’s leader, a woman named Darisuren, told me a story. Earlier in the week, about nine in the morning, an old woman came to her in great distress. The woman’s daughter had just undergone a very serious and complicated operation. The operation was finished, but she was not coming out of the anesthesia like she should have been and the doctors were very concerned that she was not regaining consciousness. The mother asked for Darisuren’s prayers.

She began with the 21 Homages to Tara, but then was inspired to switch to the accumulation of Seven Line Prayer. She did it for about two hours. During this time, the mother was so agitated she couldn’t stop trembling. Then, said Darisuren, a funny sequence took place. Ordinarily, the light in her room is pretty dim. It suddenly seemed to her to brighten dramatically. Just then, the mother’s demeanor changed and she stopped trembling. “What happened?” asked Darisuren. The mother wasn’t sure, but all of a sudden her mind and body just completely relaxed. After that, the mother’s cell phone rang. It was the daughter herself calling to say she had regained consciousness, felt OK, and in fact the doctors said she was well enough to return home the next day. They all rejoiced and credited the power of the Seven Line Prayer. When everyone had arrived for the teaching, I asked Darisuren to repeat that story, especially since I’d already told them about the miraculous healings of Ani Alana and Asia Claus.

There is another woman, Buyanbulag, who comes with her seven-year old daughter Ogunzaya. This little girl was the first of the group to memorize the Seven Line Prayer, on her own without any prompting. I use her as an example to prompt others to learn it by heart – “if this little girl can do it, we all can do it!” Anyway, a few weeks ago Ogunzaya didn’t come because she had a very high fever, over 104. I gave the mother the Orgyen Menla (Guru Rinpoche in the form of the Medicine Buddha) mantra and some instruction for a basic visualization. She said the fever went down and disappeared very shortly after she started to do the mantra.

I just got this photo of me with Ogunzaya. Can you tell I’m really crazy about this little girl? Don’t know why my complexion is so lobster-rific. Probably just hot in their little room. Ogunzaya, as always, stays cool as a cucumber:

Other Mongolians now tell me that some people know the Vajra Guru Mantra (I forgot about the amazing teaching in this link. It mentions Mongolia specifically. I think this will be something we translate very soon!) and the “Du Sum Sangye” prayer for obstacle removal. It seems this was common in the Dornod province of Eastern Mongolia. Now, as word of mouth spreads about the power of these prayers to eliminate outer and inner obstacles, I think they’re going to enjoy a resurgence of popularity!

Since most of the DODR readers are likely to be enjoying the holiday weekend, we'll crank up the calliope again after the 25th. May every happiness come to you all!

Comments

[Christian]

Lama Konchog,

Thanks for these really nice Christmas true stories!

Teaching the basics of visualisation, together with the meaning and sound of the prayer, is so very important indeed... Devotion is not enough for practical results.

Keep up the good work and enjoy the warm feelings around you!

[Vedran]

Merry Christmas Konchog and everyone!

[marylee]

What a lovely warm story! I also think you and Ogunzaya actually look a bit alike. Marvelous picture.