"You are the mother, you are the father.
In the world, you are the spiritual mentor, you are a relative and a
good friend.
You are a protector, you are a bestower, you are the gift of goods and
wealth, and the state of Perfections.
You are the final beatitude, you are the abode of the best qualities,
and you are free from faults.
O protector of the wretched, you are a wish-fulfilling gem.
I take refuge in you, Lord of Jinas."
Verse 180 of the Laghu-Kalacakra-tantra-raja (transl. Vesna
Wallace)
This site would not be complete without an attempted tribute to His
Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, one of the greatest and most influential
Kalachakra masters of this era. As far as we know, he has given the
Kalachakra Initiation in public more often and to more people than any
other master - ever.
Words are simply insufficient to describe this amazing person. In case
you do not understand what this means, do try to meet him - you may
well feel the same afterwards.
His Holiness is considered by Tibetans to be an incarnation of Avalokiteshvara.
"Whenever I meet even a 'foreigner,'
I have always the same feeling:
'I am meeting another member of the human family.'
This attitude has deepened my affection
and respect for all beings."
His Holiness the Dalai Lama
Many web sites describe His Holiness better than we can; see for example
the site of the Tibetan Government in
Exile.
His Holiness often says, "I am just a simple Buddhist monk - no more,
nor less." He follows the life of Buddhist monk, which in many ways
is not simple, especially with all the responsibilities of the Dalai
Lama as spiritual and secular leader of the Tibetans. Living in a small
cottage in Dharamsala, he rises at 4 A.M. to meditate, pursues an ongoing
schedule of administrative meetings, private audiences and religious
teachings and ceremonies. He concludes each (usually long) day with
further prayers before retiring.
"May
I become at all times, both now and forever
A protector for those without protection
A guide for those have lost their way
A ship for those with oceans to cross
A bridge for those with rivers to cross
A sanctuary for those in danger
A lamp for those without light
A place of refuge for those who lack shelter
And a servant to all in need."
His Holiness the Fourteenth Dalai Lama November 6, 2000
In explaining his greatest sources of inspiration, he often cites a
favorite verse, found in the writings of the renowned eighth century
Buddhist saint Shantideva:
"For as long as space endures
And for as long as living beings remain,
Until then may I too abide
To dispel the misery of the world."
OM SVASTI To the
assembly of most kind teachers, both present and past - the miraculous dance of
the body, speech and mind of innumerable Buddhas manifesting in accord with aspirants'
spiritual capacities, the wish-granting jewel, the source of all virtue and goodness
- to you, we offer our prayers with fervent devotion: That Tenzin Gyatso, protector
of the Land of Snows, live for a hundred aeons. Shower on him your blessings so
that his aspirations are fulfilled without hindrance.
To the assembly of all
meditational deities manifesting as countless mandalas and divinities - the magical
clouds of immaculate, transcendent wisdom reaching to the farthest expanse of
the space of ultimate reality - to you, we offer our prayers with fervent devotion:
That Tenzin Gyatso, protector of the Land of Snows, live for a hundred aeons.
Shower on him your blessings so that his aspirations are fulfilled without hindrance.
To all the victorious Buddhas of the three times endowed with ten powers and
who are even masters of the gods, and whose attributes of perfection are the source
of all compassionate deeds benefiting the vast ocean-like realm of sentient beings,
to you, we offer our prayers with fervent devotion: That Tenzin Gyatso, protector
of the Land of Snows, live for a hundred aeons. Shower on him your blessings so
that his aspirations are fulfilled without hindrance.
To the assembly of sacred
doctrine embodied in the Three Vehicles, supremely serene, a jewel-treasure of
enlightenment, stainless, unchanging, eternally good, and the glory of all virtues,
which actually liberates beings from the sufferings of the three worlds, to you,
we offer our prayers with fervent devotion: That Tenzin Gyatso, protector of the
Land of Snows, live for a hundred aeons. Shower on him your blessings so that
his aspirations are fulfilled without hindrance.
To all members of the enlightening,
noble spiritual community, who never stray from the thoroughly liberating adamantine
city, who possess the wisdom eye that directly sees the profound truth and the
highest valour to destroy all machinations of cyclic existence, to you, we offer
our prayers with fervent devotion: That Tenzin Gyatso, protector of the Land of
Snows, live for a hundred aeons. Shower on him your blessings so that his aspirations
are fulfilled without hindrance.
To the assembly of heroes and dakinis, heavenly
beings of the three worlds, who appear in the highest paradises, in the sacred
places, and in the cremation grounds, and who, through creative play in the hundred-fold
experiences of bliss and emptiness, support practitioners in their meditation
on the excellent path, to you, we offer our prayers with fervent devotion: That
Tenzin Gyatso, protector of the Land of Snows, live for a hundred aeons. Shower
on him your blessings so that his aspirations are fulfilled without hindrance.
To the ocean of protectors endowed with eyes of transcendent wisdom - the
powerful guardians and upholders of the teaching who wear inseparably on their
matted locks the knot symbolising their pledge to the 'Vajra Holder' - to you,
we offer our prayers with fervent devotion: That Tenzin Gyatso, protector of the
Land of Snows, live for a hundred aeons. Shower on him your blessings so that
his aspirations are fulfilled without hindrance.
Thus to this congregation of excellent, undeceiving refuge, we pray
that by the power of this prayer expressed from a heart filled with
fervent devotion and humility, may the body, speech and mind of the
sole [Protector] of the Land of Snows, the supreme Ngawang Lobsang Tenzin
Gyatso, be indestructible, unfluctuating and unceasing; may he live
immutable for a hundred aeons, seated on a diamond throne, transcending
decay and destruction.
You
are the jewel-heart embodying all compassionate, beneficial deeds; O most courageous
one, you carry upon your shoulders the burden of all the Buddhas of the infinite
realms. May all your noble aspirations be fulfilled as intended.
By virtue
of this may the heavenly doors of the fortunate era open eternally as a source
of relief and respite for all beings; And may the auspicious signs reach the apex
of existence and release, as the sacred teachings flourish through all times and
in all realms.
May the nectar-stream of the blessings of the 'Lotus Holder'
always enter our hearts and nourish it with strength. May we please you with our
offerings of dedicated practice, And may we reach beyond the shores of perfect,
compassionate deeds.
Through the blessings of the wondrous Buddhas and Bodhisattvas,
by the infallible truth of the laws of dependent origination, and by the purity
of our fervent aspirations, may the aims of my prayer be fulfilled without hindrance.
English translation by Dr Thupten Jinpa Langri
In our Resources section, you can find translations of several great
Kalachakra masters of out time.
