Meditation of Arya Avalokiteshvara

THE MEDITATION OF ARYA AVALOKITESHVARA

"THE PRACTICE OF GREAT COMPASSION AND MAHAMUDRA IN UNION"

by Chogyal Phagpa

Om Svasti Siddham! To the Guru and Three Jewels I bow.

(Seated in [vajra] posture on a comfortable cushion;)

I go for refuge in the Guru.
I go for refuge in the Buddha.
I go for refuge in the Dharma.
I go for refuge in the Sangha.
(go for Refuge three times)

For the benefit of all beings I must attain buddhahood, for that purpose I meditate on the profound meditative stabilization.
(meditate on the Enlightenment Thought, then:)

OM SVABHAVA SHUDDHA SARVA DHARMA SVABHAVA SHUDDHO HAM
(meditate on one's own body purified by un-objectified emptiness)

From the state of emptiness, instantly, above a jewelled throne, lotus and moon seat, I [appear] as Mahakarunika; with a body white in colour; one face, four arms. The first two hands are folded at the heart supplicating all Buddhas to perform the benefit of beings. The lower right hand holds a white mala; lower left hand a jewelled lotus; seated with the two feet in vajra posture. Adorned with a crown of jewels, earrings, necklace, all the ornaments of jewels and the like, and wearing garments of various silks. From the body, rays of immeasurable light shine forth accomplishing the benefit of beings. On the crown of the head, gathered into one, is the exalted wisdom of all Buddhas, Amitabha, as a crown.

(Meditate on the lack of inherent nature of appearance, like the reflection in a mirror, meditate holding the mind for awhile. Then, observe Amitabha on the crown of the head.)

(pray three times from the heart:)
Bhagavan tathagata arhat samyaksambuddhaya Amitayus, I pray, purify all sins and obscurations and quickly increase the accumulations of merit and wisdom; give rise to a perfect excellent continuum of meditative concentration, quickly perfected and completely purified.

(Then, in accordance with the [following] think:)
Happiness and suffering, samsara and nirvana, the root of all is one's own mind. That mind, examined, is found to have no colour or shape; [what is] not singular or plural is empty of intrinsic entity. By the power of having no intrinsic entity in the beginning, being empty of a first cause, is non-production. Because of non-production, without a first, the middle is empty of remaining. Because of not remaining, by non-disintegration, the middle is empty of ceasing. Without any basis or roots, all [mental] elaborations are free like the sky. Meditate cutting elaborations, without any characteristics and conceptualizations, and practice with a relaxed mind, without mental engagement, in a state free of elaboration.

(After familiarization, without mental fabrication, abide within for a long time.)

(Then meditate:)
In my heart from HRIH, the mantra garland in the manner of light shines forth blessing myself and accomplishing the benefit of beings. (meditate)

OM MANI PADME HUM
(recite as much as possible)

(after recitation:)
Arya Mahakarunika, I pray, purify all sins and obscurations of myself and others, and give rise to an excellent continuum of love, compassion and the enlightenment thought, and to quickly attain the stage of Arya Avalokiteshvara

(pray: The roots of virtue, the stage of buddhahood [etc.] dedicate.)

At the time of daily activities one's place of dwelling is Sukhavati. Oneself is an attendant of bhagavan Lord Amitayus with the pride of being Lord Mahakarunika; never separate from thinking of the dwelling place. Henceforth always perform the yoga; in this life and future lives, cutting obstacles, pacifying all, and in a future birth born in the realm of Sukhavati, to quickly become perfected with clear realization, the manner of practice of Great Compassion and Mahamudra in Union.

(This profound instruction of Lord Sakyapa was requested by my student Moton Tsage Zuphur. These brief words are written by Phagpa. Male Fire Mouse year [1276], fourth month, eighth day).

[Written by Chogyal Phagpa (1235-1280), Sa skya pa'i bKa' 'Bum, vol.7, page 70-1-4. sGrub Thabs Kun bTus, vol.3, fol.2-5. Translated by ÓJeff Watt. Vancouver, B.C. January 14, 1995, :Rev. Dec.1995]