Heavenly King Visravana Enrichment Ritual

Reverently Compiled by Guru Yutang Lin

 

Preliminaries
Arrange offerings as usual. 
Do prostrations three times.

1. Motivation

Fold palms together and sincerely recite:

Perverse views and violent activities are running wild,
Ecology on Earth has lost its normal balance and rhythm;
Sentient beings are living in lack of peace and security,
Merits and Wisdom are both meager and scanty.
Sentient beings are drifting in the ocean of suffering,
Natural calamities and man-made damages come one after another;
Livelihood and Dharma activities lack provision and sustenance,
We can only rely on Heavenly King Vaisravana′s generous almsgiving.
Personal karma is intertwined with common karma,
No way to seek merely individual well-being and prosperity;
Compassion for all beings matches Buddha′s mercy,
Practicing this ritual for all beings will surely gain Heavenly King Vaisravana′s blessing!

May all beings have happiness and its causes!
May all beings be free from suffering and its causes!
May all beings enjoy the fruits of Dharma which are beyond suffering!
May all beings abide in the equanimity which renounces all worldly discriminations!

May all beings attain Enlightenment soon!

2. Original Purity

Rest the hands in Dhyana mudra, and silently recite three times:

All things are conditional phenomena,
Mutually dependent and coexistent;
Renouncing antagonistic discriminations,
All appear as original purity in oneness.

Visualize the whole Dharmadhatu return to original purity, and appear as boundless sky-blue light.

3. Totality

Visualize that all the four classes of saints and the six realms of sentient beings appear from this blue light.

Visualize that one's father and mother are to the right and left side, all beings related to one through past karma to the front, and the rest of the sentient beings behind. Among the six realms of sentient beings behind one, those in hells who need salvation most are closest to one, then are the other beings in the order of hungry ghosts, animals, humans, asuras, and finally the heavenly beings. All sentient beings are facing the same direction as the practitioner.

Visualize that in the space in front of the practitioner are all the holy beings: Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, Arahats, Pratyeka-Buddhas, Dharma Protectors, etc. At the center is the Heavenly King Vaisravana, with Bodhisattva Vajrapani presiding in the space above him; the Heavenly King Vaisravana is surrounded by his retinue of Yaksas, and they are surrounded by layers after layers of all the Buddhas, Bodhisattvas and holy beings. All holy beings, with great compassion, look attentively at all the sentient beings below.

4. Taking Refuge

Fold palms together and sincerely recite three times the following refuge formula while visualizing that all sentient beings are gazing with admiration at the Heavenly King Vaisravana in the sky and recite together in unison:

Original Purity, oh, Patriarch Guru Chen!
Vajra Lotus, oh, Guru Lin!
The Right Dharma lineage of Manjusri and Guan Yin,
Harmonized wisdom and compassion to spread everywhere!

I take refuge in the Vajra Guru.
I take refuge in the Heavenly King Vaisravana.
I take refuge in harmonious Buddha Dharma.
I take refuge in holy beings of Bodhi.

Visualize that all holy beings are rejoicing over sentient beings' ability to recognize and choose the path toward liberation. The Heavenly King Vaisravana, on behalf of all holy beings, grants refuge to all sentient beings. From the heart chakra of the Heavenly King Vaisravana rays of golden light radiate forth to each and every sentient being. In this way each sentient being's bad karma is eradicated, merits increased, and Bodhicitta nurtured. This ray of golden light then stays, like a candle flame, in the heart of the sentient being, shines forth the light of Bodhi, and sheds light on the right path of Bodhi forever.

5. Offering

Visualize that all sentient beings take delight in participating in the making of extensive and long-term offerings and donations, and that they join the practitioner in reciting in unison the following stanza:

Filling the whole Dharmadhatu with treasures,
Pouring all attainments of the wisdom path,
Offered without reluctance nor omission;

Beg to accept out of compassion and empathy,
Exhibit skillful display of the wondrous Dharma,
Salvage beings without neglect nor omission.

Please increase our spiritual food of endurance and diligence.
Please increase our spiritual food of Samadhi and longevity.
Please increase our spiritual food of Mahasukha Prajna.
After offering these five kinds of grain may we have perfect merits!

Outwardly, wealth and treasures, internally, essences,
Secretly, wondrous lotus of timely ripen flowers, and
Most secretly, the Ten Powers and Eighteen Qualities of Buddha,
May all these soon be completely well developed!

Visualize that all holy beings are delighted by the Bodhicitta which is the pure motivation underlying these offerings, and therefore gladly accept and enjoy the offerings. Each and every holy being obtains complete enjoyment of all sorts. All holy beings emit lights in blue, white, yellow, red and green color that enlighten the whole Dharmadhatu and give blessings to all sentient beings. Then all holy beings other than the Bodhisattva Vajrapani and the Heavenly King Vaisravana transform into lights and merge into the Bodhisattva Vajrapani. And then the Bodhisattva Vajrapani also transforms into light that descends through the top of the Heavenly King Vaisravana and merges into the Heavenly King Vaisravana's heart chakra.

6. Praise

Recite with ardent devotion and may use accompanying Dharma instruments such as bell, drum, inverted bell (Yin Qing) and wooden fish; visualize that all sentient beings join the practitioner in ardently reciting in unison the following praise:

Myriads of phenomena, variegated and prosperous, without ever feeling tired,
Countless Dharma activities, please grant your blessing in rendering success,
Your Holiness once guarded Sakyamuni Buddha′s Dharma activities,
Praise to the Heavenly King who humbles himself to follow my Dharma endeavors.

Possessing the Patience of Non-born and having attained the Steadfast Ground,
Beyond the reach of Sravakas and Pratyeka-Buddhas,
At will with lifespan, mind, wealth and other wonderful qualities total ten,
Grant me growth in Great Compassion and all other meritorious powers!

Heavenly King Vaisravana emits pure lights,
Spiritual nature of sentient beings in all directions are revealed!
Heavenly King Vaisravana enunciates clear sounds,
Sentient beings at all times are enriched in merits and wisdom!
Heavenly King Vaisravana always remembered,
Even trapped in the mire of sorrows one is still spotless!
Heavenly King Vaisravana is the savior,
Worldly wealth and Dharma treasures are all in abundance!

The Northern Heavenly King well-known as being generous, 
Bestows Dharma treasures and worldly wealth as needed. 
The grandeur of your palace is beyond imagination. 
The future of dedicated practitioners is arranged by your grace.

Right Dharma seldom encountered, Tantric teachings difficult to receive,
Deluded beings are deep in the whirlpool of suffering
Calamities besieging daily, practice path jammed again and again,
Enlightened practitioners often suffer in hardships
Learned in Dharma and well-known for generosity, vehemently protecting the Right Path
Boundless treasure of merits, powers and wisdom
Have mercy for Dharma sons with pure Bodhi aspirations, guard and guide us,
Salvation activities will prosper and last without ending

Visualize that the Heavenly King Vaisravana, upon hearing this praise, is very pleased by the right faith of the practitioner and the sentient beings. The Heavenly King Vaisravana emits bright golden lights from his heart chakra shining through the whole Dharmadhatu and giving blessings to all sentient beings so that their karmic debts and hindrances are eradicated, and their merits and wisdom grow. Then the Heavenly King Vaisravana sprinkles showers of nectar upon sentient beings to purify their karma of body, speech and mind. The nectar is also granted for sentient beings to drink in order to nourish their wisdom and expand their lifespan.

7. Supplication

Visualize that all sentient beings join the practitioner in ardently reciting in unison the following supplication:

Sinful karmas of sentient beings are so profound and horrible
That they cannot see Buddha for hundreds and thousands of kalpas.
Floating in the cycles of life and death and experiencing sufferings,
To save such beings Buddhas appear in the world.
The Great Heavenly King had long attained this Gate of Liberation;
May Your Holiness grant me accomplishments in Six Supernatural Powers!
Please help cultivate the supernatural power of Heavenly Eyes
So that I can see the suffering situations in the Hells!
Please help cultivate the supernatural power of Heavenly Ears
So that I can hear the mournful crying of ghosts!
Please help cultivate the supernatural power of Knowing Past Lives
So that I can know the past lives of animals!
Please help cultivate the supernatural power of Knowing Others' Intentions
So that I can know the intentions of sentient beings!
Please help cultivate the supernatural power of Transformation at Will
So that I can possess the Eight Merits to save all sentient beings!
Please help cultivate the supernatural power of No Leaks
So that I can reveal the Dharmakaya to all sentient beings!
All treasures that Buddha's eyes can see,
All spheres where Buddha's powers can reach,
All lights that are emitting from Buddha's body,
May the discovery of these worldly wealth and transcendental wealth be granted!

When we fall into attachment, help us to keep the commandments.
When obstacles occur, help us to get the Sunyata attainment.
When disturbances occur, help us to subdue them in contemplation.
When the sleepy mind occurs, help us to transmute it in meditation.
When we are dreaming, help us to recognize it as such.
When Yama comes, let us have a long life.
When we are in need, give us your help.
When our practice wanes, help us get patience.
When death comes, help us attain the Dharmakaya.
When Bardo comes, help us to get the Sambhogakaya.
When birth comes, help us to get the Nirmanakaya.
When we are able to save beings, help us to accomplish it.
When outsiders come, help us to convert them!
May we obtain all your powers!

Visualize that the Heavenly King Vaisravana, upon hearing this supplication, is very pleased by the right faith of the practitioner and the sentient beings. The Heavenly King Vaisravana emits bright golden lights from his heart chakra shining through the whole Dharmadhatu and giving blessings to all sentient beings so that their karmic debts and hindrances are eradicated, and their merits and wisdom grow. Then the Heavenly King Vaisravana sprinkles showers of nectar upon sentient beings to purify their karma of body, speech and mind. The nectar is also granted for sentient beings to drink in order to nourish their wisdom and expand their lifespan.

8. Recitation of the Heavenly King Vaisravana Mantra

Long Mantra
Na Mo Ye La Zha Ya Ya, Na Mo Bai Xia Wa Na Ya, Ma Ha La Zha Ya, Da Ya Ta, Weng, She Yi Mi, She Yi Mi, Su Mu Su Mu, Sha Yi Da Sha Yi Da, Sha La Sha La, Ga La Ga La, Gei Ni Gei Ni, Gu Ru Gu Ru, Zhu Ru Zhu Ru, Mu Ru Mu Ru, Sha Ha A Ha Na, Ma Li Li Na Ya, Da Ya Da Na, Da Du Ye Suo Ha

Heart Mantra
Weng Bai Xia Wa Na Ye Suo Ha

Visualize that Guru and the Heavenly King Vaisravana are inseparable and non-differentiable, and during the period of this mantra recitation, from the heart chakra of Guru bright golden lights emit to bless all sentient beings in the whole Dharmadhatu so that all beings are freed from suffering and karmic hindrances, and attain serenity and ease. Upon being shed by the Buddha light, sentient beings' body and mind both purified, and their minds are fully opened up to enjoy the joy of Dharma.

9. Supplication for Lineage Blessings

Supplication to the Refuge Tree of the Dharma Lineage of Adi Buddha Mandala　　

Amid limitless oneness of original purity
Father and Mother in union, Adi Buddha appears
Harmony of wisdom and compassion
The wondrous image represents Dharmakaya
As the flow of Dharma spreads naturally
The whole Dharmadhatu is blessed through conversion

To liberate all suffering beings from transmigration in the six realms
Sakyamuni Buddha founded the Dharma teachings
Tantric teachings without peers well established in the snow land
The source of such grace is the rainbow-body Padmasambhava

Offered body to Guru, the unsurpassable mother of great pleasure
Mandarava set example to reveal profound teachings
Compiled biography and essential teachings of Guru Rinpoche
Yeshe Tsogyal spread and continued the Tantric teachings

Root Gurus of the founder of our Dharma lineage are three holy ones
Nona Tulku revealed to Guru Chen the Great Perfection
Patriarch Gangkar transmitted Four Seals through great initiations
Patriarch Papong Khyentse bestowed over five hundred initiations

Patriarch Chen, Manjusri of Original Purity
Harmonized Sutrayana and Tantrayana to propound the three-yanas-in-one
Accomplished in austerity and attainment that are rare over the ages
Compassionately stays in this suffering world just to save all beings

Guru Lin, Guan Yin of Vajra Lotus
Expressed profound teachings in simple words
Widely expounded the essence of many Dharma teachings
Through Dharma services of all sorts
Spreading the teachings to the East and the West
Continuation and sustenance of the golden teachings
Of our lineage rest squarely on his shoulders

Taking care of all details is the grace of our lineage protectors
Leading us all the way is the Wei Tuo Bodhisattva
Arranging matters ahead depends on Heavenly King Vaisravana
Trusting with all matters relies on the Dragon King of Pacific Ocean

Oath-bound blacksmith, the Honorable Damchen Dorje Legpa
Holding up this root of Tantra just as he protected Guru Rinpoche
Just and loyal Guan Gong, the great protector of monasteries
Continue to display your loyalty by removing hindrances to the lineage

Establishment of our lineage is simply for salvation of suffering beings
Continuation of our lineage all depends on the blessing of these holy ones
Through taking refuge in our lineage we merge into Bodhicitta
We spread teachings of our lineage to convert suffering beings
And in their salvation, is our reward to the profound compassionate grace

A Prayer for Yogi Chen's Blessings

Prostration to all refuges of the great grace lineage 
As unified in Patriarch Chen, a personification of Manjusri. 
Pray the faithful ones be blessed with wishes fulfilled; 
May they from suffering depart and happiness gain, 
Forever merits accumulate and wisdom grow.

Prostration to all refuges of the great grace lineage 
As unified in Patriarch Chen, a personification of Manjusri. 
Pray the Dakinis be blessed with peace and stability; 
May they from suffering depart and happiness gain, 
Soon merits accumulate and wisdom grow to fulfillment.

Supplication to Guru Lin for Blessing

Prostration to all refuges of the great grace lineage
As unified in Guru Lin, a personification of Guan Yin
Grant me realization of original purity of greed as it arises
Bless me to attain unity of clarity and selfless nature of joy 
Abiding in rainbow body to extend salvation upon suitable vessels
Revealing wondrous teachings to save all beings in the six realms

Supplication to Bodhisattva Wei-Tuo

Protector of Buddha Dharma, a great knight, 
Followed by the Four Cardinal Heavenly Kings, 
Worshipped in all Chinese monasteries, 
Help spread holy Dharma with all your might!

You hold practitioners to be your children, 
Always give timely encouragement and provision. 
Just as you helped Guru Yogi Chen all the way, 
Please keep me in your favor to benefit all!

Praise to the Dragon King

The compassion of Dragon King's mind is deeper than oceans; 
Rain and dew drops showered everywhere to moisten the world. 
Receiving vase offerings to promote aspirations toward Bodhi, 
Sentient beings with lucky connections are all blessed by thy grace.

Supplication to the Dragon King

Dragon King and Dragon Queen sustained compassion profound.
Spreading and propagating the Dharma, they took care of chores.
Without overlooking matters major or minor, they guarded well.
Their grace spread the world over, and their virtuous favors last!

10. Dedication of Merits

What Confucian scholars called as wealth gained by being rich without kindness,
And what the Christians called as wealth gained by money as root of calamities,
May your Holiness spare me from these but to grant me the following two kinds:
Worldly wealth to sustain the practitioner, the Dharma center and Dharma activities,
And holy wealth transcending the worldly realms in terms of Wisdom and Compassion,
May they all gather in accordance with the Dharma and the proper amount needed!

The power of renunciation and confession,
The power of thirty-seven branches of Bodhi,
The power of Evolutional Yoga,
The power of Sunyata and mercy,
The power of the Great Perfection,
The power of the Five Buddhakayas,
Kindly help me to get them instantly!

In the Kali age all get money through sin!
Only few ask for your holy help and win!
To this, the real and true Yogi Master,
Please do bless with all your powers.
Help me in this Homa for sentient beings.
You help me who helps all of the others.
Please do remember your good vows.
Please often keep with me your kindness!

In spite of your own life and body to safeguard Buddha,
Set example of loyalty for the sake of Dharma.
Prostration to the Heavenly King, Great Bodhisattva, 
Bless practitioners so that all would follow such epitome!
Accomplishing boundless virtuous merits such as yours,
Vehemently spread Dharma treasures throughout ten directions.
Guard and help sentient beings ascend the enlightenment ladder,
Leave suffering, attain happiness and realize emancipation.

1. May virtuous gurus remain with us and those departed return soon! 
2. May perverse views and violence soon become extinct and Dharma spread without hindrance!
3. May all beings proceed diligently on the path and achieve Buddhahood before death! 
4. May all beings develop Great Compassion and never regress until they reach perfect Buddhahood!
5. May all beings develop Great Wisdom and never regress until they reach perfect Buddhahood!

Longevity prayer for Guru Lin

Oh, originally pure yogi you are!
Wonderful conversion through Ewam as the Lotus-born Guru; 
The great joy in Sunyata is peerless,
May the Holy Guru live long and abide in this world!

Supplication to Guru Lin for Long Stay in the World and Everlasting Turning of the Dharma Wheel

Tantric teachings of Guru Rinpoche rely on Your Reverence to pass on,
Wisdom lamp of Manjusri rely on Your Reverence to continue shinning,
Marrow of Tang Tantras rely on Your Reverence to reveal and explicate,
Please stay long in this world to benefit all with your salvation activities!

Ever Spreading of the Lineage

Marrow of the Right Dharma passed down from generation to generation,
Succeeding predecessors and leading followers to turn the Dharma Wheel,
Everlasting pure lineage guided by holy Gurus and guarded by Protectors,
A never-ending lamp shining through everywhere to enlighten all beings!

 

Written in Chinese and translated into English on November 29, 2017
El Cerrito, California