Green Tara Pacification 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,
Anxieties and feelings of pressures are accumulating incessantly.
Sentient beings are drifting in the ocean of suffering,
In a blink the swift changes of impermanence may arrive;
Natural calamities and man-made damages come one after another,
We can only rely on Tara’s compassionate blessing for salvation.
Personal karma is intertwined with common karma,
No way to seek merely individual relief from sufferings;
Compassion for all beings matches Buddha’s mercy,
Practicing this ritual for all beings will surely gain Buddha′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 Green Tara, with the white four-arm Chenrezi presiding in the space above Green Tara; Green Tara is surrounded by the other twenty Taras who are manifestations of herself, and they are surrounded by all other holy beings of the Western Pureland of Utmost Joy. These are in turn surrounded by layers after layers of all the Buddhas, Bodhisattvas and holy beings of all other Purelands. 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 Green Tara 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 Green Tara.
I take refuge in harmonious Buddha Dharma.
I take refuge in holy beings of Bodhi.

Namo Green Tara　　　　　　   Namo Savior of Calamities Tara　    Namo Savior of Earthquakes Tara
Namo Savior of Floods Tara        Namo Savior of Fires Tara　　　　 Namo Savior of Hurricanes Tara
Namo Merits and Wisdom Tara  Namo Savior of Natural Disasters Tara　Namo Savior of Wars Tara
Namo Savior of Jails Tara　　Namo Savior of Robberies Tara　Namo Power Enhancement Tara
Namo Savior of Exorcism Tara   Namo Savior of Herds Tara　　   　 Namo Savior of Beasts Tara
Namo Savior of Poisons Tara　  Namo Conqueror of Evils Tara　　  Namo Medicine King Tara
Namo Longevity Tara　　　　   Namo Gem Source Tara　　　　　  Namo Wish-fulfilling Tara

Visualize that all holy beings are rejoicing over sentient beings' ability to recognize and choose the path toward liberation. Green Tara, on behalf of all holy beings, grants refuge to all sentient beings. From the heart chakra of Green Tara rays of green 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 green 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.

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 white four-arm Chenrezi and Green Tara transform into lights and merge into the white four-arm Chenrezi. And then the white four-arm Chenrezi also transforms into light that descends through the top of Green Tara and merges into Green Tara'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:

Homage to the great salvation mother!
Bestow on us attainment of original purity!
Render practitioners free from evil hindrances!
And fulfill the Buddha fruit of wisdom in pleasures!

Holy Green Tara emits pure lights,
Spiritual nature of sentient beings in all directions are revealed!
Holy Green Tara enunciates clear sounds,
Sorrows of sentient beings at all times are eradicated!
Holy Green Tara always remembered,
Even trapped in the mire of sorrows one is still spotless!
Holy Green Tara is the savior,
Granting merits and prolonging lifespan without discarding anyone!

Compassionate tears of Guan Yin gathered the marrow of Mercy from all Buddhas
Dispelled devils by fearless laughter to guard Siddhartha's attainment of enlightenment
Rainbow appearance in Potala Cave rendered Guru Chen's personal realization
Universal salvation to all beings from all hindrances, indeed, the savior of us all

Marrow of Mercy from all Buddhas, compassionate tears of Guan Yin,
Moisten and nourish to transform the stubborn and rigid beings
Dispel devils through laughter, guard and help attainment of enlightenment,
Dharma practitioners seek and rely on Your Holy Mother's grace
Sacred Potala Cave amid sky and sea, rainbow body surrounded by tidal sounds,
When will this practitioner personally realize thus
Drifting from realm to realm in Samsara, floating up and down in waves of suffering
Only Your Holiness is capable of universal salvation

Taras, the salvation mothers, born of compassionate tears of Guan Yin,
Green Tara pacifies calamities; White Tara grants merits and longevity.
In total there are twenty-one Taras and one even appears to be wrathful.
From calamities of earth, water, fire or wind beings are saved by them.
Delivering offspring upon supplication, up to guarding enlightenment,
Each and every wish, worldly or transcendental, is mercifully fulfilled.
As in deep water and hot fire sentient beings' sufferings are incessant,
Relying on motherly compassion we constantly think of mother Taras.

Visualize that Green Tara, upon hearing this praise, is very pleased by the right faith of the practitioner and the sentient beings. Green Tara emits bright green lights from her heart chakra shining through the whole Dharmadhatu and giving blessings to all sentient beings. Then Green Tara 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. Repentance

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

Merciful Tara, please look after us! In this life or other lives, since time without beginning, a wide variety of sinful actions have been committed either by myself or by others with my approval or instigation. For example, stealing or robbing Buddhist possessions or the belongings of monks and nuns either by myself or by others with my approval or instigation. Or, committing the five unending sins or the ten non-virtuous types of karmas either by myself or by others with my approval or instigation. Such karmic hindrance covers and restricts both body and mind, resulting in birth in eight kinds of disadvantageous environments. They are: Falling into hells, animal realms or hungry ghost realms; or in areas without Dharma and races that are antagonistic to the Dharma; or in long-lasting heavenly realms that have no mental activities; or born as disabled humans; or adopting wrong views to insist on no causality; or disliking the appearance of Buddhas in the world. Now in front of holy Green Tara, the embodiment of all Buddhas, world-honored ones, who possess all-encompassing wisdom, possess five kinds of eyes, attain realization of reality in exact measure, know and see, I sincerely repent over all such karmic hindrances, and dare not conceal any. May my Sila observance be redeemed to its original perfection. Furthermore, may the holy Green Tara, the embodiment of all Buddhas, world-honored ones, accept and take care of me and be my witness. If in this life or other lives, since my transmigration from time without beginning, have I ever given animals one ball of food, or sustained one rule of pure conduct, or practiced pure conducts and cultivated roots of goodness, or cultivated in small measure the good roots of unsurpassable wisdom, then all such merits are to be gathered and counted together so as to dedicate all of them toward the unsurpassable right and all-encompassing enlightenment, just as all Buddhas in their most supreme and unsurpassable dedication of merits would do in the past, present and future.

Visualize that Green Tara, upon hearing this repentance, is merciful toward the sincerity of the practitioner and the sentient beings. Green Tara emits bright green lights from her heart chakra shining through the whole Dharmadhatu and giving blessings to all sentient beings to eradicate all their karmic hindrances and debts.

8. Recitation of Green Tara Mantra

Weng Da Lei Du Da Lei Du Lei Suo Ha

Visualize that Guru and Green Tara are inseparable and non-differentiable, and during the period of this mantra recitation, from the heart chakra of Guru bright green 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

Mother Tara's green light compassionately protects all sentient beings
May we be absorbed into this holy light and thereby attain limitless oneness
With realization of the marrow of compassion transform and appear without bounds
Universally save all beings in ten directions to delight Your Compassionate mind

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 27, 2017
El Cerrito, California