Homa Ritual Honoring Green Tara

Based on the Chinese Ritual by Guru Chen

Rearranged for Practice and Translated into English by his disciple Dr. Yutang Lin

(With Guru Chen's original English stanzas preserved as many as appropriate)

1. Getting Permission from the Goddess of the Earth

Visualize the Goddess of the Earth with a yellow body as suddenly appearing from the earth and accepting the blessing of the Master who is no different from the Yidam, Green Tara. After she offers her approbation, she disappears. The Master wields the Vajra toward the center of the borrowed place where the fire altar is situated to create there a Vajra-cross foundation. Repeat the incantation of Green Tara and the following half-stanza:

Abiding in the limitless oneness of Dharmadhatu,

The Potala palace of Green Tara appears within.

2. Generating Bodhicitta

Stanza:

To bestow rest to ocean-like multitude of beings of black or white karmas,

Solely toward this goal the Great Compassion Mind is hereby generated!

This Mind is originally in oneness with that of the Green Tara,

Instantaneously I transform into the body of Green Tara!

3. Blessing the Bell, Vajra and Drum

(a) Visualization:

Visualize that Father and Mother Steadfast Buddha become lights that go into the Vajra and Bell, respectively. Visualize the moon on the right palm and the sun on the left one. With the right hand holding the Vajra and the left one holding the Bell, recite: "Ma Ha, Ban Zha, Hong" and "Ban Zha, Ga Za, A." (All incantations are written in Pin Yin, in accordance with Guru Chen's pronunciation.) Use the Vajra to touch the heart chakra three times, simultaneously ring the Bell three times.

(b) Stanza:

Producing boundless wisdom of tranquility

To dispel hindrances with roaring laughter.

All dharmas are not first clean then polluted,

This is made well-known to illustrate playing.

Weng, Sha Wa Da Ta Ga Da, Xi Di Ban Zha, San Ma Ya, Di Cha, Ei Qia Si Dang, Da La Ya Mi, Ban Zha Sa Duo, Hei Hei Hei Hei Hei, Hong Hong Hong Pei, Suo Ha.

(d) Incantation of Requesting the Blessing of All Buddhas:

Then, while reciting the incantation of Requesting the Blessing of All Buddhas, use the Vajra to touch the heart chakra to awake all the Buddhas that are in one's own Buddha-nature and with the opening of the Bell facing the top of the Master's head, turn the Bell around three times counter-clockwise, then three times clockwise, thus all Buddhas in the ten directions are requested to give blessing.

Weng, Ban Zha, Geng Zha La Li Da, Zhua La Li Da, Shuang Zhua La Li Da, Sha Wa Bu Da Ken Zha, Zhua Zha Li Lei, Zhua Zha Ba Li Mi, Geng Zha Da Na Ya, Shuang Ha Bi Da, Ban Zha Da Ma Xi Da Ya, Sha Wa Qia Li, Hong Hong Hong, Ho Ho Ho, A Kang Suo Ha.

4. Protection

Two pieces of food, prepared in advance, are offered. One is white in color for vegetarian Gods and the other is red for carnivorous Gods.

(a) The Incantation to offer food to the Protectors:

Weng, Ka Ka, Ka Xi, Ka Xi.

(b) Prayer Stanza to the Protectors:

All the eight departments of protectors,

And all the Yaksas and your family,

Please take all this blessed and delicious food.

Protect all the Yogis and their families.

Let all of them be free and have long life!

Gather all merits and sow all best seeds!

And may you inspire all special enjoyments!

Especially help this pacifying fire sacrifice,

And let me get all the accomplishments!

Please remember all your excellent vows,

Help me to gain all the attainments.

Get rid of all bad conditions and death,

Destroy all my obstacles and demons.

Pacify all terrible dreams and bad omens.

Protect us from all dangerous risks.

Help to make peace and rich harvests for all,

May plenty of all kinds of corn and Dharma,

And all good pleasures be helped by you!

Do help me to fulfill all my best wishes!

Those who have been divined to darkness

And cannot understand all the Tantras,

Not able to hear and see this secrecy,

Please leave here and go to the places where you belong.

If you don't take my advice right now,

I shall use the powerful and fiery Vajra

To destroy your head into many pieces!

The Karma Vajra throws the two pieces of food in two different directions.

Repeat the Four-Hong Incantation to send the black deities away.

Weng, Song Ba Li, Song Ba Li, Hong Hong Pei!

Weng, Ge Li Ha Na, Ge Li Ha Na, Hong Hong Pei!

Weng, Ge Li Ha Na Ba Ya, Ge Li Ha Na Ba Ya, Hong Hong Pei!

Weng, A Na Ya Ho, Ba Ga Wen, Bi Ya Lan Zha, Hong Hong Pei!

Then the Master visualizes the Vajra Net that covers all ten directions and is formed with the Vajra Net Mudra. Thus from the beginning of the Homa performance until its end, the altar and the Master and his family and followers are protected.

5. Blessing the Offerings

The Master holds the Vajra dippers together, repeats the incantation given below and visualizes much nectar falling down from Father and Mother Yidam upon all the offerings. Thus all worldly offerings become Vajra Nectar of boundless supply.

Weng, Cha Cha Cha Cha Cha!

6. Arranging the Seat of the God of Fire and that of the Yidam

Place auspicious grasses around the fire altar. Then arrange seats for the God of Fire and the Yidam.

A. Praising and Welcoming the White God of Fire

(a) Praise:

Shine upon the dark becoming the bright.

Drive away the demons with big fire!

Your kind smile sends away the sorrows.

Please sit on this good seat and admire!

(b) Visualize the White God of Fire:

"Lang" appears on the moon that is on a lotus.

From this "Lang" arises the white God of Fire!

He has one face and two arms.

The right hand holds the stove.

The left hand holds a fairy bottle.

His hair is very long; his belly big.

He has a white Brahmin thread around his belly!

The Master raises a bunch of auspicious grass up to the sky to welcome the Wisdom God of Fire and repeats the following incantation:

Zha Ge Hong Zha

(d) Praise:

You are the victorious Prince of Dharma.

You have got the initiation of good Karma!

Your wisdom fire can get rid of obstacles!

I, now, beg you to help this Homa!

B. Arranging the Auspicious Seat for the Yidam

(a) Arrange the seat for the Green Tara with the following stanza:

Pure autumn moon is your auspicious seat outwardly;

Boundless light shining is your auspicious seat inwardly;

Pacifying laughter is your auspicious seat secretly;

Unconditional compassion is your auspicious seat most secretly.

(b) Visualization of the Green Tara:

Your holy body is transparent like teardrops.

Your compassionate eyes fix on suffering of beings.

Your right hand lowered to grant great salvation.

Your left hand holds a blooming flower of wisdom.

Your right leg hangs down to reach sentient beings.

Your left leg in lotus posture to remain in Sunyata.

Green lights grant the wisdom of accomplishment.

Being the essence of compassion of all Buddhas,

The twenty-one Taras, superior Yidam and retinue,

Rush to salvage beings upon hearing their calling.

Realizing Original Purity to pay homage.

Dharma joy and Chan delight serve as praises.

Comprehending the non-born of karmas is true repentance.

Abiding in great rest to give approval.

Please spin the Dharma wheel of great salvation.

Eternally remain in the great compassion of same-body.

Dedicate merits toward all beings' Enlightenment.

(d) Praise:

Pores all over the body consist of crystallized flow of compassion,

Green light scares evils away to grant accomplishment to beings,

Merciful sound of bright mantra continues to call for salvation,

Great compassion, great mercy, great tranquility, great skillful means,

Great saving, great conversion, great expansion, great liberation,

Great light, great sound, great laughter, great taming,

Great giving, great multitude, great Sunyata, great pure pleasure.

(e) The Stanzas of Complaint:

Your holiness is like the long-departed mother just met again.

With grateful tears, please listen to the complaint of your son.

The eight sufferings of practitioners of Great Perfection view:

Not yet attained non-born, the suffering of having birth on the path;

Long grasping to meditation without liberation, the suffering of senility;

Joy, light and no-thought are not held in balance, the suffering of illness;

Only cessation but no simultaneous arising, the suffering of death;

Not yet attained freedom from vain talks in observing the mind, the suffering of suffering;

Not yet attained no-practice, the suffering of not getting what is desired;

Vain talks prevent one's acting like crazy, the suffering of confronting hatred;

One taste suddenly becomes distracted, the suffering of separation from beloved;

Unwilling to renounce sorrows, the suffering of abundant five aggregates;

All eight sufferings of the enlightenment path as mentioned above,

May your holiness pacify them to grant instant attainment of Great Perfection!

In this Kali age the suffering of ordinary Buddhists:

Not understanding karma, the suffering of getting private gains through public means;

Stealing Dharma or selling teachings, the suffering of pending to fall into lower realms;

Prospecting and expecting, the suffering of months and years in procrastination;

Mind without renunciation, the suffering of entanglement in muddy water;

Intending on renunciation, the suffering of family prevention and hindrances;

Although aspired toward liberation early in life, the suffering of no perseverance;

Aspiring toward liberation too late in life, the suffering of lack of strength to be diligent;

Understanding only the teaching of Sutras, the suffering of disparaging Tantric teachings;

Learning only Tantric teachings, the suffering of not comprehending Mahayana philosophy;

Mistakenly holding onto perverse views, the suffering of constant arising of empty talks;

Only eager to listen and think, the suffering of living in vain without practices;

Without careful study and examination, the suffering of destroying Dharma treasures;

Not careful in providing schooling, the suffering of enticing others into wrong views;

Upholding only one's own school, the suffering of disparaging other schools;

Maintaining only good intentions, the suffering of not comprehending the Sunyata School;

Adhering only to the empty view, the suffering of not understanding dharma forms;

Praying with expectation and requests, the suffering of entanglement in self-centeredness;

Possessing merely ordinary goodness, the suffering of gaining rebirth only up to heavens;

Indiscriminately receiving various silas, the suffering of falling due to violation of rules;

Misunderstood the teaching of Sunyata, the suffering of wasting life away in wanton activities;

Only possessing the wisdom of Sunyata, the suffering of lack of superior connections;

Pretending under the name of Vajra Love, the suffering of greedy engagement in adulterous activities;

From such illicit behaviors, the suffering of getting all sorts of venereal diseases;

Even though capable of Tantric Love practice, the suffering of not having met a Dakini;

Due to common karma, the suffering of absence of great virtuous masters;

Occasionally there are virtuous masters, the suffering of their not showing supernatural powers;

Taking a trip of thousands of miles to seek a teacher, the suffering of not meeting him;

Lack of sufficient merits, the suffering of finding it difficult to encounter a qualified teacher;

Superior Guru found, the suffering of their not staying in the world for long;

Even though ordained, the suffering of being preoccupied by matters of monasteries;

Knowing only to be busy doing rituals, the suffering of having no leisure for meditation;

Distraction, sleepiness and loss of attention, the sufferings of Dhyana practice;

In states of meditation, the suffering of arising of discord of the four elements in the body;

Overzealous in diligent practice, the suffering of scary evil hindrances;

Near reaching attainment, the suffering of the arrival of monsters of interruption;

Retreating in deep mountains, the suffering of lack of provisions;

Practicing alone, the suffering of hardly getting any superior teacher or beneficial friends;

In the retreat hut, the suffering of being infested by thieves, robbers and evil spirits;

Slightly having some feeling of realization, the suffering of abrupt death;

Practicing diligently the generation stage of Tantra, the suffering of no inspiration;

Practicing wind, channel and pure drops, the suffering of sickness and hindrances;

Even though having some feeling of realization, the suffering of having no teacher to confirm it;

Schools and paths are too various, the suffering of being unable to choose the suitable path;

Engaging in Dharma activities, the suffering of constant encounter with difficulties;

Even though with great vows, the suffering of no way to realize them;

Greedily seeking Dharma treasures, the suffering of running after external objects;

Not yet familiar with proper practices, the suffering of premature attempts at abnormal behaviors;

Forgetting the right thought at the time of death, the suffering of deep regrets;

Perverse views are in vogue, the suffering of difficult propagation of the right path;

All sufferings of hindrances on the path that are contrary to wishful thinking,

Ultimately are due to the suffering of lack of comprehension of the Great Perfection View.

May your holiness pacify them to grant instant attainment of Great Perfection!

The sufferings of the lower realms that are witnessed by sentient beings in the world:

Illicit sexual behaviors and killing in the public, the suffering of animals;

Famine due to drought, flooding, or wars, the suffering of hungry ghosts;

Wars, tortures, and cruel killings, the suffering of hells;

The sufferings that are not even found in the lower realms but exist among humans:

The suffering of tens of thousands of people suffocated in air-raid shelters;

The suffering of instantaneous death of thousands of people by bombs and poison gas;

The suffering of years of famine leading to selling and cooking of children;

The suffering as inflicted by human torture tools that even hell guards lack of;

The suffering of being misled by perverse views that advocate only materialism and struggle;

The suffering of not observing the five silas and ten good deeds while living;

The suffering of being bothered by all evils until the time of death;

The suffering of renouncing all relatives, friends and possessions;

The suffering of facing maturity of good and bad karmic consequences;

The suffering of facing the sentencing of Yama in hell;

The suffering of remembering evil karmas committed in the past;

The suffering of being without control of the mind and just keep drifting;

All are due to the suffering of lack of comprehension of the Great Perfection View.

May your holiness pacify them to grant instant attainment of Great Perfection!

Eight freezing and eight sizzling hells, the suffering of hell-being parents;

Narrow neck and enormous belly, the suffering of hungry-ghost parents;

Being slaughtered and devoured, the suffering of animal parents;

Not yet renounced the intention of killing, the suffering of Asura parents;

All five signs of decay occur simultaneously, the suffering of heavenly parents;

Contemplating on transmigration, who would not be afraid of such sufferings?

All are due to the suffering of lack of comprehension of the Great Perfection View.

May your holiness pacify them to grant instant attainment of Great Perfection!

The compassion of all Buddhas is in Guan Yin;

The compassion of Guan Yin is crystallized in tears;

Only your holiness is the transformation born of such compassionate tears,

Concentrating the marrow of compassion of all Buddhas and Bodhisattvas.

If not to your holiness, to whom else could complaints be poured?

If not to your holiness, to whom else could pleading for salvation be addressed?

Your holiness possesses the meritorious quality of granting salvation upon hearing calls for help;

This practitioner possesses the intention to endure suffering in place of all beings;

Please bestow generously the sacred quality of salvation as you possess so that

Physically I can attain the realization of suffering in place of all others, and

Spiritually I can attain the realization of uncovering Dharmakaya for all beings.

After all sentient beings, our parents in many lives, have attained Dharmakaya,

Simultaneously all sufferings will be pacified into great tranquility.

7. Blessing the Wood and Oil

Stanza:

With the calamity-like firewood,

Start up the wisdom fire.

After offering them,

All the Sages, beings, do have the Pleasure!

The pure and clean butter helps the wisdom fire,

May all sufferings in the six realms be burned out!

8. Starting the Fire

(a) Start the fire:

With the fire mudra turn around clockwise thrice on top of the fire altar while repeating, "Lang Lang Lang."

Use a fan with the Tibetan syllable "Yang" to fan the fire thrice while repeating, "Yang, Yang, Yang." Then repeat:

Wisdom Wisdom Great Wisdom!

Wisdom Wisdom Constant Wisdom!

Wisdom Wisdom Samadhi Wisdom!

Wisdom Wisdom Tranquility Wisdom!

(b) Offering to the God of Fire:

Incantation:

Weng, A Na Ye, Sha Ba Li Wa La, Ka Ka, Ka Xi, Ka Xi.

Praise:

You are the sovereign Prince of Dharma.

You have been blessed as King of Karma!

With special wisdom burn up the sorrow,

Help us to fulfill the good wishes through Homa!

Stanza:

I, the Acarya, and all the followers

Do have learned Dharma and done good Karma.

Any kind of obstacles before the Homa is done

Please send away from this Mandala!

Weng, A Na Ye, Sha Ba Li Wa La, Weng, Sha Wa Ba Bang, Xin Deng Gu Lu Ye, Suo Ha.

9. Offering to Green Tara

(a) Offer Bodhi-branches:

Stanza:

The Bodhi-branches form natural and great area

To provide shade for the original state that is innate.

After offering it, pacify evils by great laughter

To demonstrate the right and full enlightenment.

Incantation (repeat thrice):

Weng, Da Le, Du Da Le, Du Le, Suo Ha, Weng, Po Ti Zhi Qia Ye, Suo Ha.

(b) Offer black sesame:

Stanza:

Ignorance as the cause grasped by black and white karmas,

Perverse views, disasters and sufferings, all transform into offering.

After this offering one would realize that ignorance is originally of empty nature.

Reveal Dharmakaya for all beings so that all would attain great tranquility.

Incantation:

Weng, Da Le, Du Da Le, Du Le, Suo Ha, Weng, Sha Wa Ba Bang, Xin Deng Gu Lu Ye, Suo Ha.

Stanza:

The self-nature of all evils and enemies is originally vacuous and inactive.

After offering mustard seeds all evils will perish automatically.

Seeing through that form and emptiness are originally non-dual,

In the compassion of oneness lie great salvation and great rest.

Incantation:

Weng, Da Le, Du Da Le, Du Le, Suo Ha, Weng, Sha Wa, A Qia, Xi Da Ye, Suo Ha.

(d) Offer three whites and three sweets:

Stanza:

All things white and pure contain the joy of Chan;

After offering these may all beings dine on form born of Sunyata.

Wondrous flavor of pleasant sweetness, free from impurities,

Would inspire Dharma nectar to imbue the countless worlds!

Incantation:

Weng, Da Le, Du Da Le, Du Le, Suo Ha, Weng, Sha Wa, Sang Ba Dou, Suo Ha.

(e) Offer one coconut:

Stanza:

Sincerely and whole-heartedly dedicate oneself to the Dharma,

Receiving from above the merciful initiations of Bodhicitta,

Pouring to suffering beings below the compassionate rain of teachings,

Benefiting all through constant and enduring aspirations and activities.

Incantation:

Weng, Da Le, Du Da Le, Du Le, Suo Ha, Weng, Ban Zha, Po Ti Qi Da, Suo Ha.

(f) Offer walnuts:

Stanza:

Wondrous joy of Chan, who attained its marrows?

Four joys of Tantric practice, who arrived at the ultimate sphere?

Matching outer form and inner sense through this concord offering,

May we obtain realization that completely harmonizes the two truths!

Incantation:

Weng, Da Le, Du Da Le, Du Le, Suo Ha, Weng, Ban Zha, Ke Ba Ya, Suo Ha.

(g) Offer herbs for the five chakras:

Stanza:

Hundreds of illness as suffered by beings are indeed hard to bear.

All physicians have no treatments and effective prescriptions unavailable.

Relying solely on the great compassionate power of Green Tara,

Karmic hindrances dispersed invisibly so that recovery will arrive sooner.

Incantation:

Weng, Da Le, Du Da Le, Du Le, Suo Ha, Weng, Sha Wa Ba Bang, Xin Deng Gu Lu Ye, Suo Ha.

(h) Offer white flowers:

Stanza:

Pure and sacred flowers in bloom,

After offering them rainbow flowers come out from space!

Wisdom Dakinis full of secret skills gathering like clouds,

To enable each and every sentient being to enjoy pleasure more.

Incantation:

Weng, Da Le, Du Da Le, Du Le, Suo Ha, Weng, Sha Wa, Bu Bei Ye, Suo Ha.

(i) Offer green silk, needles and threads:

Stanza:

Heavenly garment of wondrous touch matches Sunyata-form.

Red and white Bodhis increase through union of Vajra Love.

Straight channels and pure winds induce light of original purity.

Live long in the world to save countless sentient beings.

Incantation:

Weng, Da Le, Du Da Le, Du Le, Suo Ha, Weng, Sha Wa Nuo Ga, Wa Xiang Gu Lu Huo, Weng, A Ma Na Ni, Jiu Wang Di Ye, Suo Ha, Weng, Ban Zha, A Yu Ke, Hong, Suo Ha.

(j) Offer fresh fruits:

Stanza:

Compassionate aspirations to benefit others is the fruit of Nirmanakaya.

Completion of merits and wisdom is the fruit of Sambhogakaya.

Dependence-free light of original purity is the fruit of Dharmakaya.

The above three indistinguishable is the fruit of Sahajakaya.

Wisdom rainbow-body born of great pleasure is the fruit of Mahasukhakaya.

Soon fulfill wisdom and compassion to attain perfect fruit of Buddhahood.

Incantation:

Weng, Da Le, Du Da Le, Du Le, Suo Ha, Weng, Ban Zha, Ke Ba Ya, Da Ma Ka Ya, Suo Ha.

(k) Offer gold foil:

Stanza:

Priceless teachings are superior to worldly gold and wealth.

May this offering inspire compassion that is like the wish-fulfilling gem!

All resources needed for propagation of Dharma and salvation of beings

Through pure applications would inspire their flowing in like springs.

Incantation:

Weng, Da Le, Du Da Le, Du Le, Suo Ha, Weng, Ban Zha, Mu Ni Ye, Suo Ha.

(l) Offer the eight offerings:

Stanza:

With water of merits and equality to pacify eight kinds of suffering,

With innate virgin-vase flowers to pacify greed and attachment,

With the aimless incense of oneness to pacify violation of silas,

With the lamp that shines in all directions to pacify the darkness of ignorance,

With the perfume of non-preference to pacify the five poisons,

With the food of neither increasing nor decreasing to pacify poverty,

With the music of no playful talks to pacify the eight worldly winds,

After offering all these, sins are purified and mind is clear to enjoy great pleasure.

Incantation:

Weng, Da Le, Du Da Le, Du Le, Suo Ha, Weng, A Gang, Ba Dang, Bu Bei, Du Bei, A Nu Gei, Gen Deng, Nu Wei Dou, Xia Da, Zhua Di Zha Ye, Suo Ha.

10. Giving thanks to the God of Fire

Stanza:

Brightness shines, warmth and heat felt.

As incense smokes float and spread so are the grand Dharma activities.

Nectars from Green Tara moisten the whole universe,

While the grace of the God of Fire extends throughout the Dharmadhatu.

Incantation:

Weng, A Na Ye, Sha Ba Li Wa La, Ka Ka, Ka Xi, Ka Xi, Weng A Hong.

11. Dedication of the Merits

Stanza:

Wisdom life was born of Gurus.

Corporeal life was born of parents.

Offerings were born of donors.

Fire, the fire god; water, Dragon King.

Place belongs to the country; companions are others.

In all these there is neither I nor mine.

Good coming from whatever causes and conditions

Is the natural fruit of those causes and conditions.

The great tranquility that all beings possess originally

Is beyond the sphere of causes and consequences.

May this Homa that transcends causes and consequences

Bring about the great fruit of great causes!

All calamities, sufferings and hindrances to meditation,

Those arise before attaining the great fruit,

May they all be pacified in the light of Dharma nature!

12. Amendment

Repeat thrice the 100-Word Incantation of Vajrasattva.

13. Repeat Original Vows

Recite the practitioner's Bodhi Vows to pray for continuous and never ending progress of Dharma activities.

14. Mudra

Apply Green Tara Mudra with seven Ha's to counter hindrances.

15. Circumambulation

Circumambulate clockwise the Homa platform thrice as gesture of reverence, and then bow thrice to Green Tara in reverence to express gratitude.

Auspicious Completion

November 7, 2004

El Cerrito, California

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