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The Speech That Delights Lord MañjushrÓThe Speech That Delights Lord MañjushrÓThe Speech That Delights Lord MañjushrÓThe Speech That Delights Lord MañjushrÓA SÏdhana of the Sole Hero, Orange MañjushrÓ A RA PA CHA NA

OÆ SVASTI SIDDHAÆSupreme deity MañjushrÓ, you cause the lotusOf sacred wisdom-light intelligence to blossom.As I bow to you, I vow to composeThe Speech That Delights Lord MañjushrÓ,A pinnacle among such sÏdhanas.

The energetic and worthy, who have awakened their inner natureof caring love for the infinitude of sentient life, should do thispractice.

The source of all defects, the principal cause which leads us towander in this great ocean of suffering, is the belief in a self, andits manifestation. Think "In order to remove that belief with theopposing force of the extraordinary wisdom of realization ofselflessness, I shall accomplish the profound gate of the samÏdhiand dhÏraÚÓ of Àrya MañjushrÓ." With this attitude, firstproperly receive the permission-blessing, and keep the samayacommitment. Then, in a solitary hut, pleasing and conducive tomeditation, settle on a comfortable seat, and practice thepreparatory, main, and concluding sections.

First, for the preparation, apply the various reflections that giverise to a mind of renunciation, compassion, and bodhicitta.

In the sky in front, visualize the details of the field of refuge, as ifit were actually there:

The mere thought of you dispels the fears of saÙsÏra andnirvÏÚa:

In the guru, Buddha, dharma and saÛgha,I and all sentient beings take refuge from now until

enlightenment,With one-pointed and undivided devotion.

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Recite this as much you can. At the end, the field of refugedissolves into you.

Arousing bodhicitta:

Numerous as the sky is vast, sentient beings are heldcaptive in saÙsÏra

By confusion and ignorance.To dispel this darkness with the supreme illumination of all-

knowing wisdom,I shall practice the samÏdhi of the Lord of Solar Speech1.

Three times.

May all sentient beings enjoy happiness, be free fromsuffering,

Not be separated from happiness, and abide in equanimity.Through the fully sustaining elixir of these boundless four,May the lotus-flower of their benefit and happiness always

bloom!

Thus meditate on the four boundless ones.

Second, for the main section, begin with the conceptualmeditation of the samÏdhi of the deity:

All phenomena are from the very beginning beyondconceptual definition,

Arising as the illusory display of dependent origination,Here, in my heart, within a light-tent of empty luminosity,PAÆ manifests as a lotus-flower, and A as a moon.Upon these, arises a saffron-coloured DHÃÂ which dispels

mental darkness;Its light completely suffuses my body, which becomes pure

like crystal.

In that instant I am Lord MañjushrÓ,

1 Tib: smra ba'i nyi ma, an aspect of MañjushrÓ.

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Appearing in the youthful form of a sixteen year-old,My body is exceedingly clear, with a radiant hue of blazing

gold.Handsome, attractive, posing majestically,With large coy eyes, I laugh gently as I smile.I wear a fivefold top-knot, an utpala flower blossoming by

my ear, flowing silks,And a luminous tiara beautified with the sugata.2A compassionate hero, I lean against a moon disk,Wearing a variety of silks and jewels, all radiant with light.My right hand wields a sword of wisdom, the colour of the

sky;The left holds an utpala, with a volume of scripture upon its

pistil.I am seated in the vajra-posture, upon a lotus and moon

seat,And lights of many colours shine from my wisdom body,

filling all of space.All this I visualize within the unity of appearance and

emptiness, like Indra's bow.3

Chanting this, focus your mind one-pointedly on the luminousform of the deity's body. If you tire of this, you can engage in therecitation that accomplishes the practice-gate of dhÏraÚÓ.

In my heart, upon a lotus and moon, and surrounding thesyllable DHÃÂ,

The syllable OÆ leads the mantra A RA PA CHA NA DHÃÂ;There is another beautiful syllable DHÃÂ on my tongue.4In this way, all the syllables form a precious torch,Perfectly and vividly blazing, whose lightCompletely dispels the mental darkness of sentient beings

throughout space:Their two accumulations are fully completed, which places

them on the level of MañjushrÓ KumÏra.

2 The crown buddha Akßobhya.3 A rainbow.4 The head of the syllable pointing toward the palate.

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The light rays invoke the buddhas and bodhisattvas,reminding them of their aspirations and prayers,

And their wisdom of omniscience dissolves into me, in theform of light-rays.

These cleanse the two beginningless obscurations and theirhabitual patterns,

Liberate the great treasury of memory and confidence,And fully introduce the two wisdoms: knowing things as

they are, and all that exists.

Visualising thus, recite:OÆ A RA PA CHA NA DHÃÂ

With an undistracted mind, recite as much as you can.

If you wish, recite:NAMO MAÑJUSHRÃYE KUMÀRA BHÎTÀYA /BODHISATVÀYA / MAHÀ SATVÀYÀ / MAHÀKÀRUÇIKÀYA / TADYATHÀ / OÆ ARAJE / VIRAJE /SHUDDHE VISHUDDHE / SHODHAYA VISHODHAYA /AMALE / VIMALE / NIRMALE / JAYA VARE / RURU CHALE /HÎÆ HÎÆ HÎÆ PHAÍ PHAÍ PHAÍ SVÀHÀ

This mantra develops the mind of prajñÏ. Recite as appropriate.

When concluding the session, focus on the DHÃÂ at the root ofyour tongue, and recite DHÃÂ 108 times within a single breath. Ifyou cannot do that, then recite DHÃÂ that number of times, atleast without the interruption of other speech. Then, swallowingyour saliva, imagine that DHÃÂ enters your body, and becomesblazing orange. Meditating one-pointedly, do the recitation ofDHÃÂ.

Third, the concluding section. When arising from the session:

Again, in an instant I become MañjushrÓ KumÏra.

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Thinking this, do the following offerings with their particularmudrÏs.

With the drinking waters of the Lord of the Beautiful,5Mingled with this offering-water of eightfold nectar,I moisten your lotus lips, Supreme Àrya;May your benevolence mature my compassion.OÆ ÀRYA MAÑJUSHRÃ ARGHAÆ PRATÃCCHA SVÀHÀ

With the cleansing stream of Ganga,Unsullied by murkiness and impurityI cool the spokes of your foot's cakra;May I rest in the ease of profound emptiness.OÆ ÀRYA MAÑJUSHRÃ PÀDYAÆ PRATÃCCHA SVÀHÀ

Humbling the ladies of immortality,6With this fresh rain of many flowers,I take the opportunity to beautify your bejewelled hair;May I perfect the pÏramitÏ of infinite generosity.OÆ ÀRYA MAÑJUSHRÃ PUËHPE PRATÃCCHA SVÀHÀ

With an abundance of synthetic and natural scents,Forming deliciously sweet billowing clouds,I offer these to delight the gentle protector;May I perfect the pure discipline that pleases the noble

ones.OÆ ÀRYA MAÑJUSHRÃ DHÎPE PRATÃCCHA SVÀHÀ

With precious torches of sun and moonCasting the sharp light that banishes darkness,I reveal the beauty present to your wisdom insight;May you grant the armour of immovable patience.

5 The mighty god Indra, who is lord of all that is beautiful.6 The females of the god-realms.

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OÆ ÀRYA MAÑJUSHRÃ ÀLOKE PRATÃCCHA SVÀHÀ

With perfumes of camphor, sandal, and saffronSoothing and fresh, like the cooling light of the youthful

moon,I anoint your body of vast merit;May you grant me enthusiasm to cross the ocean of the dual

accumulations.OÆ ÀRYA MAÑJUSHRÃ GANDHE PRATÃCCHA SVÀHÀ

With an abundant variety of food and wineSuperior even to the drink of Indra,I bring delight to your lotus tongue;May all beings flourish through the sustenance of samÏdhi.OÆ ÀRYA MAÑJUSHRÃ NAIVIDYA PRATÃCCHA SVÀHÀ

With offering clouds of sweet sound,An ocean of the sixty seductive branches of melody,To awaken the three worlds from their sleep of ignorance,May I resoundingly sing the supreme melody of prajñÏ.OÆ ÀRYA MAÑJUSHRà SHABDA PRATÃCCHA SVÀHÀ

You can abbreviate this, chanting only the offering mantras. Ifyou prefer greater elaboration, you can chant the Names ofMañjushrÓ7, and profound praises by Loppön Dorje Tsöncha andSakya PaÚÐita, and also:

1. You embody all buddhas and bodhisattvasIn a single wisdomAdorned with the name Mañju ShrÓ;With faith, I shall here attempt to praise you.

2. With your strength in perfectingThe excellent actions of wisdom and love,You vanquish the extremes of saÙsÏra and nirvÏÚa,

7 Tib. 'jam dpal mtshan brjod, Skt. MañjuàrÓ nÏma-saÙgÓti.

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Adorning the sun of the heart of enlightenment.

3. However, to lead sentient beingsIn the manner of a great bodhisattva,In front of each jina, as many as there are,You manifest as Solar Lord of Speech.

4. Your body of crystalline purityGlows like fresh saffron;With an infinity of wonderful marks and signs,Nothing in saÙsÏra compares to you.

5. Your jewel speech is an instrument of many stringsWhich play the sixty tones of melody;Applying it to all objects of knowledge,You steal all fame in the three worlds.

6. Meanwhile, you go beyond extremes:While having understood things as they areYou seduce with the understanding of things as they appear;You are the sole origin of the four noble ones.8

7. In summary, even if ten million learned ones praised youFor the span of a hundred kalpas,They could not describe the slightest fractionOf your supreme ocean-like qualities of abandoning and

ripening.

8. You show all sentient beings the path to higher realmsAnd the omniscience of certain excellence;Your activity is like the sky:Its end will not be seen in saÙsÏra.

9. Even the buddhas of the ten directionsHave committed to praise you every day.E-ma! Who could be untouched by devotion

8 The four categories of realization: àrÏvaka, pratyekabuddha, bodhisattva,and buddha.

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Towards your wondrous life?

10. Therefore, I make offerings and pray to youWith one-pointed devotion:Build me a stairway of compassionUntil I attain the heart of enlightenment.

11. In the pleasure-grove of disciplineIs a lotus pond of thorough hearing;Trees blossom with the beauty of reflection,Growing heavy with the fruits of meditation.

12. On the great waters of the outer and inner sciences9

The tides of exposition, debate, and compositionRise with one hundred nectar-like rays;May I become you, Lunar Lord of Speech.

13. Above all, Gentle Protector, may I see your joyful facethrough accomplishing this profound vidyÏ-mantra;

May you continually bestow the sweet dew of your speech,and perfect the youth of my intelligence;

May I go beyond attachment to self and aggregates, andattain the omniscience that knows the inseparability ofemptiness and dependent origination;

May I become the new light of wisdom that bringsexcellence to the three worlds!

Thus praise and offer prayers, or if you wish to be brief: Offerprayers such as “One who wears the body of youthfulness…”10

By the merit of this,Having swiftly accomplished MañjushrÓ KumÏra,May I establish all beings without exceptionUpon that very level.

9 The secular and non-secular sciences.10 “One who wears the body of youthfulness,

Eminently radiant lamp of wisdom,Dispeller of the darkness of three worlds,MañjushrÓ, I prostrate and praise you.”

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Thus, with dedication and prayers, you should engage in theactivities of post-meditation at all times. Never separating fromthe confidence of MañjushrÓ, you should train in uniting the twoaccumulations11. If you practice approach recitation, keepcleanliness and practise in four sessions.

According to the supreme way of approach by sign, inexperiences or in dreams, you will hold a sword and an utpalaflower, or see flames of fire or the rising sun or moon, and so on.Until such signs occur, you should endeavour in practice.According to the intermediate way of recitation by time, youshould practice this for six months. Finally, according torecitation by number, you should recite the mantra 800,000times, including amendment practice.

During this time, if in your dreams you perceive hail and howlingblack winds, wild animals devouring, and so on, these are signsof minor obstacles. In that case, you should practice themeditation and recitation of the Wrathful Achala12 in betweensessions.

Within the realm of emptiness, in an instant, upon a seat oflotus and moon,

I am Achala, King of Wrath: my three eyes are ablaze,My right hand wields a sword, my left holds a vajra lasso;I stand within a mass of wisdom flames, my left knee on the

ground;I am replete with all the wrathful attributes.In my heart, upon a lotus and sun, stands the syllable HÎÆ;Surrounding it is the mantra garland, the colour of sky:As it revolves, it emanates a purifying storm of fierce

sparksWhich incinerate all obstacles and adversity.OÆ CHAÇÁA MAHÀ ROËHAÇA HÎÆ PHAÍ

11 The accumulations of merit and wisdom.12 Tib. mi g.yo ba, an aspect of VajrapÏÚi.

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Recite this mantra a hundred times, a thousand times, or the like.

If you wish, practice the instruction of the Water Protector13,which provides temporary pacification, or apply the dispelling ofobstacles from any yidam deity practice.

In this way, endeavouring one-pointedly, you will first have amind that can retain; then in your mind, you will give birth to theabundant qualities of composing poetry, powerful vajra speech,and understanding the unmistaken meaning. Your memory andconfidence will certainly increase like the rising ocean tides.

This pinnacle sadhana of Àrya MañjushrÓ,The Speech Which Delights the Gentle Sakya Protector,I pray that this clear compositionMay greatly increase the wisdom-light of sentient beings.

Thus, based on the main practice sÏdhanas of the early Sakyamasters, this composition was adorned by the learned renunciantJamyang Khyentse Wangpo. By this virtue, may all beingsacquire the supreme mind which distinguishes phenomena, andthus swiftly proceed to reach the heart of enlightenment. SIDDHIRASTU / SARVA DÀKA LAYÀNAÆ BHAVATU14

13 Tib. bdud rtsi skyil ba, AmÝitakuÚÐalin, who is referred to as the "WaterProtector" in the outer tantras.

Translated at Sea to Sky Retreat Centre, Canada, by Jakob Leschly andAlex Trisoglio, February 2001.

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Sakya Pandita’s Praise to MañjushrÓ

Beauteous and youthful, you are The Glory of Intelligence,arising from DHÃÂ.

Saffron-hued, bearing five top-knots and an utpala flower behindyour ear,

You are seated upon a full lotus and moon-disc,Posing with amusement, exuding an air of playfulness.You are attired in an exquisite skirt, apparel divine, your figure

sumptuously bejewelled.Your right hand wields the azure sword of wisdom, emanating

the sun's majestic brilliance, and dispelling the gloom ofdarkness,

While vanquishing demons, you dispense knowledge of suchness.Your left hand supports a fully opened utpala flower with eight

petals, abloom at your throat, upon the stainless anthers ofwhich lies a volume of the Jina's speech.

Your ußhÚißha is protected by Akßhobya; your laughter is thepristine, fine-edged vajra of six syllables.

Please rest your splendid feet upon my pitiful head,And whilst residing in my heart, be patient with me as you bear

witness to all my thoughts of desire, hatred, and ill-will; thosesentiments so despised by the holy ones!

First bodhisattva! Move me to emulate your profound andglorious ways,

Only father! I have no other god but you to rely on.My heart brims with longing and devotion, yet still the hook of

your compassion eludes me.The fault must lay with my wretched self.As long as I have not pleased you, may I refrain from seeking

other guardians!15

Translated at Sea to Sky Retreat Centre, Canada, by Jakob Leschly andAlex Trisoglio, February 2001.

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Great Treasure of BlessingGreat Treasure of BlessingGreat Treasure of BlessingGreat Treasure of BlessingA Praise to MañjushrÓA Praise to MañjushrÓA Praise to MañjushrÓA Praise to MañjushrÓ

OÆI bow to the supreme body of MañjushrÓ KumÏra!I bow to MañjushrÓ, Lord of Speech!I bow to the wisdom being of supreme knowledge!I bow to the vajra wisdom of all buddhas!I bow to he who holds the sword of wisdom!I bow to he who holds the utpala of skillful means!I bow to sends forth the sharp arrow of intelligence!I bow to he who holds the great bow of compassion!As I remember you protector MañjushrÓ,And devotedly supplicate you from my heart,Fully accept me in accordance with your vow,And open the treasures of the eight confidences!OÆ A RA PA TSA NA DHÃÂ HÎÆ

This was written by DHÃÂ in the year of the Iron Snake, duringthe ninth month in session while practicing the approach andaccomplishment of the Great Subjugator. May it be auspicious!Virtue!

In accordance with the aspirations of the sugatas and their sonsIn the manner of their actions, prayers, and wisdom, love andstrength―Such a magical display of unsurpassable wisdom―May I strive solely for that attainment!

Written on the 13th of the first month of the year of the Earth Ox,by Jampel Gyepey Dorje, ‘Vajra Pleasing MañjushrÓ’, someonewho possesses unwavering faith in the MahÏyana.