Practices for Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Practices for Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Date of Advice:
January 2020
Date Posted:
February 2020

Rinpoche was asked what could be done for the recent outbreak of coronavirus (COVID-19), which has now been declared a global health emergency. Rinpoche's initial advice included mantra recitation practice for individuals, as well as a puja at Sera Je Monastery. Rinpoche subsequently gave additional advice, which is also below. See also the new FPMT webpage: Resources for the Coronavirus Pandemic.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche at Sera Je Monastery, India, December 2013.

Rinpoche advised a Most Secret Hayagriva wrathful fire puja, to be done at Sera Je Monastery, India.

Individual students can do the following mantra recitation practice:

As a motivation before reciting the two mantras, Rinpoche said it’s best if people can do The Method to Transform a Suffering Life into Happiness (Including Enlightenment), which is the daily motivation Rinpoche has put together. That is best. But if that is too much, then do the lamrim motivation, which is the beginning part of The Method up to the “Blessing the Speech” section. So at least do that part as a motivation before reciting the mantras.

1. Vajra Armor

Recite Vajra Armor mantra, which is a famous mantra for healing. You can do the entire Vajra Armor Protection Wheel if you want. Otherwise, just recite the mantra:

hum vajra phat / OM PÄDMA SHAWA RI PHAT / NÄN PAR SHIG / NAGA NÄN / TAD YA THA / SARVA BI RI TA / HANA HANA / VAJRE NA RAKSHA RAKSHA SVAHA

After you finish reciting the mantra, hold your hand in front of your mouth and blow the air up, so it goes into your nostrils.

2. Black Manjushri

Also recite Black Manjushri mantra. The Meditation-Recitation of Black Manjushri is also good to do if you want. Otherwise, just recite the mantra:

OM TRA SO / CHHU SO / DUR TA SO / DUR MI SO / NYING GO LA CHHO / KHA LA JAH KAM SHAM TRAM / BÄ PHAT SVAHA

Then at the end, do dedication prayers:

JANG CHHUB SEM CHHOG RIN PO CHHE
May the precious supreme bodhichitta
MA KYE PA NAM KYE GYUR CHIG
Not yet born arise.
KYE PA NYAM PA ME PA YI
May that arisen not decline,
GONG NÄ GONG DU PHEL WAR SHOG
But increase more and more.

GE WA DI YI NYUR DU DAG
Due to this virtue, may I quickly
LA MA SANG GYÄ DRUB GYUR NÄ
Become a Guru-Buddha,
DRO WA CHIG KYANG MA LÜ PA
And lead all transmigratory beings,
DE YI SA LA GÖ PAR SHOG
Without exception, to that state.

Due to all the merits of the three times collected by me, the numberless buddhas, and the numberless sentient beings, may all wars, sickness, famine, torture, poverty, and economic problems in the world, and all dangers of earth, water, fire, and wind, be pacified immediately, and may perfect peace and happiness prevail in everyone’s hearts and lives. May the Buddhadharma last for a long time, and may the sentient beings in this world meet the Buddhadharma and achieve enlightenment as quickly as possible.

Due to all the past, present, and future merits collected by me and all the merits of the three times collected by the numberless buddhas and numberless sentient beings, which are completely empty of existing from their own side, may I, who am completely empty of existing from my own side, achieve the state of full enlightenment, which is completely empty of existing from its own side, and lead all sentient beings, who are completely empty of existing from their own side, to that state, which is completely empty of existing from its own side, by myself alone, who is completely empty of existing from my own side.


Additional advice

Rinpoche subsequently offered this additional advice for protection from coronavirus (COVID-19):

Rinpoche says that in addition to his earlier advice, people should also recite The Vajra Speech of Mahasiddha Thangtong Gyalpo: The Blessed Prayer Known as “Liberating Sakya from Disease. The prayer comes from the great yogi Thangtong Gyalpo (1385–1464) and is for healing from disease.

While reciting this prayer, students should look at an image of Thangtong Gyalpo. [Click here to view an image of Thangtong Gyalpo from a thangka in Rinpoche’s house.]

Rinpoche added, “the previous mantras are to protect yourself and others, but this prayer from Thangtong Gyalpo is to heal the disease in China and for it not to spread out to other countries. So it is to protect the country. And anyone in the world can recite this prayer.”