Three Mantras for a New Student
Rinpoche recommended these mantras for a new student, together with the motivation and dedication prayers. The first part of the letter was handwritten by Rinpoche.
Before you meditate and recite the mantras, please generate the motivation in the purest way possible.
Bodhicitta motivation
My life is not only to work for one person’s happiness—that is me or “I”—but to benefit every hell being, hungry ghost and animal, as well as humans, suras, asuras and intermediate state beings, to free them from oceans of samsaric suffering and lead them to full enlightenment. Therefore, I must achieve full enlightenment. Therefore, I am going to meditate and recite mantras to cause all the happiness for numberless sentient beings.
Shakyamuni Buddha mantra
TADYATHA OM MUNE MUNE MAHA MUNAYE SVAHA
Guru Shakyamuni mantra purifies one hundred thousand eons of negative karma and we receive the blessings and qualities of Buddha.
Compassion Buddha (Avalokiteshvara) mantra
OM MANI PADME HUM
To develop great compassion for all sentient beings. It brings them to enlightenment
Guru Medicine Buddha mantra
TADYATHA OM BEKANDZE BEKANDZE MAHA BEKANDZE [BEKANDZE]* RADZA SAMUDGATE SVAHA
*Syllables in brackets optional.
To fullfill all your wishes and the wishes of all sentient beings.
At the end, when you finish, do this dedication:
"Due to all the past, present and future merits collected by me and all the past present and future merits collected by all the buddhas and sentient beings, may the ultimate good heart, bodhicitta, be actualized in my heart, in the hearts of my family members, in the hearts of everyone in this city, in the hearts of all sentient beings, and especially in the hearts of the leaders of the world, in the hearts of those who have the power to harm the world. May this world be filled with perfect peace and happiness.
"Due to all the past, present and future merits collected by me, all the past, present and future merits collected by all the buddhas and sentient beings, may I achieve Guru Shakyamuni Buddha’s enlightenment and lead all sentient beings to that enlightenment by myself alone.
"Due to all the merit collected by me and all sentient beings, may I be like Shakyamuni Buddha, Medicine Buddha and Compassion Buddha and offer limitless sky of benefit to sentient beings in all the future lifetimes."
With much love and prayer ...