Burning Offering to Dorje Khadro

By Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche
Dharamsala, India 1986 (Archive #638)

This commentary on the Dorje Khadro Burning Offering practice was first given by Lama Zopa Rinpoche at Tushita Retreat Centre, Dharamsala, India, in July 1986. It is based on a commentary written by Pänchen Losang Chökyi Gyältsen and includes teachings on the preliminaries, the actual body and the completion. Transcribed and edited by Ven. Ailsa Cameron.

You can find links to the Burning Offering to Dorje Khadro sadhana and The Preliminary Practice of Dorje Khadro in the FPMT Catalogue. The sadhana was translated by Lama Thubten Zopa Rinpoche, Ven. Jampa Zangpo, and Ven. Thubten Donyo (Nick Ribush) in 1975 under the guidance of Lama Thubten Yeshe. The sadhana was first published by the International Mahayana Institute, Nepal, 1975.

Dorje Khadro
Commentary: Conclusion

From the great ocean of the explanatory tantras: "Vajra Daka is taken by the ship of Lama Tsongkhapa's advice. This golden Dharma, the cittamani or heart method, is kept in the hearts of the lineage lamas of these days. It is like a sunbeam that dispels the darkness of sentient beings and like the flowing water of the river Ganga (which in one way means that actual water, and in another way means the water of the transcendental wisdom of non-dual bliss and voidness which washes away the stains of degenerated samayas), and like the wind which destroys the clouds of disease and spirit harms which interfere to practise Dharma. Therefore, it is fortunate to receive this water of advice, which goes into the heart pool when sprinkled by the wisdom of the kusa grass." Kusa grass has the power to protect you from pollutions, and helps you to sleep and dream clearly if you sleep on it. It's used in initiations. "This water of advice, sprinkled with intelligence and wisdom cools the transmigratory beings tormented by the suffering of ignorance, and makes them quickly achieve the three kayas of the victorious ones (which means the Buddhas)."

This commentary on Dorje Khadro is called "a sunbeam which dispels the darkness of negative karma and obscurations." It is written by Dharmabhadra, who is in the form of a monk and living in the cave of Ngulchu, his past life's cave.

So please dedicate the merits of explaining and listening to the teachings of Lama Tsongkhapa, to the generation of bodhicitta, the door of all happiness, in the minds of all sentient beings. And may whatever bodhicitta that has already been generated, never decline but only increase.

May I and all the rest of the sentient beings never be separated from the pure path, and may Lama Tsongkhapa be our friend in all future lives. May we be able to live in pure conduct and may the sangha of all directions, particularly the FPMT sangha, be able to continuously practise and achieve all realisations.

I received this commentary from the incomparably kind guru, Lama Thubten Yeshe. Then later, with some Westerners, I received it from His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Having the opportunity to practise this is by their kindness. Please dedicate all the merits to their undying life, ceaseless guidance and so that we, the disciples, are able to perfectly please them in every single action forever.