A SHORT SADHANA OF MAHA VAIROCHANA - Gaden for the West

A SHORT SADHANA OF MAHA VAIROCHANA 

(tib.: Kun.Rig Nam.Par Nang Dzey ) 

According to the pure and unbroken lineage 

of Gelugpa Tibetan Buddhism 

Composed by Lama Ngul.chu Dharmabhadra 

[1772 – 1851 c.e.] 

Adapted and translated into english by the Venerable Lama Zasep Tulku Rinpoche 

This sadhana practice is intended only for those people 

who have received the Maha Vairochana Yogatantra initiation 

from a qualified Lama. 

Gaden For The West 

Version 2 

December 2003

December 2003 Version 2

A SHORT SADHANA OF VAIROCHANA 

(Tib. Kun.rig nam.par nang dzey) 

Taking Refuge In the Three Jewels 

Namo Guru Manju Goshaya! 

Heart filled with great compassion, 

Wisdom well beyond non-virtues and mass ignorance, 

You who have entered the lotus family of great compassion, 

All Buddhas thus gone to bliss, in you I take refuge. 

That which leads to highest mind, always joyful, 

Victory over dangerous and confused lower mental states, 

Virtues incomparably beyond worldly goodness, 

Highest Dharma, Buddha's teaching, in you I take refuge. 

Having destroyed all attachments, which are like snake venom, 

Having wisdom, complete victory and compassion, 

Well-disciplined and following in the Buddhas' footsteps, 

Arya Sangha gone beyond samsara, in you I take refuge 

Cultivating Bodhichitta 

Through the virtuous merit that I produce 

By practising giving and other perfections, 

I will cultivate the awakened mind of Buddha 

To most effectively benefit all suffering beings. 

[3X] 

[3X] 

[3X] 

[3X] 

Generating selfless self as MahaVairochana 

OM SVABHAVA SHUDDHA SARVA DHARMA SVABHAVA SHUDDHO HAM 

All phenomena are naturally pure and lacking inherent existence. 

Within this state of emptiness, from AH A arises a natural-wisdom jewel throne. Above this 

throne is HRIH h which transforms into a lotus. Above the lotus, from AH A, appears a moondisc. 

At the centre of this moon-disc arises OM Ò. From this OM Ò a Dharma-wheel emerges, 

marked by OM Ò. 

Limitless light shines forth from the OM Ò and the Dharma-wheel to benefit immensely all 

suffering beings in accordance with the 12 principal deeds of Buddha's life. The lights then 

withdraw into the Dharma-wheel and the OM Ò. 

From that complete transformation of lights I appear as the Bhagavan Maha Vairochana. 

My body is white in color and I have four faces. My hands are in the mudra of meditative 

equipoise, holding an eight-spoked Dharma-wheel. Adorned by all kinds of precious jewel 

ornaments, I wear upper and lower silk garments. I have a peaceful expression and sit in the 

vajra-asana, with sunlight as a backdrop. 

While seated on a lotus cushion as Great Brahma, I enter into the profound samadhi known as “the 

samadhi that purifies all roots of the lower realms of samsara”. 

[contemplate] 

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December 2003 Version 2

A Short Sadhana of Maha Vairochana 

Visualizing three Bhijas 1 and inviting Wisdom beings similar in form to myself 

At my crown is a white OM Ò, the essence of Vajra body. At my throat is a red AH A, the essence 

of Vajra speech. At my heart is a blue HUM ^ , the essence of Vajra mind. 

Lights shine forth from the HUM ^ at my heart inviting wisdom deities similar to myself. 

Mantras of the four Door-Keeping Protectors 

OM VAJRA AMKU SHA DZA 

OM VAJRA PASHA HUM 

OM VAJRA PHOTA BAM 

OM VAJRA GANDA HO 

OM SARVA VED AH 

OM SARVA VED HUM 

SAMAYA TAM VAJRA TRISH TAMTRA 

SARVA VED TRISHYA DZA HUM BAM HO 

SAMAYA TAM AH HAM 

SARVA VED 

[3x - this line only] 

Visualizing the mantra of the Principal deity, Maha Vairochana 

OM SARVA VED SARVA AVARANA VISHU DHANI HANA HUM PEY 

[Ring bell] 

At the heart of my divine body I visualize a moon-disc marked by the syllable HUM ^. 

From this HUM ^ arises a five-spoked vajra symbolizing Shunyata without beginning or end. 

[Meditate on this subject] 

At the throat of my divine body I visualize a HRIH h. From this HRIH h arises a red lotus with eight 

petals. On top of the lotus petal that is pointing towards my tongue, I visualize AH A which becomes a 

moon-disc. On this moon-disc I visualize HUM ^ , from which arises a white five-spoked vajra lying 

flat. 

OM VAJRA DZA HA OM SARVA VED SARVA AVARANA VISHU DHANI HANA HUM PEY 

[Imagine this mantra is forming the hub of the white vajra 

lying on the lotus petal at the root of the tongue] 

[3x] 

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December 2003 Version 2 

Receiving Empowerment 

Offerings 

I make the following offerings to the Buddhas: 

Dance, song, food and the pleasure of taste, 

Right action and enjoyments. 

Thus the action mudra is accomplished. 

OM SARVA VED 

On the moon-disc at my heart arises a vishva-vajra, a crossed double vajra. 

SARVA VED 

This crossed double vajra transforms into the original white five-spoked vajra. 

OM BUDDHA ABE SHI DZA OM 

Thus the five Buddha-family mudra gives initiation. 

[5x] 

[meditate on this] 

[meditate on this] 

The Root Mantra of Maha Vairochana 

OM NAMO BAGHAVATI SARVA DU GHATE PARE SHO DHANI RAJAYA 

TATHAGATAYA ARHATE SAMYAK SAM BUDDHAYA 

TAYATHA OM SHODANI SHODHANI SARVA PAPUM VISHU DHANI 

SHUDI VISHUDI SARVA KARMA AVARANA VISHU DHANI SVAHA 

The Essence Mantra of Maha Vairochana 


[21x] 

Making Requests 

Oh Bhagavan Maha Vairochana, omniscient one and all-illuminator, 

You who liberate all beings from the lower realms, 

You are the king of the magnificently All-Enlightened Ones. 

Please grant profound nondual-voidness and clear light realizations as well as 

the realizations of the gradual path to all of us suffering beings. 

Offerings 

OM PRAVA RASE KARAM ARGHAM PRA TE TSA SVAHA 

OM PRAVA RASE KARAM PADYAM PRA TE TSA SVAHA 

OM PRAVA RASE KARAM PUSHPE PRA TE TSA SVAHA 

OM PRAVA RASE KARAM DHUPE PRA TE TSA SVAHA 

OM PRAVA RASE KARAM ALOKE PRA TE TSA SVAHA 

OM PRAVA RASE KARAM GHANDE PRA TE TSA SVAHA 

OM PRAVA RASE KARAM NIUEDE PRA TE TSA SVAHA 

OM PRAVA RASE KARAM SHABDA PRA TE TSA SVAHA 

OM SARVA TATHAGATA SHABDA PUJA MEGHA SAMUDRA 

PHARANA SAMAYE HUM 

[ring bell]


Praise to Bhagavan Maha Vairochana 

I prostrate to you, Maha Vairochana. 

You are Dharmadhatu jnana, the pure wisdom of ultimate reality. 

Bhagavan all-illuminator, destroyer of defilements and accomplisher of all realisations, 

You are in the deep state of samadhi and one with great Mudra. 

Deity Mantric Yoga 

A white OM Ò on the moon-disc at my heart is encircled by the mantra of Maha Vairochana, 

which is white like a pearl mala. Bright light-rays, like flames at the end of the kalpa, emanate 

from the OM Ò and the mantra. The sounds of the mantra come from the mouths of the deity. 


[recite the mantra as much as possible beyond a minimum of 37 times] 

Offerings 




OM PRAVA RASE KARAM DHUPE PRA TE TSA SVAHA 





OM SARVA TATHAGATA SHABDA PUJA MEGHA SAMUDRA PHARANA SAMAYE 

HUM 

[ring bell] 

Praise to Bhagavan Maha Vairochana again 

I prostate to you, Maha Vairochana. 

You are Dharmadhatu jnana, the pure wisdom of ultimate reality. 

Bhagavan all-illuminator, destroyer of defilements and accomplisher of all realizations, 

You are in the deep state of samadhi and one with great Mudra. 

Purification Mantra 

[Now recite the Vajrasattva Mantra 3x, purifying mistakes 

of excess and omissions in one’s sadhana practice ] 

OM VAJRASATTVA SAMAYA, MANU PALAYA 

VARJRASATTVA TVENO PATISHTA 

DRIDHO MEY BHAVA, SUTO SHYO MEY BHAVA 

SUPO SHYO MEY BHAVA, ANURAKTO MEY BHAVA 

SARVA SIDDHI MEY PRAYACCHA 

SARVA KARMA SUCHA MEY, CHITTAM SHRIYAM KURU HUM 

HA HA HA HA HO BHAGAVAN 

SARVA TATHAGATA VAJRA MA MEY MUNCHA 

VAJRA BHAVA MAHA SAMAYA SATTVA AH HUM PEY 

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December 2003 Version 2 

Requesting Forbearance 

Whatever mistakes I have made, including all faults of excess and omission in the sadhana 

practice, all unclear concentration, and all impure recitation of mantra, please be patient with 

all of these. 

Dedication prayer 

Through this sadhana practice may I reach the Enlightenment of Maha Vairochana and may all 

suffering beings reach the same Enlightened state of Maha Vairochana. 

Final offering 




OM PRAVA RASE KARAM PHUPE PRA TE TSA SVAHA 





Departure of Maha Vairochana mandala deities 

OM 

You who fulfill the welfare of all living beings and bestow attainments as they are needed, 

Please return to the Land of the Buddhas and return here again in the future. 

OM VAJRA MU 

The wisdom beings return to their natural abode. 

VAJRA SAMAJA 

The commitment beings dissolve into me. 

[Contemplate Vairochana’s return to his natural abode] 

Prayer for Auspiciousness 

[ring bell near the end of each line] 

May there be the auspiciousness of the five Bhagavan Dhyani Buddhas. 

May there be the auspiciousness of the four great Yums. 

May there be the auspiciousness of the multitudes of Bodhisattvas. 

May there be the auspiciousness of the external and internal offering goddesses 

and the four door-keeping protectors. 

May there be the auspiciousness of the Buddhas of this era of good fortune. 

May there be the auspiciousness of the Shravakas, Pratyekabuddhas and wrathful deities. 

May everything be auspicious so that there may never be any inauspicious signs 

wherever you Buddhas and Bodhisattvas dwell, 

And may there be unbroken goodness increasing like a waxing moon with the bliss and bountiful 

riches of a Buddha-field.


Translator’s Colophon: 

The original text of this short sadhana of Maha Vairochana was written by Ngulchu 

Dharmabhadra. It was adapted and translated by Ven. Zasep Tulku Rinpoche at Golden Eagle 

Hermitage near Nelson, BC, Canada, on September 9 th , 2002. 

Gaden for the West Colophon: 

Under the kind supervision of the Ven. Zasep Tulku Rinpoche, this Gaden for the West version of 

the short Maha Vairochana sadhana has been lightly edited by Daphne Marlatt and Chuck Damov 

and formatted by Peter Lewis. 

Please forward editing suggestions / corrections to chuckdamov@yahoo.ca. 

Please forward formatting suggestions / corrections to peterl@netidea.com . 

Updated versions will be available on the web. 

We dedicate any and all merit of this effort to the study and pure practice of the precious 

Vajrayana teachings. 

1 Syllables 

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A SHORT SADHANA OF MAHA VAIROCHANA - Gaden for the West

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