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The Sadhana of the Uncommon Mahakalafrom the Shangpa Tradition

Ocean of Siddhis of the White Mahakala

Ewam Choden Tibetan Buddhist Center254 Cambridge Ave., Kensington, California 94708

(510) 527-7363, www.ewamchoden.org

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© 2001 by Ewam Choden Tibetan Buddhist Center, Kensington, California.Compiled and translated from traditional sources by Lama Kunga Tharts Rinpoche;

formatted by Wolfgang Saumweber, 2/2004.

Again, light emanates out sharply and touches the hearts of the surrounding dei-ties, and effortlessly their minds are subdued.

All the siddhis of the universe are collected together, and one must now think that one is surrounded with wealth the size of Mount Sumeru.

Light is extended and touches the hearts of kings, wealthy people, the famous, the well-established families, men, women, all dakinis, wealth gods, and all their minds are subdued.

Once again, repeat the 13-syllable mantra (you may add “OM” at the beginning):

OM GURU MAHAKALA HARI NI SA SIDDHI DZA

This is called “the essence of subduing the three realms.” If one is interested in accomplishing this extensive meditation, one must repeat the mantra 300,000 times without the interference of other words. The highest result of this practice is that one will see Guru Mahakala. The mediocre result is that Guru Mahakala will appear to one in visions. The lesser result is that he will appear to one in dreams.

The other good signs of accomplishing the siddhis is that one will meet in dreams and visions lamas at the cemetery, or one will receive things from yoginis, or one will dream that one is giving initiations to all sentient beings, or there will be a sun rise, or one will dream about wearing a white cloth or finding a skull cup or jewel. These, then are the signs of accomplishing the practice. One will then become rejuvenated.

Dedication and Sharing of MeritsThrough our praise and supplication to you,May sickness, poverty, and warfare subside Wherever we may be, And may Dharma and good omens increase.

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OfferingsTo make the sense offerings (outer offerings), one must say

GURU MAHAKALA HA RI NI SA SIDDHI DZA SAPARIWARA ARGHAM PADAM PUSHPE DHUPE ALOKE GANDHE NAIVIDYA SHABDA RUPA SHABDA GANDHE RASA PRATISHTHA SOHA

One must then press the thumb and ring fingers of the left hand together, dip the ring finger in the cup of offering water, recite the names of the lineage gurus and at the end say,

OM GURU MAHAKALA HARI NI SA SIDDHI DZA

Then say,

OM AH HUM while sprinkling water as an offering.

Mantra Recitation and VisualizationIn the heart of the red Dakini, around the rim of the thiglé are lined up counter-clockwise the syllables of the mantra (GU RU MA HA KA LA HA RI NI SA SI DHI DZA) like a rosary of red coral. From these syllables shine forth red lights—very sharply, like razors. These rays draw all the virtues of the world and beyond effortlessly. Then these rays return and absorb into the thiglé.

Respectfully recite the following phrase to Guru Mahakala:

LAMA GONKAR YERME LADAGNI KUPAY KYABSU CHIDAGTANG SEM CHEN TAM CHAY KYINGYON MONG MA LU SEWAR SHOG.

GONPO LAMA YERME LADAGNI KUPAY KYABSU CHI DAGNI SEM CHEN TAM CHAY KYI OL PONG MA LU SEWAR SHOG

White Mahakala, teacher and protector, With respect I pay homage to you. For myself and all sentient beings, May all obstacles be removed.

Protector and teacher, With respect, I pay homage to you. For myself and all sentient beings,

PreliminariesSay the Refuge Prayer and Four Immeasurables, then:

NAMO! Guru Mahakala! Dakini!

The person who is interested in the Vajrayana and especially devoted to this particu-lar Mahakala, in order to ripen his mind, should obtain the initiation—especially the initiation of Mahakala as well as the common and uncommon torma initiations. Afterwards, he must pray to Guru Mahakala for many months and years.

The practitioner should arrange extensive tsog offerings. He must first please the Guru and then receive the complete abhisheka. He must make the necessary altar arrangements in a suitable place. Then, sitting on a comfortable seat, he must do the prayers of Refuge and the Mind of Bodhichitta (the Four Boundless Minds).

The practitioner must then say:

“I shall free all sentient beings from poverty and liberate them to the state of Buddhahood. In order to do that, I shall meditate upon the wish-fulfilling Tathagata (the White Mahakala).”

VisualizationIn the center on one’s own heart is the undissipating drop of essence (thiglé) which is red, clear and round and the size of a large bean. In the center of the thiglé is a mercury white letter HUM. (This should be visual-ized clearly. )

From this letter HUM light rays emanate making offerings to the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, removing all poverty of sentient beings and liberating them to the state of Guru Mahakala.

The light reabsorbs into and becomes inseparable from one’s heart. Because of this inseparability, all appearances turn into the triangle—the Source of Dharma. It is clear like crystal. Flames burn on its rim. In its center is the letter BAM. The letter BAM turns into an eight-petalled lotus seat. In the center of the lotus seat is the wish-fulfilling conqueror Mahakala, whose body is like a conch shell. His complexion is reddish-white.

He has one face, six arms and three eyes. His face is somewhat wrathful but at the same time also smiling. His mouth is slightly opened with fangs visible inside. The hair is orange in color and flowing upwards. In the center of his forehead he has a yellow-colored dot. On his head he wears a tiara of five skulls. He also wears a necklace of fifty freshly cut heads.

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Of his six hands, in his upper right hand he holds a blue crooked knife raised in the air, in the second right hand—at his heart—the jewel known as “King of Gems”, and in the third right hand a sandalwood damaru. In his upper left hand he holds the three-pronged staff (tri-shula), in the second left—at his left thigh—a great skull cup filled with nectar and the vessel containing precious jewels, and in the third left hand a vajra lasso with hooks.

He also wears a precious crown, earrings, necklace, armlets, bracelets, anklets, rings, a jeweled apron and a shawl of elephant skin. His lower garment is a skirt made of tiger skin with a belt made of golden bell-tassels. He is ornated with the garments of the deities. Appearing as though he has just arrived from the great cemetery of Silwai Tsal he looks like he is about to sit down.

Under his feet is Ganesha (the elephant-faced one). Ganesha’s right hand holds a turnip which he is eating. His left hand is holding a mongoose that is vomiting jewels as gifts to the yogis. From every opening of Ganesha’s body jewels are being exuded. Thus, Ganesha has been subdued.

Mahakala is surrounded by the flames of wisdom as well as innumerable power-ful dakinis and all other wealth deities (such as yakshas). On top of his head sits Lama Dorje Chang who is red in color. He is the source of wealth. He is smiling. His right hand holds a wish-fulfilling gem and his left a bell to his hip. His legs are crossed in the vajra posture.

At Mahakala’s heart is the powerful Dakini who is red like a ruby. She is sixteen years old. Her right hand holds a hook and her left hand holds a skull cup filled with nectar. Her legs are in the gesture of dancing, her three eyes searching the sky. She controls the three realms and surveys the universe.

In her heart is the nature of the Tathagata manifested as the red thiglé. Light rays emanate from it towards the cemetery, Silwai Tsal, to the single sandalwood tree where Guru Mahakala sits surrounded by the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas and the wealth deities, etc. They are invoked and come playing instruments and dancing.

Prayer to White MahakalaHUM! From the cemetery filled with sandalwood trees, You who are like a white cloud moved by the wind, The supreme lord protector who is the manifestation of Avalokiteshvara, The one who brings the rain of wealth, please come here!

You, the great deity, the Guru who is the wish-fulfilling Jewel, The one who controls the entire world in the ten directions, Together with the assembly of dakinis Who bestow siddhis on the excellent yogis, please come here!

By the act of your compassion, Vibrate the wealth in the world and the universe beyond that.Bestow without hindrance all wealthAnd remove the poverty of sentient beings!

InvocationOM GURU MAHAKALA HA RI NI SA SIDDHI DZA

Repeat the last syllable “DZA” 21 times.

Then say:

DZA HUM BAM HO

(which causes the Yeshe Sempas—the Wisdom Deities which have been invoked—to dissolve into the Damstig Sempa—the Commitment Being —yourself).

Then recite the following prayer:

In the center of the burning mountain Of the white source of the dharma, The triangle, on top of the luminous mandala of brilliant light, On top of the white lotus seat, You whose body is like a snow mountain with six arms, I pay homage to you from the depth of my heart.