Preparation for Natural Disasters
“Guru Rinpoche said that from time to time, disasters occur in the world due to the collective force of negativities within people’s disturbed minds. According to Buddhism, the elements of earth, water, fire and air that constitute the phenomenal world are interdependently connected to the mind. Because of this, outer catastrophes are the results of disturbed states of mind.” — Tsoknyi Rinpoche
The practices that one can do for protection from disasters from the elements are:
1. Practice of Ksitigarbha (This practice has been recommended by Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche for our degenerate times):
(a) Reciting his name in Chinese or in Tibetan
Tibetan Phonetics are as follows : “JANG CHUB SEM PA SEM PA CHEN PO SA YI NYING PO LA CHAG TSAL LO / CHO DO KYAB SU CHI O”
which means “I prostrate, praise, make offerings and take refuge in the Bodhisattva of great mind, Earth Essence Bodhisattva (Ksitigarbha)”
(b) Reciting his mantra that eradicates fixed karma
OM PRA MA NI DA NI SO HA
One can listen to the recording here http://www.ompramanidanisoha.com/audio/dizang_mdy3.mp3
2. Practice of Medicine Buddha
Reciting the names of the seven Medicine Buddhas
Chom dän day de zhin sheg pa dra chom pa yang dag par dzog päi sang gye tshän leg par yong drag päl gyi gyäl po la chag tshäl lo chö do
kyab su chhi wo
To the bhagavan, tathagata, arhat, fully enlightened Buddha
Renowned Glorious King of Excellent Signs (Suparikirtitanamasriraja)
I prostrate, offer, and go for refuge.
Chom dän day de zhin sheg pa dra chom pa yang dag par dzog päi sang gye rin po che dang da wa dang pädmä rab tu gyän pa khäy pa zi ji dra
yang kyi gyäl po la chag tshäl lo chö do kyab su chi wo
To the bhagavan, tathagata, arhat, fully enlightened Buddha
King of Melodious Sound, Brilliant Radiance of Skill, Adorned
with Jewels, Moon, and Lotus (Svaragosaraja) I prostrate, offer,
and go for refuge.
Chom dän däy de zhin sheg pa dra chom pa yang dag par dzog päi sang gye ser zang dri me rin chhen nang tül zhug drub pa la chag tshäl lo
chö do kyab su chi wo
To the bhagavan, tathagata, arhat, fully enlightened Buddha
Stainless Excellent Gold, Great Jewel Who Accomplishes All Vows
(Suvarnabhadravimala), I prostrate, offer, and go for refuge.
Chom dän däy de zhin sheg pa dra chom pa yang dag par dzog päi
sang gye nya ngän me chhog päl la chag tshäl lo chhö do kyab su
chi wo
To the bhagavan, tathagata, arhat, fully enlightened Buddha
Supreme Glory Free from Sorrow (Asokottamasriraja) I prostrate,
offer, and go for refuge.
Chom dän däy de zhin sheg pa dra chom pa yang dag par dzog päi
sang gye chhö drag gya tshöi jang la chhag tshäl lo chö do kyab
su chi wo
To the bhagavan, tathagata, arhat, fully enlightened Buddha
Melodious Ocean of Proclaimed Dharma (Dharmakirtisagara)
I prostrate, offer, and go for refuge.
Chom dän däy de zhin sheg pa dra chom pa yang dag par dzog päi sang gye chö gya tsho chhog gi lö nam par röl pa ngön par khyen päi gyäl
po la chag tshäl lo chö do kyab su chi wo
To the bhagavan, tathagata, arhat, fully enlightened Buddha Delightful
King of Clear Knowing, Supreme Wisdom of an Ocean of
Dharma (Abhijyaraja) I prostrate, offer, and go for refuge.
Chom dän däy de zhin sheg pa dra chom pa yang dag par dzog päi sang gye män gyi la bai dur yai ö kyi gyäl po la chhag tshäl lo chö do kyab su
chi wo
To the bhagavan, tathagata, arhat, fully enlightened Buddha
Medicine Guru, King of Lapis Light (Bhaisajyaguru) I
prostrate, offer, and go for refuge.
or recite the long dharani of Medicine Buddha
OM NAMO BHAGAVATE BHAI-KHAN-DZE / GURU BAIDURYA /
PRABHA RAJAYA / TATHAGATAYA / ARHATE SAMYAKSAM
BUDDHAYA / TADYATHA / OM BHAI-KHAN-DZE BHAI-KHAN-DZE MAHA
BHAI-KHAN-DZE / RAJA SAMUDGATE SVAHA
or recite the short mantra of Medicine Buddha
TADYATHA / OM BHAI-KHAN-DZE BHAI-KHAN-DZE MAHA BHAI-KHAN-DZE / RAJA SAMUDGATE SVAHA
3. Practice of the deity Ushnisha-Sitatapatra or White Umbrella
Mantra:
TADYATHA OM ANALE ANALE KHASAME KHASAME BHAIRE BHAIRE SAUME SAUME SARVA BUDDHA ADHISHTHANA ADHISHTHITE SVAHA
and
OM SARVA TATHAGATA USHNISHA SITATAPATRE HUM PHAT HUM MAMA HUM NI SVAHA
[N.B.: The above mantras can be combined into one as follows:
TADYATHA OM ANALE ANALE KHASAME KHASAME BHAIRE BHAIRE SAUME SAUME SARVA BUDDHA ADHISHTHANA ADHISHTHITE SARVA TATHAGATA USHNISHA SITATAPATRE HUM PHAT HUM MAMA HUM NI SVAHA]
4. Padmasambhava / Guru Rinpoche Prayer to remove obstacles
Tibetan:
Dusum Sangye Guru Rinpoche
Ngodrub Kundag Dewa Chenpo Shab
Barchey Kunsel Dudul Dragpo Tsal
Solwa Debso Jingyi Labtu Sol
Chinang Sangwey Barchey Shiwa Dang
Sampa Lhungyi Drubpar Jingyi Lob
English:
Guru Rinpoche, Buddha of the three times,
Lord of all siddhis who is the one of great bliss,
Dispeller of all obstacles, wrathful tamer of Mara,
We supplicate you; please grant your blessings.
Grant your blessings that outer, inner and secret obstacles be pacified
And that our intentions be spontaneously accomplished
It would be very beneficial to recite the “Dusum Sangye Guru Rinpoche” supplication, also known as Buddha of the Three Times. This prayer has the power to remove the outer obstacles created by the four elements, the inner obstacles of physical sickness due to energy imbalance in our body, and the secret obstacles of depression and neuroses stemming from our grasping mind. — Tsoknyi Rinpoche
5. Take 24 hours sojong precepts
6. Recite Om Mani Padme Hung and meditate on Avalokiteshvara and taking-and-giving (tonglen)
7. Do Lion-faced Dakini or Sengdongma or Singhamukha practice
When doing the prayers to the deities such as Lion-Face Dakini, etc., visualize the deity and then recite the mantra with full confidence. Rely upon the deity, thinking that the deity has all the power and has manifested for us, sentient beings, in different aspects for different purposes, for sentient beings who have that karma. – Lama Zopa Rinpoche
