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Adopting the Spirit of Awakening

1.- æI happily rejoice in the virtue of all sentient beings, which relieves the suffering of the miserable states of existence. May those who suffer dwell in happiness.⁴⁸

2.- æI rejoice in sentient beings' liberation from the suffering of the cycle of existence, and I rejoice in the Protectors' Bodhisattva-hood and Buddhahood.

3.- æI rejoice in the teachers' oceanic expressions of the Spirit of Awakening, which delight and benefit all sentient beings.⁴⁹

4.- æWith folded hands I beseech the Fully Awakened Ones in all directions that they may kindle the light of Dharma for those who fall into suffering owing to confusion.

5.- æWith folded hands I supplicate the Jinas who wish to leave for nirvana that they may stay for countless eons, and that this world may not remain in darkness.

6.- æMay the virtue that I have acquired by doing all this⁵⁰ relieve every suffering of sentient beings.

7.- æMay I be the medicine and the physician for the sick. May I be their nurse until their illness never recurs.⁵¹

8.- æWith showers of food and drink may I overcome the afflictions of hunger and thirst. May I become food and drink during times of famine.

9.- æMay I be an inexhaustible treasury for the destitute. With various forms of assistance may I remain in their presence.

10.- æFor the sake of accomplishing the welfare of all sentient beings, I freely give up my body, enjoyments, and all my virtues of the three times.

11.- æSurrendering everything is nirvana, and my mind seeks nirvana. If I must surrender everything, it is better that I give it to sentient beings.⁵²

12.- æFor the sake of all beings I have made this body pleasureless. Let them continually beat it, revile it, and cover it with filth.⁵³

13.- æLet them play with my body. Let them laugh at it and ridicule it. What does it matter to me? I have given my body to them.⁵⁴

14.- æLet them have me perform deeds that are conducive to their happiness.⁵⁵ Whoever resorts to me, may it never be in vain.

15.- æFor those who have resorted to me and have an angry or unkind thought, may even that always be the cause for their accomplishing every goal.⁵⁶

16.- æMay those who falsely accuse me, who harm me, and who ridicule me all partake of Awakening.

17.- æMay I be a protector for those who are without protectors, a guide for travelers, and a boat, a bridge, and a ship for those who wish to cross over.

18.- æMay I be a lamp for those who seek light, a bed for those who seek rest, and may I be a servant for all beings who desire a servant.⁵⁷

19.- æTo all sentient beings may I be a wish-fulfilling gem, a vase of good fortune, an efficacious mantra, a great medication, a wish-fulfilling tree, and a wish-granting cow.

20.- æJust as earth and other elements are useful in various ways to innumerable sentient beings dwelling throughout infinite space,⁵⁸

21.- æSo may I be in various ways a source of life for the sentient beings present throughout space until they are all liberated.

22.- æJust as the Sugatas of old adopted the Spirit of Awakening, and just as they properly conformed to the practice of the Bodhisattvas... ä_æ

55. Tibetan: Let them do anything that does not bring them harm.

56. Tibetan: Whether they look at me with anger or admiration, may this always be a cause for their accomplishing all their goals.

57. Tibetan: May I be an island for those seeking an island, a lamp for those seeking light, a bed for those seeking repose, and a servant for all those beings desiring a servant.

58. Tibetan: Like the great elements such as earth and space, may 1 always serve as the basis of the various requisites of life for innumerable sentient beings.

48. Tibetan: I happily rejoice in the virtue done by all sentient beings, which relieves the suffering of the miserable states of existence and in the well-being of those subject to suffering. This verse is followed in the Tibetan by an additional line, not found in the Sanskrit version, and is translated here in the following way: I rejoice in the accumulated virtue that acts as a cause for enlightenment.

49. Tibetan: I happily rejoice in the oceanic virtue of cultivating the Spirit of Awakening, which delights and benefits all sentient beings.

50. The Patijika, p. 38: Worship, disclosure of sin, rejoicing in virtue, etc.

51. Tibetan: For as long as beings are ill and until their illnesses are cured, may I be their physician and their medicine and their nurse.

52. Tibetan: As a result of surrendering everything, there is nirvana, [and] my mind seeks nirvana. Surrendering eveiything at oncethis is the greatest gift to sentient beings.

53. Tibetan: I have already given this body to all beings for them to do with it what they like. So at any time they may kill it, revile it, or beat it as they wish,

54. Tibetan: Even if they play with my body, or use it as a source of jest or ridicule, since my body has already been given up, why should I hold it dear?