A Tormented Wail, Quickly Drawing Forth the Blessing of the Guru, the Inseparable Three Kayas

LA MA KHYEN / LA MA KHYEN / LA MA KHYEN

Guru, think of me. Guru, think of me. Guru, think of me.

SANG GYÄ KÜN GYI YE SHE DE CHHEN CHHÖ KUR RO CHIG
DE NYI DRIN CHÄN LA MA KÜN GYI RANG ZHIN THAR THUG
LA MA CHHÖ KYI KU LA NYING NÄ SÖLWA DEB SO
DI CHHI BAR DO KÜN TU DRÄLME JE SU ZUNG SHIG

The transcendental wisdom of all buddhas, one taste in the great bliss dharmakaya,
Is itself the ultimate nature of all kind gurus.
I beseech you, guru, dharmakaya,
Please guide me always without separation, in this life, future lives, and the bardo.

YE SHE GYU MÄI RANG NANG GYÄLWA YÄN LAG DÜN DÄN
DE NYI DRIN CHÄN LA MA KÜN GYI TRÜLZHI THAR THUG
LA MA LONG CHÖ DZOG KUR NYING NÄ SÖLWA DEB SO
DI CHHI BAR DO KÜN TU DRÄLME JE SU ZUNG SHIG

Wisdom’s own illusory appearance, the conqueror with seven branches, 
Is itself the ultimate basis of emanation of all kind gurus. 
I beseech you, guru, saṃbhogakaya,
Please guide me always without separation, in this life, future lives, and the bardo.

JI NYE DÜL JÄI KHAM ZHIN NA TSHOG TRÜL PÄI RÖL GAR
DE NYI DRIN CHÄN LA MA LONG CHÖ DZOG KÜI NAM GYUR
LA MA TRÜL PÄI KU LA NYING NÄ SÖL WA DEB SO
DI CHHI BAR DO KÜN TU DRÄL ME JE SU ZUNG SHIG

The play of various emanations, suiting the dispositions of the many to be subdued, 
Is itself the behavior of the saṃbhogakaya of the kind gurus.
I beseech you, guru, nirmaṇakaya,
Please guide me always without separation, in this life, future lives, and the bardo.

KU SUM YER ME RÖL PA LA MÄI ZUG SU SHAR WA
DE NYI DRIN CHÄN LA MA KÜN GYI NGO WO CHIG NYI
KU SUM YER ME LA MAR NYING NÄ SÖLWA DEB SO
DI CHHI BAR DO KÜN TU DRÄL ME JE SU ZUNG SHIG

The play of the inseparable three kayas, appearing in the form of the guru,
Is itself one with the very essence of all kind gurus.
I beseech you, guru, the inseparable three kayas,
Please guide me always without separation, in this life, future lives, and the bardo.

YI DAM ZHI THRO RAB JAM KÜN KYANG LA MÄI RANG ZHIN 
DRIN CHÄN LA MA NYI LÄ YI DAM LOG SU ME PÄ
YI DAM KÜN DÜ LA MAR NYING NÄ SÖL WA DEB SO
DI CHHI BAR DO KÜN TU DRÄL ME JE SU ZUNG SHIG

All the infinite peaceful and wrathful yidams are also the guru’s nature
And since no yidam exists apart from the kind guru,
I beseech you, guru, who comprises all yidams,
Please guide me always without separation, in this life, future lives, and the bardo.

SANG GYÄ KÜN GYI CHI ZUG LA MÄI NAM PAR SHAR WÄ
DRIN CHÄN LA MA NYI LÄ SANG GYÄ LOG SU MI MIG
SANG GYÄ KÜN DÜ LA MAR NYING NÄ SÖLWA DEB SO
DI CHHI BAR DO KÜN TU DRÄL ME JE SU ZUNG SHIG

The ordinary form of all buddhas arises in the aspect of the guru,
Therefore, no buddhas are observed apart from the kind guru.
I beseech you, guru, who comprises all buddhas,
Please guide me always without separation, in this life, future lives, and the bardo.

GYÄL KÜN KHYEN TSE NÜ PÄI RANG ZUG LA MAR SHAR WÄ
PHAG CHHOG RIG SUM GÖN KYANG DRIN CHÄN LA MA NYI YIN
RIG SUM CHIG DÜ LA MAR NYING NÄ SÖLWA DEB SO
DI CHHI BAR DO KÜN TU DRÄL ME JE SU ZUNG SHIG

The very form of all conquerors’ wisdom, compassion, and power arises as the guru,
Therefore, the supreme arya saviors of the three types¹ are also the kind guru.
I beseech you, guru, who combines the three types in one,
Please guide me always without separation, in this life, future lives, and the bardo.

RIG GYA RIG NGA RIG SUM JI NYE TRO YANG LA MA
DE KÜN GANG DU DU WÄI KHYAB DAG NYI KYANG LA MA
LA MA RIG KÜN DAG POR NYING NÄ SÖLWA DEB SO
DI CHHI BAR DO KÜN TU DRÄLME JE SU ZUNG SHIG

The hundred, five, and three types, however many elaborated, are the guru.
The pervasive master in whom they are all included is also the guru.
I beseech you, guru, as master of all the types of buddhas,
Please guide me always without separation, in this life, future lives, and the bardo.

SANG GYÄ CHHÖ DANG GEN DÜN KÜN GYI JE PO LA MA
CHIG CHHOG KYAB SUM KÜN DÜ DRIN CHÄN LA MA NYI YIN
KYAB KÜN DÜ ZHÄLLA MAR NYING NÄ SÖL WA DEB SO
DI CHHI BAR DO KÜN TU DRÄL ME JE SU ZUNG SHIG

The creator of all buddhas, Dharma, and Saṅgha is the guru.
The one who combines all three refuges is the kind guru.
I beseech you, guru, whose presence combines all refuges,
Please guide me always without separation, in this life, future lives, and the bardo.

SANG GYÄ KÜN GYI RANG ZUG LA MÄI NAM PAR SHAR NÄ 
TSE WÄ JE SU DZIN TSHÜL SAM KYIN LA MA DRÄN NO

Thinking of how the actual form of all buddhas arises in the aspect of the guru
And mercifully guides me—reminds me of you, guru.

SANG GYÄ KÜN GYI PANG PÄI KÄL CHHÄ NYAM THAG DAG LA
MA NOR LAM ZANG TÄN TSHÜL SAM KYIN LA MA DRÄN NO

Thinking of how you show the excellent unmistaken path to me,
An unfortunate wretched being, abandoned by all the buddhas—reminds me of you, guru.

NYE KA DÖN CHHEI TEN ZANG KHE NYEN KYI DUG DAM GA
MA NOR NYING PO LEN DÖ SAM KYIN LA MA DRÄN NO

Thinking of this excellent body, highly meaningful and difficult to obtain,
And wishing to take its essence with unerring choice between gain and loss, happiness and suffering—reminds me of you, guru.

LO BUR CHHI WÄI JIG CHHEN RANG GI THOG TU BAB NÄ
CHI JA TÖL ME NGANG TSHÜL SAM KYIN LA MA DRÄN NO

Thinking of the experience of not knowing what to do when the great fear of death
Suddenly descends upon me—reminds me of you, guru.

TSHE DII PHÜN TSHOG KÜN DANG DA TA LO BUR DRÄL NÄ
CHIG PUR DRO WÄI NGANG TSHÜL SAM KYIN LA MA DRÄN NO

Thinking of the experience of just now suddenly separating from all the perfections of this life
And going on alone—reminds me of you, guru.

JIG RUNG NYÄL WÄI ME NANG RANG LÜ JEN PAR LHUNG NÄ
ZÖ LAG ME PÄI NGANG TSHÜL SAM KYIN LA MA DRÄN NO

Thinking of the experience of my naked body falling into the terrifying fires of hell
And being unable to bear it—reminds me of you, guru.

KÄL CHHÄ YI DAG NÄ SU ZÄ KOM CHHU THIG ME PÄI
DUG NGÄL NGÖN SUM NYONG TSHÜL SAM KYIN LA MA DRÄN NO

Thinking of how the suffering of hunger and thirst, without a drop of water,
Is directly experienced in the unfortunate preta realm—reminds me of you, guru.

LÜN MONG DÜ DROR GYUR NÄ SHIN TU MI DUG KÄL NGÄN
DE DRA RANG THOG NYONG TSHÜL SAM KYIN LA MA DRÄN NO

Thinking of how very repulsive and wretched it is to become a foolish stupid animal
And what it would be like to experience it myself—reminds me of you, guru.

NYAM THAG NGÄN SONG NÄ DER DA TA LHUNG LA NYE WÄ
DI LÄ KYOB PÄI KYAB SHIG SAM KYIN LA MA DRÄN NO

Thinking of a refuge to protect me from this,
Since I am now about to fall into the wretched states of bad migration—reminds me of you, guru.

KAR NAG LÄ KYI NYONG WA ZHIB CHING THRA WÄI JUG DOG
JI ZHIN LAG LEN DEB TSHÜL SAM KYIN LA MA DRÄN NO

Thinking of how white and black actions are experienced
And of how to practice thorough and precise engagement and restraint—reminds me of you, guru.

THA ME SI PÄI TSÖN KHANG DUG NGÄL KÜN GYI JUNG KHUNG
DI LÄ THAR PÄI THAB SHIG SAM KYIN LA MA DRÄN NO

Thinking of a method to escape this prison of endless existences,
The source of all suffering—reminds me of you, guru.

JIG RUNG SI TSHÖI LONG DU KHA KHYAB NYAM THAG MA GÄN
LHUNG ZHING NAR WÄI NGANG TSHÜL SAM KYIN LA MA DRÄN NO

Thinking of the plight of my pitiful old mothers, pervasive as space, 
Fallen amidst the fearful ocean of saṃsara and tormented there—reminds me of you, guru.

DE CHHIR LAM TSO SUM DANG RIM NYI ZAB MÖI NYAM NYONG
TSÖL ME GYÜ LA KYE WAR LA MÄ JIN GYI LOB SHIG

Therefore, guru, please bless me to generate in my mental continuum
Effortless experience of the profound three principles of the path and the two stages.

SHUG DRAG NGE JUNG SAM PÄ THAR PÄI TSÄN SA ZIN CHHIR
LAB SUM TSE CHIG DRUB LA TSÖN PAR JIN GYI LOB SHIG

Please bless me to strive in one-pointed practice of the three trainings with the intense thought of renunciation
In order to reach the secure state of liberation.

DRO KÜN RANG NYI CHIG PÜ DRÖL WÄI LHAG SAM KHUR GYI
RIN CHHEN JANG CHHUB SEM CHHOG JONG PAR JIN GYI LOB SHIG

Please bless me to train in the precious supreme bodhicitta with the special attitude,
Taking responsibility to liberate all migrators by myself alone.

LAB CHHEN GYÄLSÄ CHÖ PÄI PHA THAR DRÖ PÄI NYING TOB
GYÄL WA GYA TSHÖI JE SU JUG PAR JIN GYI LOB SHIG

Please bless me to follow after the ocean of conquerors with the will to cross
To the very end of the great waves of deeds of the conquerors’ sons.

TONG DANG TEN JUNG NANG TONG CHIG DROG CHIG TU CHHAR WÄI
THA DRÄL TA WÄI YANG TSE TOG PAR JIN GYI LOB SHIG

Please bless me to realize the supreme view, free of extremes,
In which emptiness and dependent arising, appearance and emptiness, complement each other.

ZHI YI KYE CHHI BAR DO KU SUM LAM DU KHYER WÄI
MIN JE NYAM NYONG NYUR DU KYE WAR JIN GYI LOB SHIG

Please bless me quickly to generate the experience of taking the three kayas into the path,
Ripening the bases of birth, death, and bardo.

LUNG SEM U MAR THIM PÄI GA ZHI TONG ZHII RÖL WA
GYU MÄI LHA KU NYI DU CHHAR WAR JIN GYI LOB SHIG

Please bless me to arise as the illusory divine body itself,
The play of the four joys and four emptinesses of the wind and mind absorbed in the central channel.

ZUNG DZIN SHÜN PA BÜ PÄI NYUG MÄI RANG ZHÄL JEN PA
NÄ LUG DÖN GYI LA MA JÄLWAR JIN GYI LOB SHIG

Please bless me to meet the ultimate guru—the bare face of my innate mind
With the covering of perception of true existence and perceiving it as true removed.

DRIB NYI TRÖ PA ZÄ PÄI DE CHHEN CHHÖ KÜI LONG DU
RANG DANG LA MÄI SANG SUM CHIG TU JIN GYI LOB SHIG

Please bless me to be one with your three secrets, guru, in the vast dharmakaya of great bliss,
Which has exhausted the elaborations of the two obscurations.

DOR NA JANG CHHEN BAR DU NYING Ü DRÄL ME ZHUG NÄ 
PHA JE BU YI ZIN PAR TSE WÄ JIN GYI LOB SHIG

In short, please abide inseparably in the center of my heart until the great enlightenment
And mercifully bless me, the child, to follow after you, the father.

LA MA KHYEN / LA MA KHYEN / LA MA KHYEN

Guru, think of me. Guru, think of me. Guru, think of me.

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After reciting either the extensive or brief version of Calling the Guru from Afar, recite the following request:

PÄL DÄN LA MÄI NAM PAR THAR PA LA
KÄ CHIG TSAM YANG LOG TA MI KYE SHING
CHI DZÄ LEG PAR THONG WÄI MÖ GÜ KYI
LA MÄI JIN LAB SEM LA JUG PAR SHOG

May I not give rise to heresy for even a second
In regard to the actions of the glorious guru.
May I see whatever actions are done as the stainless [actions of a buddha].
With this devotion, may I receive the guru’s blessings in my heart.

Then recite the following verse and meditate on the guru entering your heart.

PÄL DÄN TSA WÄI LA MA RIN PO CHHE
DAG GI NYING KHAR PÄ DÄI TENG ZHUG LA
KA DRIN CHHEN PÖI GO NÄ JE ZUNG TE
KU SUNG THUG KYI NGÖ DRUB TSÄLDU SÖL

Magnificent and precious root guru,
Please abide on the lotus and moon at my heart,
Guide me with your great kindness,
And grant me the realizations of your holy body, speech, and mind.

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Colophons

Colophon for Calling the Guru from Afar (Extensive Version):

Original Colophon:

Composed by Phabongka Tulku at the great insistent request, and with the offering of three hundred silver coins, of Gelong Losang Rabyä of Bompa in the faraway area of Tsawa. The scribing was done by the monk Losang Dorje from the area of Den.

Publisher’s Colophon:

This translation of Phabongkha Dechen Nyingpo’s Calling the Guru from Afar: A Tormented Wail, Quickly Drawing Forth the Blessings of the Guru, the Inseparable Three Kayas (bla ma rgyang 'bod sku gsum dbyer med bla ma'i byin rlabs byung 'dren gdung dbyangs) was translated by Ven. George Churinoff and extracted from Nyung Nä: The Means of Achievement of the Eleven-Faced Great Compassionate One, Avalokiteshvara, Boston: Wisdom Publications, 1995. Permission kindly granted by the translator to replace “lama” with “guru,” and “families” with “types,” 2016. First line revised by Lama Zopa Rinpoche, 2014 and 2018.

Colophon for Calling the Guru from Afar (Brief Version):

Translated by Lama Zopa Rinpoche in 1985, transcribed and edited by Ven. Thubten Dondrub. Lama Zopa Rinpoche thinks that this version of Calling the Guru from Afar (bla ma rgyang 'bod) was composed by Kyabje Trulshik Rinpoche’s root guru, Rongphu Sanggye (Ngawang Tenzin Norbu, 1867–1940/42).

Colophon for the final two verses:

Translated by Lama Zopa Rinpoche. Lightly edited by Ven. Constance Miller. Revised January 2003 by Kendall Magnussen, FPMT Education Services. Lightly revised based on the Tibetan by Ven. Joan Nicell, FPMT Translation Services, 2015. First verse revised by Lama Zopa Rinpoche, July 2020.

Colophon for this compilation:

Phonetics checked and amended by Ven. Joan Nicell, FPMT Education Services, June 2016. Sanskrit terms transliterated by FPMT Education Services, December 2020.

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Notes

¹ Lama Zopa Rinpoche prefers to translate rig (Tib. rigs) in rig sum (Tib. rigs gsum), rig nga (Tib. rigs lnga), and rig gya (Tib. rigs brgya) as “types” rather than as “families” or as “lineages.” [Return to text]