Certificate of Recognition of Buddha Maitreya
by Dragkar Rinpoche, Dzamling Rinpoche and
Tashi Rinpoche
of Lithang, Tibet
Translation of the Certificate
With my body, speech and mind I pay respect to the precious order of scholars,
the noble, dedicated, learned ones in the opulent lineage of the three trainings
and the seven jewels, to the chief deities of meditation (yi-dam) and the oath-bound
dharma-protectors who facilitate the practice of meditators in accord with dharma,
and to the glorious Buddha Maitreya, i.e. the Precious Guru (Padmasambhava). And
seated before the sublime Sha-pay Ge-lek (zhabs-pad dge-legs) of the conquering
throne, emitting thousands of rays of light, I, Go-tö (sgo stod) Tulku Ngawang,
with fingers joyfully clasped with undivided faith and head bowed sincerely beseech
them.
The root and foundation of all those who have appeared for the welfare and benefit
of beings, the incomparable sugar palm tree, is in general the precious teachings
that have come down to us. Specifically, there are the precious teachings, like
liquid gold, that unify sutra and tantra, comprising scripture, reasoning and
examination, well composed and edited by brave Tsong-kha-pa Lo-sang-drag-pa (blo-bzang
grags-pa) of the east, the Dharma-king of the three realms, and his three disciples.
Those teachings have spread through all places, times and circumstances, and they
will expand and continue for a long time.
The topknot among holders of those teachings, the Dharma-lord who guides gods
and men to sublimity, the all-knowing and all seeing, the reverend good and
wise intellect with Manjusri's power of speech, the ocean who upholds the teachings
(bstan-'dzin rgya-mtsho, the 14th Dalai Lama), initiator of the three worlds,
the peerless in glory, and the lord of the eastern paradise Sukhavati, the Pan-chen,
all-knowing and all-seeing, the good, precious (rin-po-che) in the highest rebirth,
and Dharma-lord Manjusri, the Buddha's representative, the precious Galden Monastery
throne-holder (dga'-ldan khri rin-po-che), and the two-fold Dharma-lord of the
east and the northeast, the universal master of the hundred families, the lord
of the wheel (Cakra-samvara), upholder of the Buddha's bodies, the lord of refuge
Ling-trul (gling sprul) Rin-po-che, the rebirth of the great Vajradhara, best
of the good, and the greatly exalted embodiment of the kindness of the Buddhas
of the three times, the lord of refuge Trichang (khri-byang) Rinpoche, also
the rebirth of Vajradhara, the highest rebirth, best of the good, and the glorious
Buddha Maitreya (byams-pa), also known as the previous guru (Padmasambhava,
gu-ru rin-po-che), and all the holy persons who hold the authentic teachings
connection to the middle way Dharma, wherever they abide, untouched by the slightest
imperfection to the three secret aspects of their bodies, unwavering, the sages
(rishis) who through countless lives are firm in the essence and wishing great
blessings, filling all regions of the world with their messages, and the teacher
of how to be absorbed into the realm of Dharma, the ultimate intention, the
excellent Buddha Maitreya, born physically into the world and demonstrates how
to [support? verb obscured by Buddha Centre stamp], to foster and to protect
the Buddha's teaching, both general and specific, with great waves of transcendent
kindness in this land of snow mountains (Tibet).
Relying on that and with right respect for that, Rinpoche and Drag-kar Tulku
(brag-dkar sprul-sku), and Dzam-ling ('dzam-gling) Rinpoche, and Tulku Tashi
(sprul-sku bkra-shis), all together have pure belief and recognition that Rinpoche
is the [true? word obscured] birth of Maitreya.
Buddha Maitreya has fulfilled the profound and excellent considerations. Furthermore,
his rebirth has come quickly, free from delusion, as Dharma-lord for use who follow
the teachings. Acting in accord with his predecessor's life story, we may
enjoy as before the nectar of his speech, and the three great sites that are bases
for tens of thousands of scholars and yogis, and the pure rules of conduct for
monastic communities of all schools, headed by the Upper and Lower Tantric Colleges.
In addition, relying upon the inspiration of those wholesome refuges, in the right
circumstances of time and place all contamination in all the regions of the world,
including sickness, pollution and contention and strife will entirely disappear.
All the world will enjoy the wealth of dharma forevermore. The sovereign patron
of the teachings, the ruling Tushita Palace (dga'-ldan pho-brang), the power
of the four branches of government, will grow and flourish. The independence of
out land of pure dharma and pure government, like a region of Sala medicinal herbs,
will quickly come to fruition. Those who are inside, and those who are outside
[Tibet] will rejoice together, be reunited and empowered.
Sentient beings of the world who have died and left this world, who look to us
with the expectation of blessings, who have passed from life wihout the immediate
expectation of a good rebirth, will be cleansed and purified of their accumulated
misdeeds. And after gradually progressing on the basis of your best-vehicle four
turnings of the wheel, they will quickly attain the rank of Vajradhara integration.
Closely related groups, such as the currently living patron (? a reference
to China? word obscured by "Lithang" stamp), in the undesireable
situation of injuriousness, will be totally pacified. Their deeds, coming into
accord with the spotless Dharma, will be without hindrance and will accomplish
all that could be desired.
Supplement by Tashi Rinpoche, treasurer:
Special: Whatever offerings we have we offer to the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas with
the Samantabhadra offering. Among the various chief offerings, we offer the A-shay
silk scarf, an ocean of presents gathered from the best lands, and present them
to each member of the monastic community by hand.
To illustrate the general offerings: the white khata, or greeting scarf, as basis
for refuge, and likewise the refuge-roll manuscript rolled up in a spotless A-shay
khata, requesting refuge with a show of energy, faith and respect. And on top
of that, whatever be the objects of one's request, we pray that they be
attained, whether they be finding refuge, or non-loss. Wisdom, understanding,
wisdom! Thus do we pray for you.
(Verso)
Before the opulent lineage of the three trainings and the seven jewels, the precious
order of noble ones who are learned in the rules of refuge, and before the sublime
Sha-pay Ge-lek (zhabs-pad dge-legs) of the conquering throne, togethor with the
deities of meditation (yi-dam) and the oath-bound dharma-protectors who facilitate
the practice of meditators in accord with dharma, his exalted throne emitting
thousands of rays of light.
I do you service with the gates of my body, speech, and mind.
I prostrate with hands clasped to the higher source of refuge, offering material
goods along with the general offerings.
Translation by Mark Tatz
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