(Holding the Vase, Vajra, rosary, and conch in hand read the following prayers.)

Hum! Pray the All-Merciful One grant you, the well-destined disciples, the Initiation of Body, Mouth, and Mind.

Om Mani Padme Hum, Gaya Waka TsiDa Kica Ah Bi Ai Tsa Hum!

(Place all the symbols on disciple's head. Throw the flowers and sing the benediction psalm and dedications.)

Hum! May all the gurus who possess the Trikaya[r_3:22] grant us the blessing and prosperity.

May the tutelary Buddha, Deities, and Dakinis grant us the blessing and prosperity!

May all the Guardians of Dharma, the Ocean-like Samaya[r_3:23] Holders bless us.

Among the ocean-like teachings in the Mind-Treasury of Heavenly Dharma in the Whisper-Succession there are forty initiation teachings. This one, the Initiation of Avalokiteshvara with Six Sacred Words, is one of them. From now on you should always submit yourself to your tutelary Buddha, the All-Merciful One, and recite the Six Sacred Words regularly; therefore follow me in taking this oath.

From now on, till the time of my attaining Buddhahood, I will regard the All-Merciful One as my tutelary Buddha.

Sa Maya Narayan!

NOTES

[n_3:1]. The All-Merciful One: Avalokites'vara, patron Bodhisattva of Tibet.

[n_3:2]. The ritual containing these instructions is missing from the manuscript.--Ed.

[n_3:3]. Tsag'-li: A miniature flag with the device of a mandala or mantram, one of the Tantric ornaments.

[n_3:4]. Wisdom Ones: Those Buddhas that give life to the Front Vase, manifestations of the coming Buddhas. See Note 5, Chapter 4.

[n_3:5]. Three : The ceremony of purifying the body, mouth, and mind.

[n_3:6]. Vase-Buddha: See Note 2, Chapter 4.

[n_3:7]. Diamond Sitting Posture: Traditional cross-legged posture of the Buddhas.

[n_3:8]. Kham Pa: People of Kham, or East Tibet.

[n_3:9]. Snow Country: Another name for Tibet.

[n_3:10]. Infinite merits: Buddhist term for all virtues.

[n_3:11]. This refers to deep Samadhi in which the thought-flow is stopped.

[n_3:12]. Path of Bodhi: The way to Buddhahood.

[n_3:13]. Born in the lotus: A term of the Pure Land Sutras referring to those advanced beings having a higher birth than from the womb.

[n_3:14]. Bra Gyan and Bas Lhag diseases: Unknown diseases.

[n_3:15]. Six Paramitas: Six perfections of Buddhist philosophy.

[n_3:16]. Mystic Holding-Wheel: The ruler of a Golden Age holds a golden wheel and rules through love; the king of a Silver Age rules through fear; the king of an Iron Age, whose symbol is the iron wheel, rules through violence. (Asoka is identified with the last type of ruler.)

[n_3:17]. Dakinis: Tantric goddesses.

[n_3:18]. Oath for the Devotion for Bodhi: The Bodhisattva's vow.