Aspiration

When we are to make prayers or aspirations, we shouldn’t pray for short-term worldly gains such as happiness, good health and success in career; nor should we focus solely on the advancement of our own people or lineage. One of the best aspirations we can make is to give rise to the mind of awakening, bodhicitta, the wish and determination to attain awakening in order to be able to help all sentient beings.

Because if we have bodhicitta, only positive outcomes will arise for both ourselves and others. Through making far-reaching aspirations like this, we will ultimately reach a state where we can benefit all sentient beings, all of whom have been our loving parents. Along the way, we will also attain the happiness we seek for ourselves.

So, whenever I am in the presence of a sacred site or Lama and have the opportunity to make an aspiration, this is what I pray:

“Precious mind of awakening,
May it arise in those who are without it
And never fade from those who hold it
But continually grow from strength to strength.”

6th November 2023, Thrangu Sekhar Retreat Centre, Nepal