A Prayer to One’s Teacher

Namo gurubhya
Homage to the teacher

Myriad forms appear continuously from relationships and coincidence:
The teacher of appearances as symbol arises around me.
Indescribable this dance of magical forms!
In experiencing the natural freedom of appearance and emptiness, 
I pray to you.
Grant me the energy to know directly the activity of perceptible presence. 

Sounds and voices of all kinds come continuously 
from various sources and places:
The teacher of sound as enchantment arises intermediately.
Inconceivable this concert of harmonies and songs!
In experiencing the natural freedom of sound and emptiness, 
I pray to you.
Grant me the energy to know directly unceasing mystical presence.

Thoughts and memories of different things, indescribable awareness 
that is no thing:
The ultimate teacher of awareness itself arises within.
Limitless this panorama of thought and memory!
In experiencing the bliss of clarity and emptiness, I pray to you.
Grant me the energy to know directly unborn empty presence.

In these ways, all experience, appearance, sound, or thought,
Are signs that point me to know directly the nature of being.
They are solely expressions of my magnificent teacher.
In recollecting your great kindness, I pray to you.
Grant me the energy to know directly the nature of all experience.

Whole oceans of the three roots are everywhere present.
They dance like moons in the water of the student's devotion.
They never are anything but the venerable teacher.
In experiencing realization of all capabilities, I pray to you.
Grant me the energy to fuse my mind with yours.

Grant me the energy to release fixation on a sense of self.
Grant me the energy not to have needs.
Grant me the energy to develop love and compassion fully.
Grant me the energy to give rise to uncontrived devotion.
Grant me the energy to end materialistic thinking.
Grant me the energy to release confusion into its own ground.
Grant me the energy to know directly mahamudra, the nature of being.
Grant me the energy to attain full awakening in this single life.

From now until I attain awakening
May I wear the jewelry of pure discipline and ethics.
Enriched with abilities in the equanimity of awakening mind,
May I see the phases of creation and completion to their end,
And, with no distinction between the mind of student and teacher,
Attain full awakening.

This heartfelt song about experiencing the world of experience as one’s teacher was sung spontaneously by Karma Rangjung Kunchab (Kalu Rinpoche) at the request of the diligent practitioner Karma Sherab. Through this prayer, may the energy of the glorious teachers enter his heart.

This song of devotion was translated by Ken McLeod at the request of Daniel Boschero, who wished to use it to cultivate faith and devotion.