A Prayer to Empty the Six Realms
Countless beings are wandering, trapped in cycles of confusion and struggle.
My heart goes out to them!
Through karma gathered from beginningless time,
The force of reactive emotions creates realms of suffering.
There is no refuge but awakened compassion.
May I fully awaken for the benefit of all beings.
Through reaction and habit, the force of anger creates the hell realm.
Hot anger and cold hate, attacking and revenge, what torture!
Opening to this experience, knowing it completely, reaction and struggle come to an end.
May we awaken to kindness and harmony.
Through reaction and habit, the force of greed creates the hungry ghost realm.
Hunger and thirst, craving and grasping, frustrated misery!
Opening to this experience, knowing it completely, reaction and struggle come to an end.
May we awaken to generosity and gratitude.
Through reaction and habit, the force of instinct creates the animal realm.
Fearful hiding, seeking safety and comfort, the thick fog of dullness!
Opening to this experience, knowing it completely, reaction and struggle come to an end.
May we awaken to intelligence and creativity.
Through reaction and habit, the force of desire creates the human realm.
Restless searching, fleeting pleasure, the stress of constant activity!
Opening to this experience, knowing it completely, reaction and struggle come to an end.
May we awaken to contentment and ease.
Through reaction and habit, the force of jealousy creates the titan realm.
Stab of envy, furious competition, unjust defeat!
Opening to this experience, knowing it completely, reaction and struggle come to an end.
May we awaken to appreciation and sympathetic joy.
Through reaction and habit, the force of pride creates the god realm.
Deluded pleasure of self-absorption, the shock of humiliation when it ends!
Opening to this experience, knowing it completely, reaction and struggle come to an end.
May we awaken to humility, connection, and service.
In all my lives, may I meet whatever arises with awakened compassion.
Opening to the depths of each realm, I rest in experience just as it is.
Knowing and freedom arise together; may I not take birth in the six realms again.
With a heart open to the cries of others, realms are emptied and beings are freed.
From seeds planted, fruit grows. Seeking to escape from pain, we may discover that others are suffering too. Relying on the teachings of Thangtong Gyalpo, Jamgon Kongtrul, and Ken McLeod, George Draffan gathered these words to remind himself and others of a way to meet confusion and turmoil.
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May I Be Of Help To Others
May I not be overwhelmed by my own suffering.
May I remember that others struggle and suffer just as I do.
May I see how my suffering and their suffering are inseparable.
May I completely unite awareness and compassion.
May I remember that others also suffer from confusion, anger, neediness, desire, jealousy, and pride.
May I not ignore the suffering that comes from poverty, cruelty, slavery, rape, war, environmental destruction, storms, earthquakes, cold, heat, exhaustion, busyness, fear, prejudice, loneliness, depression, old age, illness, loss, and grief.
May I remember the animals, plants, and other beings with whom I share this world. They provide me with food, clothing, shelter, the very air I breathe, companionship, and beauty. They too suffer, they too wish to be happy and free.
May the struggling and suffering of the world make me utterly sad, and move me to try to help others as much as I can.
May I offer material wealth such as food and clothing to those who need them.
May I offer protection to the fearful.
May I extend kindness and compassion and a listening heart to those who need to be heard.
May I offer the teachings of calm abiding, insight, and skillful means to anyone who requests them.
May I be able to relate to others with kindness, clarity, and ethical behavior.
When I cannot help others, may I still see their suffering, still feel sadness, and still feel compassion and kindness.
May I offer heart-felt prayers and may those prayers be the seeds of future abilities and the happiness of all.
May the ocean of suffering not overwhelm me; may I be even more compassionate and more inspired to free myself and others from suffering and the causes of suffering.
May I not misunderstand the nature or cause of my own or another’s suffering.
May I remember that nothing is permanent, ultimately satisfying, or separate from causes and conditions.
May I not be overwhelmed by sadness.
May I not offer help unskillfully.
May I recognize others’ lives and karma to be their own, and let them live without interference from me.
May I recognize the nature of my own experience and conditioning.
May I not offer help to others with the aim of benefiting myself.
May my mistakes and limitations not be the cause of more suffering; may even my clumsy or deluded actions still help others in some way.
May I remember that there is suffering, there is an end to suffering, there is freedom, peace, and joy.
May I be happy when I see another is happy. May I rejoice when another is freed from suffering.
May I see that my freedom and happiness and the freedom and happiness of others are completely intertwined.
May my practice, pleasure, happiness, good fortune, and virtue be of benefit to every being.
May every being be safe, healthy, happy, at ease in their body, at home in the world.
Composed by George Draffan to remind himself of the aspiration to free himself and others from confusion and suffering.