Ganden Tripa Lobsang Tenzin (Author) - Manjushri’s Innermost Secret: A Profound Commentary of Oral Instructions on the Practice of Lama Chöpa (The Dechen Ling Practice Series)

In Sanskrit: Guru Pantsa Shika

In Tibetan: bLa ma lnga bcu pa

I prostrate to the Bhagavan Vajrasattva.

And properly bow to the lotus feet of the guru,

Who is the cause of attaining the state of Glorious Vajrasattva.

Listen with devotion for I shall briefly explain what

Has been expounded in numerous stainless tantras.

The tathagatas abiding in the worldly realms

Of the ten directions prostrate to the vajra master

From whom they received supreme empowerment

Throughout the three times.

With a mandala and flowers in the palm of your hands

Respectfully honor your teacher-guru

And prostrate with his feet on your head

With supreme faith throughout the three times.

For the sake of averting worldly criticism,

If he is a layman or your junior,

You should prostrate before the holy Dharma and so on

While mentally maintaining the proper conduct.

You should perform all the proper conducts,

Such as arranging his seat, rising,

Accomplishing his wishes, and so on,

Yet abandon prostrating and the inappropriate.

So that the samaya of either the guru or

His disciples does not deteriorate,

They should perform a mutual examination

To insure they can brave a master-disciple relationship.

The wise disciple should not accept as a guru

Someone who lacks compassion, is hostile and angry,

Arrogant, attached,

Lacking restraint, or boastful.

Stable, subdued, and wise,

Patient, honest, and nondeceptive,

Knowledge of mantras, tantras, and [ritual] actions,

Compassionate and skilled in the treatises.

He possesses the two sets of ten qualities;

He is skilled in drawing the mandalas

And has knowledge of the activities of explaining mantra,

Perfect faith, and subdued senses.

If a disciple comes under the care of such

A protector and then despises him,

They will be despising all the buddhas

And they will continuously receive suffering.

If you are so stupid as to criticize your master,

You will be plagued with infectious diseases,

Afflictive illnesses, harm from spirits,

Epidemics, and poisons, after which you will die.

You will be killed by kings, fire,

Poisonous snakes, water, dakinis, thieves,

Harmful spirits, and negative evil forces,

After which you will go to hell.

You should never agitate the minds of

Any of your masters.

And if you are so stupid that you do,

You will definitely roast in hell.

Whatever terrifying hells have been taught,

Such as Avici and so forth,

Are accurately explained to be the abode

Of those who disparage their master.

For that reason, with all the energy you can muster,

Never, under any circumstance,

Disparage your wise vajra master,

Who never boasts about his virtuous qualities.

You should respectfully present offerings

To your guru and modify your behavior,

Through which harms, such as infectious diseases and so on,

Will not subsequently occur.

If it is taught that you should eternally attend to your

Guru with whom you have samaya by offering

Things such as your child, wife, and life, which are rarely offered,

What need is there to mention your transient wealth?

In this way, the diligent can even attain

Enlightenment in this very life, which is

Otherwise difficult to attain even

In countless millions of eons.

Always protect your samaya,

Always make offerings to the tathagatas,

Always present offerings to your guru as well,

For he is equal to all the buddhas.

Desiring the inexhaustible,

Whatever is even slightly pleasing

Becomes the most special;

It is what you should offer to the guru.

That generosity becomes an eternal

Generosity to all the buddhas.

That offering is the accumulation of merit;

Through accumulation you accomplish supreme siddhis.

For that reason, a disciple with good qualities,

Such as compassion, generosity, moral discipline, and patience,

Should never regard his master and

Vajradhara as being separate.

If you should never even step over his shadow

Because you fear the negative karma, which is similar to destroying a stupa,

What need is there to mention that you shouldnt step over his

Shoes, seat, mount, and so on?

With enthusiastic determination

Sincerely apply yourself to the instructions of your guru.

If you are incapable, you should rationally

Explain with [respectful] words why you are incapable.

Spiritual realizations come from the guru,

As well as the attainment of higher status and happiness.

For this reason you should make every effort to

Not transgress the teachings of your guru.

Continuously reflect with single-pointed focus

How you should protect the belongings of your guru as you do your life

And honor your gurus retinue and even his

Loved ones as you do your guru.

Do not sit on his seat or cushion nor walk ahead of him,

Do not wear your hair in a topknot nor sit,

Do not outstretch your limbs or place your hands on your hips,

Nor should your wring your hands.

You should not lie down or sit

If your guru is standing.

You should always be ready to stand

And serve him skillfully in the most excellent way.

While in the presence of your guru

Do not expel things by spitting and so forth,

Do not stretch out your legs when sitting,

Do not walk around or argue.

While close enough for your guru to hear,

Do not massage your limbs or dance,

Do not sing or play music,

And do not talk incessantly.

Rise from your seat and bow

And then sit respectfully.

You may proceed ahead of him

At night, at rivers, or on frightening paths.

In the direct perception of your guru

A wise [disciple] should not twist their body,

Lean against a pillar, and so forth;

Nor should they crack their knuckles.

When washing his feet, washing his body,

Wrapping him [in a towel], massaging him, and so forth,

You should begin by making a prostration, and

After which you can do whatever you please.

If you need to address him by name,

You should affix the title In the presence of

So that others will treat him with respect

And use other exalted words of reference as well.

When requesting advice from your guru

You should listen carefully to your gurus instructions

With your palms held in prayer at your heart without mental wandering

And respond with I shall do just as you have instructed.

If you laugh, smile, and so forth,

Cover your mouth with your hand.

You should let him know when you have completed

Your task while using polite words.