On his return to Tibet in the 1980's Ato Rinpoche discovered this text in the ruins of his monastery. It is a prayer that means a lot to him. Written by the Third Karmapa Rangjung Dorje (1284-1339)
OM MANI PADME HUM
I prostrate to the Noble Master Chenrezig!
OM MANI PADME HUM HRIH*
There is nothing to be said more profound than this:
Dear mother, you protected me lovingly when I was small
You taught me with love and told me sweet words
May I guide you on Chenrezig’s path. OM MANI PADME HUM HRIH
You fed me from your mouth and wiped my feces away with your hand
You picked me up on your lap again and again -
My kind mother wandering in the three samsaric realms, oh no!
May I guide you on Chenrezig’s path. OM MANI PADME HUM HRIH
The end of birth is surely death
Even powerful humans don’t have the slightest power to remain [forever]
When departing alone, [only] the sacred dharma will [be of] benefit -
[My kind mothers] wandering in the three samsaric realms, oh no!
May I guide you on Chenrezig’s path. OM MANI PADME HUM HRIH
The end of collecting is surely loss:
Even the greediest person will be unable to take anything along
When departing alone, only the sacred dharma will [be of] benefit -
[My kind mothers] wandering in the three samsaric realms, oh no!
May I guide you on Chenrezig’s path. OM MANI PADME HUM HRIH
Mother, when you are going to depart alone from here
I pray that you, I, and Chenrezig will meet!
My kind mother wandering in the three samsaric realms, oh no!
May I guide you on Chenrezig’s path. OM MANI PADME HUM HRIH
I pay homage to lama and protector Manjushri!
Wherever in the three realms the six kinds of beings are born, their birth is of four kinds:
Except for miraculous birth, a body is formed in dependence on a father and a mother.
Due to karmic forces, you conceived and carried me for nine months and ten days -
My kind mothers wandering in the three samsaric realms, oh no!
May I guide you on Chenrezig’s path. OM MANI PADME HUM HRIH
When the life force impelled my embryo to come out
You suffered the bone-wracking pain of contractions -
My kind mothers wandering in the three samsaric realms, oh no!
May I guide you on Chenrezig’s path. OM MANI PADME HUM HRIH
When I was born your body became covered with blood, lymph, pus, and milk -
My kind mothers wandering in the three samsaric realms, oh no!
May I guide you on Chenrezig’s path. OM MANI PADME HUM HRIH
When my skin and bones were feeble and not fully formed
You picked me up with gentle hands -
My kind mothers wandering in the three samsaric realms, oh no!
May I guide you on Chenrezig’s path. OM MANI PADME HUM HRIH
When I had mucous in my eyes, nose or mouth
You cleaned it with your soft tongue -
My kind mothers wandering in the three samsaric realms, oh no!
May I guide you on Chenrezig’s path. OM MANI PADME HUM HRIH
Even when my specks of feces got into your mouth
You were not disgusted -
My kind mothers wandering in the three samsaric realms, oh no!
May I guide you on Chenrezig’s path. OM MANI PADME HUM HRIH
You always held me tight, like in the gentle warmth of your belly -
My kind mothers wandering in the three samsaric realms, oh no!
May I guide you on Chenrezig’s path. OM MANI PADME HUM HRIH
When sleep rendered us unconscious at night
I would interrupt your sleep many times -
My kind mothers wandering in the three samsaric realms, oh no!
May I guide you on Chenrezig’s path. OM MANI PADME HUM HRIH
You took me on your lap and cuddled me -
My kind mothers wandering in the three samsaric realms, oh no!
May I guide you on Chenrezig’s path. OM MANI PADME HUM HRIH
You cheered me up and made me so happy -
My kind mothers wandering in the three samsaric realms, oh no!
May I guide you on Chenrezig’s path. OM MANI PADME HUM HRIH
Whenever I was wriggling and crying, you tirelessly gave me your breast to suck -
My kind mothers wandering in the three samsaric realms, oh no!
May I guide you on Chenrezig’s path. OM MANI PADME HUM HRIH
When my eyes were tightly closed by sleep
You swiftly protected me from heat and cold -
My kind mothers wandering in the three samsaric realms, oh no!
May I guide you on Chenrezig’s path. OM MANI PADME HUM HRIH
When I crawled on all fours like an animal
You taught me how to walk on my feet -
My kind mothers wandering in the three samsaric realms, oh no!
May I guide you on Chenrezig’s path. OM MANI PADME HUM HRIH
When I was three years old
You kept an eye on me wherever I went -
My kind mothers wandering in the three samsaric realms, oh no!
May I guide you on Chenrezig’s path. OM MANI PADME HUM HRIH
When I was five years old
You showed me how to dress myself properly -
My kind mothers wandering in the three samsaric realms, oh no!
May I guide you on Chenrezig’s path. OM MANI PADME HUM HRIH
When I was ten years old
You taught me how to understand and decide things -
My kind mothers wandering in the three samsaric realms, oh no!
May I guide you on Chenrezig’s path. OM MANI PADME HUM HRIH
Your mind was one-pointedly focused [on my welfare] -
My kind mothers wandering in the three pitiful samsaric realms
May I guide you on Chenrezig’s path. OM MANI PADME HUM HRIH
[Throughout,] you were always calm and fair -
My kind mothers wandering in the three pitiful samsaric realms
May I guide you on Chenrezig’s path. OM MANI PADME HUM HRIH
You gave your permission when it was time for me to leave -
My kind mothers wandering in the three pitiful samsaric realms
May I guide you on Chenrezig’s path. OM MANI PADME HUM HRIH
[Because of your love] I became independent after I had left you -
My kind mothers wandering in the three pitiful samsaric realms
May I guide you on Chenrezig’s path. OM MANI PADME HUM HRIH
If sudden disasters were to carry you off -
My kind mothers wandering in the three pitiful samsaric realms
May I guide you on Chenrezig’s path. OM MANI PADME HUM HRIH
And you would end up in some unknown place -
My kind mothers wandering in the three pitiful samsaric realms
May I guide you on Chenrezig’s path. OM MANI PADME HUM HRIH
May our minds become ultimately inseparable -
My kind mothers wandering in the three pitiful samsaric realms
May I guide you on Chenrezig’s path. OM MANI PADME HUM HRIH
Dear mother, do not be angry when I say this:
My thoughts go to you again and again
And your kind acts make me weep -
My kind mothers wandering in the three pitiful samsaric realms
May I guide you on Chenrezig’s path. OM MANI PADME HUM HRIH
Mother, when it is time for your mind to leave this body
May you be born in a supremely blissful state and
Having been born there, may you attain the heart of enlightenment
Having attained that, may you act for the benefit of all beings
Words of vast and deep meaning break my heart.
Vajradhara in the pure realm of Akanishta,
And Pema Jungne** in Ngayab Ling,
Please let the ability to repay the kindness of my mothers
Awaken in me, Palden Karmapa of the Snowy Regions.
*HRIH is the heart’s seed syllable; it encapsulates the compassionate
activity of the bodhisattva.
**Pema Jungne (Padmasambhava)
Thanks to P. Hayward who typed this version and made it available electronically.
Edited 2012, By Rinchen Lucy