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Anyone Can Participate

The Vajra Guru Project is an online endeavour in support of the activity of Ogyen Trinley Dorje the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa.   Using the powerful means of concentration and recitation (Sanskrit: mantrayana), we can establish a special connection with the objective of clearing the path of obstacles.  Posting the accumulated numbers of this traditional method also provides a way for fans, friends and devotees of Karmapa all over the world to demonstrate publicly the earnest wish to be able to see him in person.

Origin of the VGP

In September 2006, at the presentation to His Holiness Karmapa of the documents attesting to the successful achievement of the BMI, the first online mantra project, the project leader asked whether we could do anything further.   The request was that we join in the recitation of the mantra of Guru Rinpoche, the choice for the following year's intensive prayer session.

We then undertook the commitment of accumulating a hundred million (100,000,000) benzar guru mantra recitations by online participants around the world.  

To resolve some apparent confusion, on Sept. 2/09 the Vajra Guru Project contacted the Office of the Gyalwang Karmapa which gave verbal confirmation that recitation of the mantra Om Ah Hung, Benzar Guru Pema Siddhi, Hung!  by worldwide friends should definitely continue.

How to Join

If you would like to participate, at the end of every month please submit your name with only that month's total of VG recitations.  Round numbers are easier for us but all contributions are welcome. 

Using the email link at the bottom of any Khandro.Net page just write, as an example : 

Subject: VGP 

Message:

[date] Oct. 31/09     [name*] John Smith     [month's total] 1,000 recitations  

*your name:  Use any of your names or "handles" but please just be consistent.   Also, it is nice for us to know what countries are represented but that information is not essential.

The Power of Guru Rinpoche

"Guru Rinpoche" means Precious Guru.  It is one of the names of Padmasambhava (8th century), who is also known as the Vajra Guru. Vajra here refers to the extra-ordinary methods employed so that Buddhism would take hold in Tibet.  Guru means "teacher," with the connotation of "spiritual mentor."  In the Tibetan language, this meaning is conveyed by the word lama.

• What does Vajra signify?

In Himalayan Buddhism, Vajra Guru Padmasambhava is acknowledged as a Second Buddha.  He is also called Padmakara, and a number of other names besides.  Each epithet refers to a particular role that he played in order to establish Buddhism firmly in the land of Tibet. 

The Vajra Guru mantra is also recited on the 10th day of every lunar month by most Himalayan Buddhist lineages.   Among the Karma Kagyu, every second year (alternating with the Shi Tro mantra,) it is recited at Rumtek Monastery as part of the 5-day dhundrup taking place in the 9th lunar month (9th - 13th days.) 

 What does this mantra have to do with me?

Tibetan territory is only a few hundred miles from northern India where Buddha Shakyamuni, the historical Buddha, lived and taught, and yet for well over twelve hundred years Buddhism made little impact on the Land of Snows.   So, if it had not been for Guru Rinpoche we might never know the full extent of the transmission of Buddha-dharma, for in no other land was the entire system preserved in detail.  Therefore any practitioner of every level, school, denomination and lineage, can honour the heart connection to the great Vajra Guru.  

Also, everyone who has benefited in any way, either directly or even indirectly, from the words and/or the example of the lamas that have been able to teach us during these last 50 years, has Guru Rinpoche to thank. 

What is the mantra?

Om Ah Hung, Vajra Guru Pema Siddhi, Hung!

Many Tibetans say benzar instead of vajra.  We do as we have been taught.  There is no significant difference.

No special empowerment is required to participate.

:: After an introduction (to 0:49) Ani Choying Drolma sings this mantra slowly. < YouTube

• Audio file (.mp3) of recitation of the mantra [download]
  • For an audio file in  *.ram format [< second link on page], you will need to download Basic RealPlayer [scroll to middle of RealPlayer page.]

The Virtues of the Vajra Guru Mantra

• Terma [revealed text] by Karma Lingpa (14th C.) in which Yeshe Tsogyal explains the advantages of recitation of Guru Rinpoche's mantra syllable by syllable.

• More about the merit of reciting the mantra of Guru Rinpoche.

Who is The Vajra Guru?

• A Short Biography of Guru Rinpoche According to Jamgon Kongtrul the Great.
• More About Guru Rinpoche. 
  • See also, Precious Guru.

About Similar Request by Other Lamas

Trulshik Rinpoche and the 14th Dalai Lama also expressed that students recite the mantra of Guru Rinpoche.   There is no conflict of interest.  All Tibetan denominations and lineages recognize the efficacy of Guru Rinpoche's mantra in overcoming obstacles to the practice of Buddha-dharma, as well as in the restoration of peace and harmony.     

Whether Nyingmapa, Sakyapa, Kagyupa or Gelugpa, we all recite the invocation to Guru Rinpoche, especially on the 10th of the lunar month.  And among Mahayanists, all mantras are dedicated to the benefit of sentient beings everywhere.  In the case of someone reporting the same total to lamas of more than one denomination, in one's mind the recitations might be dedicated in the following way:  We could say, "This is dedicated to all beings and in particular, to the activity of the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa."

Tsurphu and Rumtek:   Tsurphu, in Tibet (currently the fraction known as the TAR) is the historical seat of the Karmapas;  Rumtek is in Sikkim (now part of India) the Karmapa's seat established by the 16th Karmapa.