Seven Line Prayer

Guru Rinpoche from the private collection of Sogyal Rinpoche, painted by Salga

Seven Line Prayer (Wyl. tshig bdun gsol 'debs) also known as The Seven Verses of the Vajra. The invocation by which Guru Rinpoche came into this world.

Hung!

In the north-west of the land of Oddiyana,

In the heart of a lotus flower,

Endowed with the most marvellous attainments,

You are renowned as the “Lotus Born”,

Surrounded by hosts of dakinis.

Following in your footsteps,

I pray to you: Come, inspire me with your blessing!

GURU PADMA SIDDHI HUNG

Commentary

Chökyi Drakpa says:

HUNG is an expression of magnetism and a skilful means to invoke the wisdom minds of the jñanasattvas.

The place where the Precious Master took birth was in the northwest of the land of Oddiyana. There, in the Milky Lake, where the water has the eight qualities of purity, he was born in the form of an eight-year old child in the heart of a lotus flower. The King of Oddiyana found that he was endowed with the most marvellous attainments and invited him to his palace. As he had been born from the heart of a lotus, he became renowned as the 'Lotus Born'. At the time of his birth, he was surrounded by hosts of dakinis. Following in the footsteps of this wonderful master, vow to practise until you reach his level of realization. Pray that just as he arrived at the palace of the King of Oddiyana in the past, he may come now and inspire you with his blessing.

GURU means master. PADMA signifies that he is an emanation of Amitabha, since Amitabha belongs to the buddha family of lotus speech. SIDDHI stands for the accomplishments, and HUNG for gathering. So altogether it means, 'Gather the accomplishments of the Lotus Master!'

Significance

Mipham Rinpoche wrote: "This prayer in seven vajra lines is the most majestic of all prayers to the great and glorious one of Oddiyana, the essence of all the victorious ones of the three times. Arising as the inherent vibration of naturally occuring vajra sound, it constitutes a great treasure trove of blessings and spiritual attainments." In a hidden treasure teaching revealed by Jamgön Kongtrul, Padmasambhava says:

Billions of wisdom dakinis joined, as of one voice,

And in order to ensure the flourishing of the secret mantra teachings,

In this world, the realm tamed by Shakyamuni,

They invited me, with the melody of these seven lines.

Further Reading

• Jamgön Mipham, White Lotus: An Explanation of the Seven-line Prayer to Guru Padmasambhava, translated by the Padmakara Translation Group, Shambhala, forthcoming 2007
• Tulku Thondup, Enlightened Journey: Buddhist Practice as Everyday Life, Shambhala 2001, pp. 166-190

External Links

• The Seven Line Prayer: Accomplishing the Lama through the Seven Line Prayer: A Special Teaching from the Lama Sangdü, The Terma Revelation of Guru Chöwang