Rinchen Terzod: Poems of Homage and Praise

Today, Anyen Rinpoche's sangha will make an offering in appreciation for the Rinchen Terzod, for Yangthang Rinpoche's tireless efforts in bestowing it upon us, for Gyatrul Rinpoche's multi-decade aspirations for the Rinchen Terzod to be given again in the US, and for Anyen Rinpoche's compassionate encouragement that we all find ways to connect to and support the Rinchen Terzod being hosted in Alameda by Orgyen Dorgje Den.

As part of this, members of Anyen Rinpoche's sangha have offered lines of praise from their hearts to these great beings, the rare teachings, and perfect lineages. We've collected these poems here since there is not the time to present them formally at the Rinchen Terzod itself. I hope you enjoy them as much as I have, finding inspiration in the open hearts of genuine practitioners.

Note that 1) the poems are listed in the order they were shared on the sangha mail list, that 2) I've taken editorial license and added titles to the poems, simply to provide a better visual distinction between them in the blog post, and that 3) not everyone is poetically inclined :-) much heart-felt gratitude is experienced by many who do not have the words to express this.

Light

Please be a light in the darkness of ignorance
until Samsara is emptied,
and continuously show us and all beings
the way to practice the perfectly pure Dharma.

-- Chris Lemig

Wheel of Dharma

May we always keep Bohdichitta within our hearts
and continue to strive at turning the Wheel of Dharma until the end of samsara.
Through these efforts may all sentient beings be free from suffering and the causes of suffering.
May we always rely on the grace of our Lama to lead us all on the authentic path to Enlightenment.
Precious Lama keep us in your heart.

-- Leigh Ann

Stay, Lama

Lama who knew me before I had a name
Please say we will see each other again
Lama who saw me before I had a face
Please keep me in your heart space
Lama of the primordial cave
Never let me go a stray

-- Angela Tsultrim

Guide Us

May we, blind and confused beings, wandering endlessly and aimlessly through delusion
Be guided safely by the Lama's boundless compassion
And in turn become beacons of refuge
For all sentient beings

-- Ken Sarles

Lineage of Bodhicitta

may the precious Bodhicitta arise and remain in our hearts for the benefit of all beings
may the lineage remain uncut,
and may your incarnations continually shine the light to the door of extreme peace

-- Sarah Johnson

Open Heart

Glorious Lama, at whose feet I bow
Watch over me your great kindness
Help the doors of my heart
to open to great compassion
So that I may help others
Through this and and all of my lifetimes

-- Eileen Price

Precious Lama

Karma and events
Brought us face to face
I cannot hold your gaze
I fall to my knees
I surrender
May your kindness cleanse my stains

Oh, precious lama
Samsara will never be enough
Its follies lure and tempt
I weep for all of us entrapped
O Lama I long for freedom
O Lama I long for all to be free
O Lama I know my refuge
O Lama I know my heart
O Lama I yearn for freedom
O Lama I long to serve
O Lama show me emptiness
O Lama show me fullness
O Lama teach forever
O Lama bless us all

-- Julie Benson

Single Sphere

United in the singular sphere of awareness bodhicitta
The triple gem and three roots are stainless and boundless
The lama is the mirror of primordial wisdom and
Phenomena none other than the self arisen ornament of ultimate bodhicitta

-- Bill O'Brien