Tibetan Dedication of Merit Prayers

Tibetan Buddhists often end their daily prayer practice with a “dedication prayer.” The basic idea is that praying and other Buddhist practices are good actions that generate merit. The merit can lead to many positive outcomes, such as a better next life, or a good long life, or as the seed of enlightenment. In the dedication prayer, we are asking that the good merit generated from our practice be directed specifically to enlightenment for all beings.

Video: Learn How to Pronounce Two Common Tibetan Dedication of Merit Prayers

Nagarjuna’s Dedication of Merit Prayer

Sonam diyi tamchay zigpa nyi
Tobne nyepay dranam pam chenay
Kye ga na chi balap drukpa yi
Sipay tsole drowa drolpar sho

By this merit may all attain omniscience. 
May it defeat the enemy, wrongdoing.
From the stormy waves of birth, old age, sickness and death;
From the ocean of samsara, may I free all beings!

Another Common Dedication of Merit Prayer

Gewa diyi nyurdu dag
Lama sanggye drupgyur nay
Drowa chigkyang malu pa
Kyekyi sala go par shog

By this virtue may I quickly


Attain the state of Guru Buddha, and then


Lead every being without exception


To that very state!

Both translations above are from Khandro.net

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Updated on August 5, 2020. First published on August 8, 2011.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Albert says

    Thank you so much, I really wanted that Merit manter I had forgotten long ago.
    God bless you.
    Albert (Malaga-Spain)

  2. zeniah says

    hi, i have been following you for quite some time now. I follow nichiren buddhism and i meditate to the White Tara. I wanted to know there are so many buddhist mantras, how does one decide which ones to follow?

  3. patty says

    Thank you for this video and all of your videos. I appreciate your site very very much…. I am going to practice this today.

    🙂
    Patty

  4. kelly says

    Hi,

    Thank for this wonderful video. I just started learning tibet buddhism and having problem with all the prayers pronouncation.

    Can you do one for the four immesuarable and sojong vow too? Both are extremely difficult for me and I am not sure if I am pronouncing it correctly.

    Thanks
    Kelly

    • yowangdu says

      Thanks so much for your kind thoughts, Kelly! It’s a good idea to make a video for those two, and we will add this to our list, but have to say that the list is long at this point! All our best to you 🙂

    • Thom Knox says

      Tashi delek,
      I’ve enjoyed your video’s and have learned quite a lot. Unfortunately the video on how to say the dedication of merit doesn’t seem to be working and I didn’t find it on your YouTube channel. Is there any way to correct this? Your video instructions are invaluable.
      Thank you!

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