A Prayer to Setrab

CHÖ KYÖN SE TRAB CHEN PÖ TRIN CHÖL SHUQ SO

Prayer to the Great Protector Setrab Chen

DE TONG YIN TANG KAR SHUG NÄ CHOQ NÄ
DAG GI GÖN PUNG CHEN PO SE TRAB CHEN
TRÜL PA YANG TRÜL KHOR TSOG BUM DHEY PUNG
NYING NÄ CHEN DREN NÄ DIR SHEK SU SÖL

From the nature of bliss-void or any other place
My Great Protector, powerful Setrab Chen
Your manifestations and re-manifestations, and retinues of hundreds of thousands
I appeal and invoke from the bottom of my heart, please be near.

DÜN KI LHA LAM YANG PÄ ZHÄ YEY SU
PÄ NYI DRA GEK NÖL WÄ DHÄN TENG DÜ
TUL PÄ CHÖ GYÄ CHEN PO PUNG TSOG CHEY
TREN PA DEY SI TEN PAR ZHUG SU SÖ

At the center of your mandala, created before me in open space,
Your lotus-sun cushion flattens all obstacles and evils.
Great manifested Dharma King, together with your retinue,
While there is meditation, you are requested to firmly remain.

DE CHEN GON PO SE YE TRAB CHEN LA
DE CHEN YE SHEY CHÖ TRIN GYA TSÖ TSOG
DHE KYONG NÖ TU DANG WÄ BÜL LAG NA
DEY TONG YER ME YING SU ZHEY SU SÖ

To you, the leader of great bliss, Setrabchen,
I offer with enthusiastic inspiration, in the cup of bliss-protection,
The great offerings whose nature is bliss-void and wisdom.
Please accept them, with the ultimate bliss-void attitude.

NYI MEY YE SHEY LEY JUNG CHÖ GYÄ CHEY
THUG DANG GEL KUN MIK MEY YING SU SHAQ
DHAM KANG ZÄ SOQ KUN SANG CHÖ TING DHANG
YI CHI TSHE CHIK SÖL DEB THUK DHAM KANG

Dharma King, who appears from the wisdom which is inseparable from bliss,
I purify in the nature of void all actions which oppose your thoughts.
I offer to you not only offerings in general, but all the materials which are required for morale boosting,
Together with whole-hearted trust.

JANG TOK BAR WÄ MAR CHEN TOK TSOK DANG
DZEY MEY MEN KYI CHÖ PA AMRITA
RAB JAM KYÖN KUNG KANG TE BÜL LAG NA
KHEY KYI THU YII GYEY GUR RÖ PAR DZÖ

Which has been purified, transformed, and multiplied,
I offer to you the great red torma
And the infinite Amrita, the nectar offering, filling up all universes.
By your power, please accept and enjoy.

GYEY KUN NYING JEY NGO O RI TAK DZIN
KHEN PAY RANG SUK ZHUN NYU CHA LUQ CHEN
THU TOB WANG CHUK SANG WÄ DAK PO TÄ
YHER MEY NGAM PÄ SUK CHANG KYÖ LA TÖ

One who holds the sign of the animal skin, and embodies the love and compassion of all the Victors,
One who appears youthfully, and who embodies the Conqueror’s wisdom
One who holds the inconceivable tantra, and who embodies the Buddha’s capabilities,
I praise you, who appear terrifically though inseparable from these three.

KYÜ NI NEL JOR DRA LHA CHEN PO TÄ
THU TOB DZU TRÜL PEY LA WANG CHUK PEY
PAL DEN LA MÄ KU TSEY DZEY TRIN TRANG
GEY DEN LU SANG KUN TU GYE PAR DZÖ

You are the great helper of yogis,
Because you command glorious extraordinary mystical power and capability,
And can influence the long-life of the Gurus who
Spread the infinite activity of the impeccable virtuous system.

PAL SANG JEWEL HEART CHÖ DI DANG
NYA REY KHANG TSEN PÖ LOB CHÖ YÖN GYI
CHÖ JOR GEY LEK DÖ GU RAP GEYI SHING
DREL TSEY KUN KYANG DÖN DHÄN GYUR WAR DZÖ

May the holy assemblies which follow this system, and especially the glorious, sacred Jewel Heart Dharma assemblies
Its teachers, leaders, inspired participants and benefactors,
Prosper spiritually and materially while remaining in good health.
May all those who even briefly interact become worthwhile.

DAQ KI KYE WÄ TRING WAR TEN PEY LHA
KYÖ LA TSEY CHIK NYING NEL SOL TAP NA
DHEY NEY CHANG CHUB NYING PO MA THOP PAR
DREL MEY DAK SOK GÖN KYAB PUNG NYEN DZÖ

From the bottom of my heart I single-pointedly address you.
You, the Protector, who has been connected with me for a number of lives,
From today until enlightenment,
Please remain inseparably with me and my circle as our Defender, Protector, Supporter and Friend without interruption.

HO:
TRAK KHA CHEN PO SE TRAB CHEN
NEW LOU TSEN JE GYEL PO
TRUL PA TRUK DANG YANG TRUL SOK
KHOR CHEY DHAM CHEN PUNG KI TSOK
SÖL LÖ CHÖ TÖ NYEN TEY TO
DRUP PO BÖ TÖ NYEN MA RING
BEY DHO KUL LÖ THU MA ZHEN
KHYÖ LA CHÖL LÖ THUK MA RING
KHYEY PAR YI LA NAK PÄ DHÖN
MA THOK LHUN KYI DRUP PAR DZÖ

Ho:
O, Setrabchen, Protector, Defender,
With your six prime manifestations including
New Lutsen, Je Gyel Po, re-manifestations including
I make offerings to you,
I praise you, please take this responsibility,
I contemplate, I call upon you, please pay attention.
I appeal to you, I beseech you,
Please grant especially these requests,
And make it happen spontaneously,
Effortlessly, right now.

Colophon:
This prayer was composed at the request of many Dharma friends, especially my long-time associate, Geshe Tsewang Thondup, who gave a scarf and other gifts. As far as I am concerned, there are clear signs which indicate this great protector has been safeguarding me for many lives. At this time especially there is a strong need for a prayer to the great Setrabchen, and remembering his kindness, I, Ngawang Gelek, composed it spontaneously before dawn on the second of October, 1981, at my own place, Garden of Great Bliss. Translation into English was completed during July of 1989 while on a teaching tour of Malaysia. At this time, the section referring to Jewel Heart was composed and inserted in both the English and Tibetan prayers.